Page 233 of Ruins
“But the meeting...”
“We’ll be okay if we’re two minutes late,” he interrupts, stopping in front of the door and turning to face me. “I wanted to show you something first.”
Without another word, he opens the door and ushers me inside. My breath catches as I take in the sight before me. It’s an empty office, with large windows, but there are huge canvases leaning against one wall and an easel standing in the center of the room.
“I know you wanted to finish your painting before we left, and it got me thinking…” He trails off, exhaling softly, running a hand through his hair. I don’t see Santo hesitate often. When he does, it’s usually about something that matters.
“Got you to thinking what?” I ask, eager to hear his response.
“Well... I thought that maybe you would like to come here after your classes since you want to go in person when you return and while I’m working, you could paint. I would have Luca or Romeo pick you up and drop you off here, we could be together and go home together.”
My heart swells, too full of love for this man. He’s giving me more than space to paint; he’s giving mefreedom, trust. He’s silencing his jealousy, offering me something I never even asked for, simply because he knows what it means to me. More than anyone ever has.
“Thank you,” I whisper, pulling him into a tight hug that he leans down for. “I love it.”
He laughs softly into my ear. “I thought you might.” His hand slips through my hair and cups the back of my neck gently. “Youneverhave to hide your talent anymore, Dea. I want it everywhere in my world.”
I lean into him, but there’s a flicker in his expression—one I catch even as his arms stay wrapped around me.
“What is it?” I ask, pulling back just enough to search his face.
He studies me for a moment, thumb brushing over my jaw like he’s deciding whether to speak. Finally, he lets out a slow breath.
“NovaRael… it was supposed to be yours.”
I blink. “Mine?”
He nods. “Your father had it in your name. It goes to you, but a proxy can handle it and I was the proxy.” There’s a beat of hesitation. “But I signed the papers taking full ownership before we got married so you wouldn’t know.”
I stare at him, the weight of those words hanging between us. “You-”
“I wanted it,” he admits, his voice low, certain, utterly unapologetic. “NovaRael is power. And I was never going to let anyone else have it.” His thumb pauses at my chin, tilting it just slightly. “But if you told me right now you wanted it, it’s yours.”
My chest tightens. He’s looking at me the way he always does—like he’d tear down empires if I asked.
I smile softly, brushing my fingers against his cheek. “Santo… I don’t want NovaRael. Iloveit, but I never wanted to own it.”
His brow furrows, not in confusion but in that focused way he gets when he’s trying to understand me better. “But you’re in school for business.”
I nod, feeling the warmth of his hand still resting against the small of my back. “I am, but… I thought maybe I’d open a boutique. Or now that I get to paint, maybe a gallery instead.”
His gaze sharpens, and I can see the shift instantly, the weight of his full attention landing on me like a silent promise.
“Where?”
I blink at him. “It’s just a thought, Santo.”
“Where?” he repeats, cutting me off gently but firmly. His eyes burn with that same possessive focus I’ve come to know too well. “Where would you like it located?”
I laugh under my breath, leaning up to kiss him softly. “I don’t need a gallery right this second.”
His gaze doesn’t waver. “That wasn’t the question.”
I shake my head, tucking my face into his chest for a moment, letting the warmth of him ground me. “I love that you’re like this,” I murmur.
His lips press against the top of my head, and his voice drops to that quiet tone that’s only ever for me. “Good. Because I don’t plan on stopping.”
And I know he means it. If I told him I wanted a gallery tomorrow, there would be a team breaking ground by sunrise.
