Page 24 of Cutting Ties
Love… I wanted to insist but refrained. Didn’t everyone deserve someone who loved them?
“Not everyone is lucky enough to get it all.”
“Everyone deserves it all.”
“You’re still so optimistic; please don’t even let that change.” Her mood brightened again. “I have a feeling that you’ve been fortunate enough to be one of those lucky few.”
Warmth spread across my cheeks as I looked down at the ring that he had placed on my finger less than twenty-four hours ago. “I think so too.”
“Then you need to do whatever it takes for it to work, which means leaving here and never looking back.”
A frown creased my brow at her words. It was the last thing I expected to hear from her lips. “You want me to leave?”
“I’m your mother, I’d love nothing more to have you with me always. But being your mother my first priority is you, your happiness and well-being. I don’t have to have long drawn-out conversations with Anthony to know he’s a good man and that he loves you dearly; you can see it in his eyes when he looks at you.”
I nodded. “I do see it.”
“You can follow your dreams whether it be to be a mother or some high-powered career woman in the United States. The sky is the limit. You can’t do that here, not when your name is connected with the Rossi family. Being the daughter of Costello Rossi has nearly unlimited perks, but freedom isn’t one of them. Here you’ll always be Costello Rossi’s daughter, as I am his wife. With Anthony you can be whomever it was that you were meant to be.”
Joy rushed through me. “We have your blessings then?”
“Of course you do.”
Before I could respond, voices could be heard from down the hallway, coming closer by the second. My father and Anthony eventually appeared in the entranceway.
Anthony was still in one piece, so that was a good sign.
While my father’s expression was as unreadable as it always was, I could read Anthony’s like a book. We’d spent so many hours on Skype that I knew each of his expressions without thinking about it. In this instance he looked at ease, which immediately settled the nervousness that was swirling within me.
“I am under the understanding that there is going to be a wedding sooner rather than later,” Papa stated, entering the room and taking a seat in the armchair Asher had vacated, while Anthony came to sit next to me on the sofa, taking my hand in his.
“Yes, Papa. We plan to marry as soon as possible.”
“Good. I was going to speak with you privately, but my conversation with Anthony has satisfied me. I have discussed some of my requirements with your future husband, which he has agreed to. However, I will state them to you now as well so we’re all clear. This is how it’ll be. The wedding will take place on Helka Island. It’s not safe for you to be married here and the United States isn’t open to me going there. So that is non-negotiable.”
A breath hitched in my throat as excitement began to fill me.
Helka Island was a stunning place in the Caribbean. While it was partially owned by my father and brother, along with several other crime families, on the surface you’d never guess it to be anything more than one of the most incredibly beautiful vacation spots in the world. I couldn’t have asked for a more stunning place to be married. It could be a wedding right out of the pages of a fairy tale.
Looking over at Anthony I could see him smiling. He’d obviously already discussed this with my father and was happy with this development.
“Also, I will be sending a several of our men with you when you fly to Los Angeles. Anthony has already agreed to additional security for the house as well. Finally, if anything happens while you are there, or if I get word Santiago has sent men to California to find you, you will be coming back here until the war blows over and we can get back to relatively normal lives.”
“Papa–”
He cut me off, “When married you will be taking Anthony’s surname. It will help keep you off their radar.”
I nodded, finally able to exhale. “Thank you, Papa.”
“There is one final thing.”
“Okay.” Shit, there was always a final thing. “Asher will be making periodic visits on the both of you to ensure my security conditions are upheld.”
Fuck. I looked toward the entrance of the grand room to see that Asher had returned and was leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest with a hint of a grin on his face. This one was a little harder to swallow, but I managed to grunt out an acceptance to that condition as well.
“Valentina, my dear. Have we got a deal?”
Pushing my dismay over the news about Asher to the back of my mind, the joy I was feeling practically burst from my chest. “Of course, Papa.”
