Page 73 of Obsession

“I don’t deserve your forgiveness, princess,” he says with a shake of his head. “You were almost-”

“Shh.” I shake my head, placing a finger over his lips. “But I wasn’t.” Adrian nods, and the first tear falls from his eyes. I wonder how long it’s been there, how many years he’s beenholding back his emotions, not letting himself feel anything but hatred?

“I love you,” I tell him softly. Adrian’s eyes bore into mine. “I was going to tell you the other night, but then I overheard your conversation with Damien and wasn’t sure what to think.”

“I could never be loyal to Damien.” Adrian says my uncle's name with disgust.

“I know that now.”

“This is touching,” John interrupts. “And I won’t kill you for your betrayal. But I can’t promise Sam won’t.” John has his phone out, likely calling my cousin to tell him the turn of events.

Adrian swallows thickly and nods. “That’s okay,” he says, and the words have more tears falling from my eyes, my heart cracking.

“No-”

“It’s okay, princess,” he cuts me off, leaning in to press a soft kiss from my lips. “Can I have one more night with her?” he asks John.

My cousin sighs. “I’m putting Roman outside your house. If you hurt my cousin-”

“I won’t,” Adrian says before John can finish.

There are still tears clouding my vision as Adrian takes me home. Roman settles in our front room and my husband carries me upstairs, carefully undressing me and taking me into our master shower, where he cleans this day from my body.

I cry more, and he gently wipes the tears from my eyes. “Madalena Ricci, if I get only one more night on this earth, the only thing I want is to spend it with you.”

We spend the evening wrapped up in each other’s bodies, and for the first time, my husband makes loves to me rather than fucking or punishing me. We confess those three little words ofI love you, over and over, like a secret prayer only the two of us understand.

And when the morning light breaks through our dark cocoon, I know our time together is almost over.

FORTY

Adrian

Sam

My house. 30 minutes. Bring Madi.

It feels like my phone is burning a hole in my pocket ever since I read that text. I show up at Sam’s house five minutes early with Madi on my arm. There’s a heaviness hanging over us at the unknown of what comes next.

Last night, I made love to my wife until we both passed out from exhaustion. Only waking this morning to find our time running out. Ever since we confessed our love yesterday, she’s been attached to my side, scheming ways of getting me out of this mess.

“We could run away,” she says, looking up at me with hopeful eyes.

I turn, both of my hands landing on her shoulders as I lean in and kiss her forehead. “Amore mio,that would only delay the inevitable. Besides, I don’t think you’d like life on the run.”

She scrunches up her adorable face. “I wouldn’t. But I’d do it for you.”

“And I love you for that.” I give her one last kiss before I ring the doorbell to Sam’s home, a Filmore mansion he inherited from his father. It seems fitting for the new King of New Orleans.

It’s John who opens the door, giving Madi a pleasant smile before he looks at me sourly. “Sam’s in his office,” he says, and then to Madi, “Zoe’s out back.”

Madi gives me one last misty-eyed look, pressing up onto her tiptoes to kiss me deeply. Her tongue says the words her mouth doesn’t.I love you.

And then she steps back, a solemn look on her face as she turns away and moves down the hallway. I watch her walk, searing the image into my mind as if this might be the last time I ever see her.

I betrayed the Costellofamiglia.

I’m going to die today.

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