Page 47 of Mafia Shade's Reluctant Bride
She sighed, leaning back against the couch. “I won’t be here much longer, Lorenzo.”
My entire body went still.
“Don’t,” I warned, shaking my head. “We’re not talking about this.” My eyes welled up in tears as I pushed it back. No. I am not going to let her see how the thought of it affected me. I am supposed to be strong for her.
“We have to.”
“No, we don’t.”
“Yes, we do.” Her voice was firm, but her eyes were sad. “I need to know you’ll be okay when I’m gone.”
A sharp pain stabbed through my chest. I swallowed against the tightness in my throat. I didn’t want to have this conversation.
“You’re not going anywhere,” I forced out. “You’re stronger than this.”
She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “No one fights forever, my love.”
I looked away, staring hard at the floor. “You made it this far. The doctors said you wouldn’t, and you proved them wrong. You can prove them wrong again.”
She let out a soft breath. “I only fought this long because I couldn’t leave you. Because the thought of dying, knowing my son would be alone in this world, was unbearable.”
I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms. I was struggling to keep the tears in, but I knew I had to for her.
She reached up, brushing a gentle hand over my cheek. “But I’m tired, Lorenzo.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. “Mamma—”
“The chemo, the pills, the endless hospital visits. I can’t do it anymore.” Her voice wavered. “I need you to understand that. I’ve only stayed this long because I knew you wouldn’t be fine.”
A lump rose in my throat.
“But I need you,” I whispered, barely able to get the words out because I was working so hard to keep the tears in.
She smiled, her thumb stroking my cheek the way she used to when I was a child. “No, my love. You need to live.”
I shook my head, my vision blurring. “I don’t know how to do that without you. Since Dad left, you are the only one I’ve had. How can you ask me to do that?”
“You do,” she murmured. “You just don’t want to. But son, I need you to start learning how to.”
Tears burned at the edges of my eyes.
She pulled me closer, wrapping me in the warmth of her embrace. I felt like a boy again, clinging to the one person who had never failed me. She was the one person who had never left my side, even when the world was tough, even when I changed and couldn’t recognize myself in the mirror.
“I know the world has hurt you,” she whispered into my hair. “I know you had no choice but to become what you are. But now, you do have a choice.”
My breath shuddered.
“Give love a chance,” she pleaded. “It won’t fix everything, but it will save you.”
I pressed my face into her shoulder, unable to speak.
“Promise me, Lorenzo.”
I inhaled sharply. “You’re so damn stubborn.”
A small chuckle rumbled in her chest. “At least you know where you got it from.”
I pulled back just enough to meet her gaze. Then, pressing a kiss to her forehead, I whispered, “I promise.”
