Page 46 of Bound to the Mafia King

He balled his fists at his side. “Watch your tongue.”

“I’ve been watching it for years, brother.” The acid in my voice burned my tongue. The anger that moved through my blood scorched my cells and left me raw and infuriated.

“So then speak, Valerio. Tell this truth that I can’t hear! Speak!”

Years of the bitterness I had felt bubbled it the surface. All I could feel was the seething anger; all I could taste was the sour and bitter taste of the abuse my father had inflicted upon me. The scars had healed, but the fragments of the steel he had used to mar me remained. I would never forget it. The fear, the torture, the abuse it took to make me what I am. And at the time, I had believed that it was necessary to live up to the Code, and to protect the sovereignty of our Family. I thought I had been doing it to protect my people. Only to find that it was all for nothing.The Code meant nothing, there was no honor in beating the crest that rested on our rings. It was all a huge show. None of it was real.

It had broken me, far more than I cared to admit.

“Well?” My brother stared at me.

I had all these things that I wanted to say, but I knew that telling him would not serve me in any way. It would only add to the pain, and I knew my brother well. He would take on my scars as his own and no one else needed to bear the pain with me. It wasmydarkness to carry.

My eyes moved between my sister-in-law and my brother. They were two of the most important people in my life apart from Ana. Having her would be selfish, but letting her go would kill me.

I let out a low sigh and stepped away from my brother. “I think I need to go.”

“I think so, too.” Savina stepped forward. “Listen, Rio, we want you to be happy. Especially after what you went through. But I can’t allow you to begin a war for a woman you simply attached yourself to because she saved your life.”

“I love her, Savina.” I had trapped those words in my chest when I was with her. Only now, with the prospect of losing her inching closer, did I realize what she truly meant to me. “I love her the way that you love my brother.”

For the first time since I walked into this room, her eyes softened. “I don’t think you do, Rio.”

No matter what I said, they wouldn’t believe me.

I knew what I needed to do. It was likely going to cost me everything, but her safety meant more to me than anything else in this world.

“Tell her I’m sorry.”

They both look at each other perplexed before I turned on my heels and left the study. I didn’t have time. I needed to get on thejet and leave the city. If my plan was to work, I needed all the help that I could get.

Chapter Eighteen

Anastasia

Two weeks had passed, and my messages still went unanswered; my calls diverted.

He was gone.

I didn’t know where he had gone, and I didn’t know how long he would be away for. No one would tell me anything. The only piece of information I got was from Savina, who had told me that Valerio was sorry.

That was it.

He had told me that I could trust him, and he would take care of everything. But here I was, alone and waiting for the impending arrival of my fiancé. Just like most men in my life, Valerio now joined the list of people who just disappointed me. I wanted to have faith in him and for him to come through, but as I stared at the unanswered messages and calls, it dwindled with each passing second.

Ana: Where did you go?

Ana: Are you okay? Savina told me that you were sorry and that you left. What happened? You just stormed off without a word.

Ana: You told me to trust you. Why aren’t you answering my calls?

Ana: Really? Not even a goodbye?

My heart was completely and utterly shattered. I knew that taking a step toward him was a risk, and I knew that my heart would likely take a hit, but I never imagined that it would be this painful.

I twirled the bracelet he had given me around my wrist, and I felt my heart break all over again. He had told me that this would be a symbol of him when he wasn't near me. He had told me that it was to remind me of him and to know that no matter where I was, he would always come back and find me again.

So where was he? Why could I not see him?

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