Page 115 of The Gangster King

“Why are you here?” I demand of her, needing to know if she ran from me or our world. Her eyes flick to mine. “Why are you here, Addy? Did you leave me? Did you run from me? Tell me.”

She opens her mouth to answer, but a pink fucking cupcake is slid between us.

“And your change.” He starts to count it out.

My eyes don’t leave hers.

“Answer the question.” I rasp, not giving a fuck the servers is still there.

Adelina blows out a breath and lifts her coffee, taking a sip, like it’s her lifeline.

Finally, he leaves.

“No. Yes. I ran from all of you,” Addy replies, and more tears start falling. “Four days. I guess that’s more than anyone else in our world gets.”

Four days of freedom.

I know what she means.

But she hasn’t answered my question. In some ways, she has.

I ran from all of you.

A shimmer of hope sparks inside me.

“I told you I loved you,” I say, watching every single muscle in her face.

She nods, her face drops, and more tears fall.

Motherfucker, this woman is killing me.

I lean forward and gently tug her hand across the table, wrapping my fingers around hers.

“Kitten.” Her eyes lift. “Do you fucking love me or not?”

A sob escapes her.

“Say it.”

“Dante, don’t.”

“Say it, Addy. I’ve waited my entire fucking life. Tell me you love me,” I say, my voice thick with emotion.

She swallows and straightens her shoulders.

“I can’t.”

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ADELINA

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MY LIFE HAS just crumbled before my eyes. Dante found me and is going to take me back to my father.

Or worse, force me to marry him.

You love him, you idiot.

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