Page 66 of The Last Vendetta

It was freeing to discuss things so openly and candidly with him. He saw me as an equal, not an inferior woman.

By the time we arrived at this Bernardi vacation home, the water glistening from the sunset on the horizon, I was exhausted. Mentally, I was fatigued from trying to figure it all out and thinking up the what-ifs. Emotionally, I was worn down from this burning wish to just embrace Renzo and have faith that we could be together.

My mother’s ultimatum remained fresh in my thoughts too. She’d assumed I was running away with Renzo, and his bringing me to his vacation home was a signal that I was.

I couldn’t. Not yet. We had to know who had done what, and then we could react.

Staying with him felt right.

He led me into the home, holding my hand, and I knew that the more he gripped me like that, the further I’d fall for him. It was a simple, almost casual touch, but I treasured the possessiveness behind it. Like he feared ever letting go.

“Dean,” he said into his phone as we entered. “I need some information.” As I yawned, he frowned at me. “Hold on. I’ll call you back in a minute.”

He hung up and studied me. “Are you tired?”

I shrugged. “I haven’t been sleeping well.”

He sighed and kissed my brow. “That makes two of us.” Leading me to the master suite, he pulled back the covers on the huge bed and gestured for me to lie down.

I didn’t. “Where are you going?”

He crawled onto the bed, showing me that he wasn’t going anywhere.

I smiled, glad that he wanted to stay near me. After sliding off my sandals, I lay on the bed.

I wasn’t too sleepy, but this sensation of feeling trapped and hopeless dragged me down. Closing my eyes was bliss. Hearing his voice as he talked to his man soothed me. Feeling the warmth of his body pressed next to mine was a rare treat that I wanted to cherish forever.

Renzo grounded me. Being with him like this, just decompressing and letting him arrange to obtain information about Cecilia’s affair calmed me. This connection between us wasn’t only sexual. He was an anchor that I never knew I could find.

But how can we stay? I saw no easy way forward to avoid marrying Nickolas where I could remain with Renzo. Running away was my first plan that made sense. But that would push me further from him.

I had nowhere to go with him.

I had no future to count on.

Just like Cecilia, I was a pawn. That was what our lifestyles dictated.

And it was to those sad, sobering facts that I dozed for a while.

I woke to find Renzo staring at me. He was no longer on the phone. Lying side by side with me, he gazed into my eyes with a calm yet deep intensity. As though he wished to see into me, to see my soul and hold me close. His hand drifted over my head as he continued to gently brush my hair back.

“How long have you been staring at me like that?”

“Not long enough.”

I sighed, loving that he wanted me for longer. Forever. “Renzo, there’s no way we can?—”

He kissed me, silencing me with his mouth. “Stop. Stop giving up hope.”

“But I am losing it.” I never should’ve let myself think there was any hope between us.

“We will find a way to be together.”

This time, I leaned in and kissed him, wishing he could be right.

“Because I want you,” he confessed, his voice so gravelly and husky. “And for the first time in my life, I’m going for what I want.” His kiss was rough. “What I need.”

I crawled over to him, lying on top of him and kissing him harder. His words filled my heart. This pleading desperation to stay together goaded me to get closer. To unite with him. To surround myself with his affection.

---