Page 108 of Tainted Ties

“It’s not your fault, Aurora. It’s my own for continuing to believe that he could change into a better man.”

Sofia put her hand over Enzo’s and that act alone parted my brother’s lips in what might have been shock.

He turned to her, looking between where their hands connected and back to her face, his features turning soft as she gave him the smallest of smiles.

There was something painfully raw between these two. It was palpable and anyone within their presence could attest to it.

“Where do we go from here?” Roman asked, breaking the trance that had fixated upon my brother.

“We?”

“You’re my brother-in-law, much to my dismay. That means we’re family.” Roman smirked. “But don’t think I won’t shoot you if I find it convenient.”

Enzo scoffed, turning his attention to me. “This is who you fell in love with? Are you sure you don’t have Stockholm syndrome?”

“Even if I did, I’m too far gone. I love everything that makes him, him.”

Appearing slightly uncomfortable, he stood, bringing Sofia along with him. “If you don’t mind, we can continue this conversation at a later time.”

Neither I nor my husband objected because we knew it must have been difficult for my brother to reminisce on the horrific memory of my father shooting him on top of his recovery at the hospital.

It was overwhelming and I knew the feeling all too well.

“That’s okay.” I gave him an encouraging smile as if he needed it.

Enzo had been broken by our father far worse than me. At least, I had known what to expect but my brother hadn’t.

The air sparked brighter when they left, and it was only Roman and me.

We hadn’t had a proper conversation since before that horrible night and I knew I owed it to him and myself.

“I’m sorry, Roman.”

He turned on the couch, facing me. “For?”

“For… everything.”

It was hard to put into words how badly I felt for hurting him in more ways than one.

“For losing your trust. Shutting you out.” I exhaled heavily. “Our baby.”

He pulled me on his lap, bringing me close to the warmth of his solid chest.

Tangling my fingers in his wavy hair, the smell of him invaded my senses, soothing me instantly.

“You’re a fighter, Aurora.” He clutched my shirt in his fist as if he were afraid I would slip from his grasp. “You had to do what you needed to do to survive. I can’t put blame on you for that.”

He leaned back, searching my face with intense compassion. It made my heart soar for him. “As for the baby, you couldn’t have known. You were thrown into a situation that jeopardized your mental health.” His obsidian eyes seared through me. “I need you to understand that I don’t blame you for any of it.Any of it.”

I clung to the words coming from his lips.

He tipped my chin up with his forefinger. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

I wanted to, but it was hard when I had spent enough time blaming myself to truly believe I hadn’t had choices.

Yet, he never used it against me and the way he was looking at me with yearning had me whispering the word, “Yes.”

Chapter37

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