Page 113 of The Gangster King

“Oh. Chocolate. No, strawberry.” I smile and glance around when he disappears to get my order and find a table.

An older woman appears. “Go, sit down. We will bring it over.”

“Oh, thank you,” I say and slide into a table with a view of the beach.

It’s so beautiful here. I remind myself for the twentieth time today that I will be happy. It’s just going to take some time.

A man in black jeans and a dark t-shirt walks across the road and my heart skips a beat. I sit up straight and every part of me wants it to be Dante.

When a blonde woman runs into his arms and they kiss, I have to force myself not to cry. Tears burn my eyes.

That could be us.

Oh, god.

What have I done? I love him so much and I ran away.

I did the wrong thing.

No, I did the right thing.

I can’t live in that world anymore. I can’t love or marry a man who steals people, sells young women into sex slavery. Sells drugs and contributes to the pain and suffering of others.

I can’t.

I glance back and the man takes the blonde woman’s hand and guides her across the street. When they reach the other side, she stops him and says something.

His eyes fly open and drop to her stomach.

No.

No!

Please, universe. Do not be this cruel.

She nods, and he gently places his hands at her waist as my heart shatters into a million pieces. I can feel the tears sliding down my face as he drops to his knees and kisses her tummy.

Out of the corner of my eye I see the server appear and I wipe away—

“Hi kitten.”

Dante slides into the seat opposite me and I almost scream.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

DANTE

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I lift my finger to my lips.

“Dante.” Her voice shakes as she says my name and I glance across the road, wondering what has upset her. If anything.

“Why are you crying?” I demand.

“What?” She wipes at her paling, wet face and glances at the couple across the street that are hugging.

I follow her eyes.

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