Page 114 of Fight Me Little Pearl

“Valentino, I-”

“You think my heart is made of stone? It’s made of blood and cells like yours. I was heartbroken when I heard you went to see Thomas. I felt worse than death. You could have stabbed me in the chest, and I would have forgiven you, Francesca, but your betrayal…I cannot forgive that. Never. You’ve made him into an important figure between us and I can no longer look past him. It’s over. I feel nothing for you anymore. You killed everything. Everything.”

“I don’t want him, Valentino,” I say in a rush. “I swear I was only going to tell him to stay away from me.” The truth suddenlysounds stupid to my ears, and with how Valentino is staring at me, he feels the same way.

“You couldn’t tell him this over the phone?” he asks mockingly. “You couldn’t talk to me about it first and ask me what I think about that? You had to go see him behind my back to tell him to stay away from you? Do you hear how the fuck you sound?”

When I flinch, Valentino sighs. “Just go away, Francesca. It’s over this time.”

“I can’t. This is my home.”

“Then I’ll go away,” he says, drifting towards the stairs.

“It’s about the baby, isn’t it?” I call as he leaves. “You’re punishing me for losing the baby.”

“Yes.” He throws his arms in the air. “Does that make me a cruel bastard? Fine, I’ll take it. You already said I was worse than your father, so heap all the abuse you want to. What other accusations do you have for me, Francesca?”

“The land,” I throw at him. “Oh, I see. It’s all starting to make sense. You won’t forgive me because you don’t need me anymore. You’ve acquired what you wanted the most from our partnership. The Terra de Barbieri. It’s now yours. You don’t need me anymore.”

Valentino shakes his head either in disgust or defeat and continues up the stairs.

“Shut the door on your way out, woman.”

Chapter Fifty

VALENTINO

“You’re getting drunk,” Robert complains when I take another gulp from my glass of Scotch. “You’ve almost had a full bottle. Don't take any more.” He reaches for the bottle on my table, and I grab his wrist, tightening my fingers around it until he winces with pain.

“Don’t touch my fucking bottle, or I’ll break your hand.” I pour myself another glass of Scotch. I have a high tolerance for alcohol, but I’m starting to feel a little drunk. Still, I gulp down the alcohol and pour myself another.

“Valentino…” Roberto warns. “Don’t do this.”

I look around my office before I settle my gaze on him. “It’s just alcohol,” I tell him. “Why do you sound like I’m swallowing poison? It’s expensive Scotch. Damn it.” I down the contents of the glass and my stomach burns.

When I pour another glass., Dutch snatches the bottle from my hand and takes several steps away.

“How dare you!”

“I’m sorry, Boss.” He bows his head. “Please forgive me. But you’re killing yourself. Please.”

“For fucks sake. It’s fucking Scotch!” I growl. “Why are you all acting like it’s poison? Jesus!”

I slump against my chair, taking deep breaths to calm the storm in my body. No, it has nothing to do with alcohol. These fools around me are simply exaggerating. It has everything to do with the pain in my heart.

I’m hurting, point blank.

It’s been a week since I moved Francesca out of the house, and it feels like hell. So many nights I reach for her, only to come up empty before remembering she’s no longer here… and she will never be here. Still, it doesn’t stop my heart from hurting every second of the day.

I miss her so much. God, I miss her. Sometimes, I want to see her just once, but I know it won’t be enough and it will only make the pain worse. I’m an addict. An addict needs to completely move away from the source of his addiction.

“Do you want me to kill him?” Vance steps forward like he knows what I’m thinking. “I think we should. He’s always been a pain in the ass.”

In my current condition it would be nice to know the man she loves is dead, but killing him will be showing weakness. The major reason I let Francesca go is to show strength and let her know I’m okay with her decision to be with Thomas. Sneaking behind her back to kill him is the biggest sign of weakness. I won’t stoop that low.

“No. We’re not killing him. He’s innocent.”

Vance sighs and moves away, leaving me to my thoughts again.

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