Page 55 of Catching His Runaway

When I wake up, the sun hasn’t lifted in the sky just yet to greet me. Instead, it’s only been a few hours since we’ve laid down.

While Valeria easily fell back asleep, I’ve been left staring at the ceiling, looking for answers like I’ll find them engraved on the surface.

Listening to the soft sound of her breathing, I look down at her through the darkness. Dark tendrils of hair dance against her cheeks, one near her lips.

I want to kiss her. I always want to kiss her. At the same time, I don’t want to wake her up, not when I know how badly she needs rest. If I want her body to heal, then she needs to get as much sleep as possible.

So, I don’t kiss her. I just keep staring, realizing how gone I am for her. She’s the one. After thinking I’d be just fine by my lonesome, unlike the men surrounding me, Valeria has proven me wrong.

I need her.

If I don’t want to lose her again, then I can’t let the weight of expectations make her feel trapped. It’s why she left in the first place.

Ever so carefully, I lift her arm away from my chest and set it down. Making sure not to wake her, I slowly make my way off my bed. Letting her curl with my pillow instead, the trade works perfectly.

I stand there for a few seconds, maybe it’s minutes, taking her in. The longer I stare, the more I realize how deep I am.

When did this need to protect her stop being a job? At this point, it’s a necessity.

Rubbing a hand against my face, my eyes drift to the door.

I need to talk to Santino. In order to do that, I have to leave her alone. She can’t be with me, or else she’ll try to sacrifice the one thing she’s always wanted.

She deserves her freedom, and there’s only one way I can give it to her without letting her go.

Knowing he’s made sure there aren’t any threats after the last slip up, I know deep inside that she’ll be alright. Everything screams at me to stay at her side.

Taking strength I don’t realize I have, I make my way out of the room and hope that the eldest Bertelli sibling is awake.

It turns out Santino feels just as uneasy as I do. He seems to think there’s a risk of something eluding his safeguards, and I catch him in his office monitoring the cameras.

The glass of brown liquid near him looks untouched, but far needed. He doesn’t lift his gaze when I enter.

“We need to talk.”

He grunts. “Thought we’d have this chat in the morning.”

I can’t wait until then. If I do, I won’t get a wink of sleep. The thoughts running through my head are already ruining the man I am.

“Can’t wait,” I tell him as I move to take a seat in front of his desk. It’s a smaller chair, and I don’t typically find myself sitting in it. Trying to get comfortable, I sigh. “I’ll be quick with it.”

“If you’re worried about Renato trying to get his hands on my sister, rest assured, it won’t happen. Elijah has made this a straightforward transaction by acting on his own.” He scrolls his finger on the mouse, finally blinking.

I don’t give a fuck about Renato Marino.

My silence makes him finally look my way. He meets my frown with one of his own.

“I want out.” The words leave me, each one leaving me feeling lighter. “And I want to take Valeria with me.”

I won’t be like Lazaro, who goes behind Santino’s back to make it happen. Even if I’m sure Bia would be happy to help me out after all these years, I don’t want to take the easy route.

I need him to be able to let her go while knowing she’ll be safe. Wherever she wants to go, be it out-of-state or the next city over, that’s what I’ll fight for.

He stares at me like I’m speaking another language. Giving me more than enough time to take the words back, I don’t.

“You have been with the family for years now. More than a decade.” He pinches his brow and succumbs to the drink next to him, taking a sip. “And you want out?”

I nod, and he sighs.

---