Page 83 of Mistletoe in the Mafia

“You made this?” I ask, grabbing the burger off the plate.

“It’s cute that you think I’m capable. The cook made it for you,” she states.

Madelyn watches me eat for a couple of moments. She even pours me some orange juice to wash it all down. It feels strange, because the whole time I’m simply waiting for the other shoe to drop. She doesn’t seem as angry as the day she cut my heart outat her house. But I know there’s no way she’s forgiven me. Hell, I haven’t even forgiven myself.

But I doubt I’ll be able to do so until she does.

“Alright, now that I’ve ascertained that you’re not going to die from hunger, let’s discuss our incredibly fucked-up relationship.”

“Why did you come here?” I ask instead. “I know Camila showed up, but you hate me right now.”

“True,” she murmurs. “But it’s Christmas tomorrow and I’m trying not to end up on Santa’s naughty list.”

My lips curl up in a smile despite the situation. Then I realize what she said and my heart cracks.

“It’s Christmas tomorrow?”

She nods.

“I’m so sorry, Flowers. I’m sorry I ruined it for you.”

My actions are going to leave a bad stain on a holiday she loves so much.

“That’s fine. I know the perfect way for you to fix it.”

“How?” I ask warily.

“By letting me go.”

CHAPTER 22

Madelyn

Amuscle twitches in Dominic’s jaw as he stares at me from across the kitchen island.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“You heard me, Dominic. You need to let me go. There’s no use holding on to me. It’ll only end up hurting us both. Honestly, I think our relationship is a little ill-fated. I mean, think about everything that’s brought us to this point. Scepter, us losing our families, you killing my dad. It’s a lot. It’s exhausting. Most people would have gone crazy by now. I think we just need to stay away from each other. We just killed the link connecting us, and now I think it’s time to let each other go. Turn the page forever.”

“Sorry, Flowers, but that’s bullshit,” he says, his stormy gray eyes burning with defiance. “I already told you, didn’t I? I don’t believe in fate or coincidences. I make my own fate. You’re that fate. I know I wronged you. I was going to give you space until you could look at me again without that hollowness in your eyes. I’d do anything for you, Madelyn. But letting you go is out of the question.”

“W-we can’t be together,” I argue.

“Says who?” he retorts, walking toward me.

My heart starts to race as he approaches, backing me against the refrigerator at my back. Before I can even think to escape, I’m trapped. Both by his body and in the depths of his eyes.

“Look into my eyes and tell me to let you go,” he prompts.

I swallow, feeling a tremble go through me. Everything about Dominic consumes me in the best and worst way. I hate that I still love him. I hate that I could never hate him. Everything he’s done, what he is, it should have me running for his hills. But all I want to do is stay by his side.

But I can’t. I have too much self-respect to do that.

“Let me go, Dominic,” I say, my mouth dry. I can see the effects my words have on him. He falters, pain clear as day in his eyes. His pain hurts me as well. But I’m not done talking. “Let me go temporarily.”

“What?” he asks in confusion.

“You promised me a safari as a Christmas gift. I want to go somewhere in Africa, maybe Kenya. I hear that’s the best place for Safaris.”

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