Page 69 of Forbidden Vows

I don’t want to be right.

“Let’s go back.”

Tears gather at the corners of my eyes. I got pretty close to the sun for a moment, letting the shine blind me,daydreaming of what it would be like if we could be together.

Now, it’s time to pull back before we get burned.

Chapter Twenty

Blaze

How quickly she’s become an everyday part of my world. My routine. My life. I never got to ask her what she meant that drunken night; if it was true she was having feelings for me, or merely wine talk.

Now, the moment has passed.

“Don’t talk champagne talk in the light of day,” I joke lightly to no one.

After returning from the yacht, Cleo locked herself in her room to focus on the wording of her email request. When I checked on her an hour later, she was softly snoring under the covers.

I kissed her cheek and left, returning to bed by myself. I despised it. Falling asleep with her in my arms is my favorite part of the day, and I always look forward to it. Now I’m the one who can’t sleep alone.

What will I do when she returns to the city?

We planned to have breakfast together this morning, but she canceled, explaining that she felt she had neglected Seraphina and would instead do morning yoga with the Beauties and Dame. I can’t help but feel jealous. He better not be watching my girl in those bee leggings while she stretches and bends.

Why haven’t I taken up yoga? Because I need to work. Before she came, I was a workaholic. I hung out with family. I haven’t even seen Haze and Ophelia since that first dinner.

In a few days, she will leave, and everything will change. I would say it will go back to the way it was, but after a taste of having her as mine, I’m no fool. I know nothing will ever be the same.

Her ability to return to the city hinges on me. I’m tempted to sabotage the entire family and blow up everything I’ve been working towards so that Cleopatra will be forced to stay here in my arms, where she’s safe.

Ever since the meeting with Liam, I’ve been in contact with someone from my past—a good friend from school. Massimo Moretti, a fellow Bronx kid.

We lived in the same subsidized housing, went to the same school, ran in the same circles, and even dated the same girl, once. We got into a fist fight over her and somehow ended up closer after that.

When I joined the Bachmans, I lost touch with Mass. I had no idea we’d soon be rivals. After the bomb threat at the church, I called him. We’ve been talking every day since, any time I can sneak away for a private call. Together, we’ve formed a plan for a truce between the families.

The heads of the families have agreed to a temporary settlement. We all stay on our turf and discuss how things will go down in the city's future. At least, for now, there will be peace. We all know what hasn’t been said: war is coming. But we’ll hold it off as long as we can.

Haze is upset with me. I went over his head and talked to Liam before speaking with him. He’ll get over it. I couldn’t have both of them hyping each other up to strike while I have a truce in place.

I also had a personal reason to make peace. Cleo needed to go back, and without a truce between families, I couldn’t imagine a world in which I would let her leave Italy. I’ll be putting surveillance and security measures in place for Cleopatra.

She’s agreed.

“Will everything be set for us to leave on Thursday? I want a day to decompress before Lydia’s wedding.”

She’s a good girl. She’s eager to return to her life, her job, her little buggers.

Who am I to interfere, simply because I have feelings for her? What do I bring to her besides a life she doesn’t desire? The allure of billionaires and organized crime doesn’t appeal to a salt-of-the-earth, old-soul woman like her.

I may be able to square my shoulders and hold my head high strolling through the dangers of the city, but with her, I’m weak.

Her sweet, feminine voice happily interrupts my thoughts. “Knock, knock!”

“Hey, Cleo!” A big smile stretches over my face. I’m becoming an eager puppy every time she walks in the door. “Have you heard back from your principal yet?”

She shakes her head. “Not yet. Hopefully soon. If not, I’ll go see him on Monday.”

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