Page 137 of Mafia And Maid

“We should get started.” I move past her to the gym bag.

Rummaging around for extra wrap, my mind tumbles over everything. I knew it was too good to be true. I knew the moment the mask came off, she’d see the monster everyone else believes me to be. I’d hoped she’d see past it. I’d hoped she’d never look at me the way she just has. I wanted to be better forher. To do better byher. But that isn’t my nature.

I’ve known it since the moment I saw her in that church—I’ve known that I’d ruin her.

***

Laughter fills the room as we all sit around the table for dinner this evening.

Marco shoots me a look of concern, but I just send him a small nod to let him know that I’m okay.

“Camillo?”

I snap back to reality. Rosa’s hand is on my thigh. The table is empty except for her. “Where did…?”

“Everyone left a while ago. Are you feeling okay?”

I plaster on a smile, squeezing her hand. “Fine. Guess I zoned out a little. We should probably go up to bed.”

“Okay.” I watch as she gnaws her bottom lip, eyes closing. When she opens them, there’s something shimmering in her gaze. “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry?”

“For earlier.”

A hollow laugh leaves me. “Don’t be. It’s fine.”

“It’s not. You don’t understand—”

“I do.”

“No.” How the word leaves her lips freezes me in place. Timid, shy Rosa has never sounded more determined since I’ve met her. Her chin wobbles, just a little, betraying how she really feels, but she meets my gaze with a steel behind her eyes, the brown lit with a fire.

“No?”

“I just…” She sighs, seeming to gather her courage. “It’s complicated. But what you were suggesting, what you said, I just think there’s a better way that doesn’t involvethat. And we’ll figure it out. Together.”

As comforting as her words are intended to be, they don’t dispel the bubble of hopelessness that’s blown up inside me. How could someone like her love a monster like me now that she’s seen the beast within me? How could I have ever fooled myself into thinking I wouldn’t drag her to hell by keeping her with me?

“Together.” Mindless, I repeat the word before changing the subject. “Let’s get Ethan to bed, huh?”

“Camillo?” she says with a tug on my hand. “You understand, right? This isn’t… It’s not abouthim. It’s because I don’t want you to take that risk. I can’t—I won’t let you do that forme. Violence isn’t the only option here.”

But it’s the only one I understand. It’s the only way to ensure he can’t harm her ever again. If I want her the way every bone in my body desires, then I can’t allow him to keep breathing. She’s right about one thing, though. It isn’t about him at all. It’s always been abouther.

And the creature that lurks in the darkness of my subconscious is out for blood.

And I won’t be satisfied until I have it...

And although I think things have taken a turn for the worse between Rosa and me, I never imagine what happens next, and it’s so bad that it makes her want to leave me…

CHAPTER 34

ROSA

I’m doing more cleaning of rooms, although they clearly don’t need it, when I pass the office. The door is slightly ajar, and the three brothers are in there. And they’re having an angry conversation.

Putting my head down, I hurry past—whatever’s going on, it’s none of my business. And I’d rather not know the details of their business dealings.

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