Page 17 of Memento Mori
“How in the hell do you expect me to trust anything you say after what I saw, Antonio? That woman kissed you! Multiple times! You were holding her hand, laughing, having a fantastic time, while I had to sit by watching another woman sit where I should have been. It should have been me!” I hit my chest with the palm of my hand. “Not her!”
In one swift motion, he jumped out of bed and tightly grasped me, drawing me closer to his body before I had a chance to get away. I hated that I found comfort and peace in his embrace even after everything. I should hate him right now, but I can’t.
“Don’t you think I know that!” he shouted. “It should have been you. I wanted it to be you!”
When he looked into my eyes, I could see unshed tears welling up, mingled with a sense of fear and sorrow. “What happened to your face?” I asked, reaching to touch the bruise at the corner of his eyes but I snatched my hand away before I touched his skin.
He didn’t need my pity or my comfort.
“Abel and I had a long conversation, before I came up to see you.”
When I glared at him, he let out a chuckle, which only made me more irritated as I crossed my arms tightly over my chest. I didn’t want them fighting because of me. They were two of the most important men in my life. And this was none of Abel’s business.
“We got a few things straight,” he continued.
“I don’t want you two fighting.” He smiled. “I’m serious, Tony.”
“Listen, he cares for you, and I hurt you. I respect Abel for standing up to me. This won’t be the last time we butt heads when it comes to you, but he also needs to know what my place is in your life. We had words. We threw punches. And now it’s over. At least it’s over until the next time he doesn’t like something I do, or I don’t like something he does.”
“There will be no other times Antonio because you have no place in my life anymore.”
I tried to walk around him, but he grabbed me by the arm, pulling me back to him.
“I didn’t try to hurt you, Aaliyah. I understand you’re angry and why you’re hurt, but I do love you with everything I have in me. I promise I’ll never hurt you again. You are the woman I want to marry. You are the woman I want as my wife. I don’t care about the consequences. I love you and only you.”
“I can’t trust you.”
It hurt to say it, but I feared even if we could fix this, the damage done would make it difficult for me to trust him again. How could a relationship, especially one like ours with so much unknown, survive if we couldn’t trust each other?
“You can trust me, Aaliyah. You know you can. I hurt you, but I’ve done nothing to cause you not to trust me. I haven’t lied to you. I haven’t cheated on you. We are both caught in the middle of this world, and it’s fucked up traditions. But that has nothing to do with the love we share.”
He was right. We both were caught in this world. It was one of the reasons I hadn’t discussed Tony with Abasi. How would he view our relationship? Would he approve of me dating the Underboss of the Italian mafia? Would our relationship affect Abasi’s organization and his ties with others? Like Tony, I had been afraid to take that step to speak with my father. But was not telling Abasi about our relationship anything remotely like what I witnessed?
“Aaliyah, please forgive me, sweetheart. I’m so sorry.”
He dropped to one knee and opened a black velvet box. I couldn’t help but gasp in awe as I saw the stunning brilliance of the single princess-cut diamond, my hands flying instinctively to cover my mouth. I gulped hard, feeling hot tears streaming down my cheeks.
“I had planned on doing this once you got home. Aaliyah Solarin,” he said with tears shimmering in his eyes, “I know I fucked up. But I will spend the rest of my life showing you there’s no other woman for me. Would you make me the happiest man on the planet, and do me the honor of being my wife?”
“What? Tony. You can’t be serious. Not after everything that’s happened.”
“I should have done this a long time ago,” he admitted. “I’ve had this ring just waiting for the right moment. Trying to please my parents almost cost me you and I refuse to lose the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I will give it all up if it means I can spend the rest of my life with you. Just tell me and I’ll walk away from it all, if that means we will be together.”
“Tony...”
In the end I hoped it wouldn’t come down to him giving up his legacy. I hoped he would be able to have both worlds, but I can’t deny how happy I felt that he would choose me over it all.
“Aaliyah, please,” he said, breaking through my thoughts. “Will you marry me?”
All resistance and anger vanished as I looked into the eyes of the man I loved. Seeing him with another woman hurt. Hurt like nothing I’d experienced except the day my parents died. But Abel was right, Antonio loved me. Certain images had to be maintained in our world. I understood this. And I believed he was telling me the truth, even if I didn’t like what he had done. Iwouldn’t give him a pass and it would be something he’d have to make up to me, but I could forgive him for the mistake he made.
We had both made mistakes. We should have already told our families and if we had done that, he would never have been in that position in the first place. There was only one thing I could do. I was his, and he was mine.
“I will.”
“You will?” he asked like he didn’t expect me to yes.
I nodded. “Yes, I will marry you, Antonio Rizzo, Jr.”
