Page 60 of Wicked Rivals

An understandable request. But the increasing intensity in her expression as she asked me to murder someone unsettled me a bit.

I’d already planned to do that. This attack could not stand. I knew this situation could end in only one way. But to have my innocent little barista ask me to kill a man…

There was a darkness in Val that hadn’t been there before. Or maybe it had been, and I never wanted to see it.

I was no longer the young dreamer she had fallen for years ago, and I realized she wasn’t the lighthearted woman I once knew either.

We had both changed, grown darker, more twisted.

Or had we both had the darkness in us all along?

I dismissed the thought as quickly as it had come. Val had been an angel back then and still now. She didn’t want to be tainted by my world. Motherhood had strengthened her, and the attack at Con Amore frightened her. That was all.

Still my angel.

I refused to believe she could be full of malice or burn for vengeance like me. Fear. It had to be fear, and I hated that someone had caused her to be so afraid. Val shouldn’t feel anything other than comfort and love.

I took her chin and tilted it, so she could meet my eyes.

“Anyone who even thinks to lay a finger on our son will die a slow, painful death, and the others will whisper about it in the back alleys of New York forever. No one touches what is mine, and that includes you and now our son. I will keep you safe.”

Giving my word meant something to me. I took my vows seriously. Always.

“Thank you,” she said, touching my face.

I pressed my cheek against her palm, taking comfort from whatever contact I could get.

“Fix this, Stefano. Show them who you are. Make sure no one ever dares to touch him. Then Enzo and I will go back to our life, and you can go on with yours. I promise.”

“What?”

I took her hand away from my face and held it, running my thumb over her soft skin.

“Val. That's not what I want. I want to be in his life. If you don't want me to be actively involved until he's older, I can live with that. And I won’t name him my heir, not unless he chooses this path when he’s grown.

“But I will start paying for his education and everything else. I’ll make sure neither of you want for anything. I have power, money, and influence. I want to do something good with it for the people who deserve it, the people I owe it to. For my family.”

My family.

My words made my chest ache. I didn’t realize how alone I’d felt until saying them.

“I'll think about it,” she whispered.

Val’s gaze dropped to the floor. She was lying to me.

Then she leaned in and placed a small kiss on my cheek before getting up. She nodded as she walked away, and the room suddenly grew cold.

I should have been used to the loneliness.

I’d been numb to that dull ache for so long. But Val reminded me what it felt like to be touched by not just another person but by someone who mattered to me.

The hollow space in my chest was her fucking fault.

And it would get worse when she took my son away.

She tightened her robe, still avoiding eye contact.

“It’s been a very long day, and I’m exhausted. I do need to check on Enzo. He has always slept at home, and this is new for him. I need some sleep too, and so do you. I mean, you got shot earlier tonight, so you should get some rest.”

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