Page 35 of Don't Break My Heart
Reef runs a hand through his long hair, tugging at the ends, and I see the stress lines on his forehead; this shit is taking a toll on him. “I can’t go against Romeo, we’re a team.”
I run a hand up his neck and into the back of his hair, holding him close as I stare deep into his pretty green eyes. “You don’t have to.” I smile back at him. I was asking too much, I knew I was. I can do it on my own.
“No, Sloane.” Onyx’s voice is a little more desperate. He looks at me like he can read my mind. And right now, I kind of hope he can.
“What’s the use of all this power their papa forced upon me if I can’t use it to our advantage. Right now, the only one who stands to gain from this shift in management is Valentine. I’m not letting that happen.” I shove away from them as I stalk back into the main ballroom.
Sometimes as much as I like their cocks, I wish they were chicks. They don’t get it, how vulnerable women are. I’m furious that Daisy has had to suffer, that Valentine has had so much power over her. That their fuck-face papa set this all up. Someone has to make a change.
I spot Orlando and Romeo at the back of the room talking with Dante, and I try to blend in with the crowd so I can watch them. I can feel Onyx hot on my heels. He wraps an arm around me and pulls me into the shadows. Dante pats Orlando on the back and clinks his glass with Romeo like they are old friends. This is why we came tonight, for them to talk. But I didn’t expect it to be amicable.
“You don’t understand this world, trouble.”
“No, I guess I’m just a silly girl, what the fuck would I know.” My words are filled with bitterness, because maybe I don’t understand this world, but that’s not on me. That’s on them and all their secrets.
“You know that’s not what I think.” His lips brush my ear. “I know you want to save the world, but I only have one job, to save you.” His words send goosebumps over my skin and make an ache form in my chest. He’s been so damn good to me, standing by my side for years, protecting me, taking care of me. I know to start off it was a job, but it’s pretty clear it’s more than that now.
I raise my eyes to look at him, seeing the sadness that’s come over him. He’s no longer angry with me, he’s just sad, and I feel terrible.
“I need to get you home, trouble.”
I let out a heavy sigh. I get it. I reach up and run a hand down his stubbly jaw. He’s dedicated his whole life to protecting me. I owe him so much. “Onyx, when you were a little boy, what did you want to do with your life?”
He blinks back at me, and I know he’s totally confused by my question. “All I wanted was to be strong enough that I could protect my mother, the way she tried to protect me.”
Tears fill my eyes. He couldn’t protect her; he couldn’t protect Katrina Stryker either. And now all he wants is to protect me. But I’m not either of those women. I didn’t know his mother, but Katrina was too kind for her own good. I’m not. And I need to see this through. Even if I know I will hurt my boys by doing it.
Chapter 16
“Ican’ttakemuchmore of this,” I whisper under my breath to Onyx. Sickness has been sitting in the pit of my stomach since we arrived at Emilio Moretti’s funeral service.
Onyx squeezes my shoulder. Onyx, Reef, and I have been relegated to the row behind the family, and I wasn’t putting up a fight. Being here is one thing, but having to act sad for this family another thing altogether. At least back here I can hide my true feelings.
Mrs. Moretti has wept terribly through the entire service. Orlando held her hand at one side and Romeo on the other. All I could think is she must be a better actress than I am. There is no way she loved that horrible man, how could anyone? I also find it odd that she confides in her two sons, the one who faked his own death and hid from the family for nine years and the other who she let get sent away when he was just a child. They’re better people than I am. If my mother had let my papa destroy my life in the way he did his sons, there is no way I would come to his funeral, much less comfort the woman who stood by him and let me down. But something tells me for my boys, this is more for show.
The priest finishes up his service and a harpist plays “Amazing Grace” as the immediate family lay white roses on Emilio’s empty coffin. And I thank God it’s over. My tongue is literally bleeding fromhaving to bite it so hard to stop myself from saying all the awful things I wanted to.
Onyx places a hand on my back, and we slip away with Reef at my other side. We walk down the back of the congregation. I need air away from the suffocating pleasantries of the family. The looks from their ma and the cold shoulder from Daisy and Valentine when we first arrived were enough to tell me that Emilio might have forced me to be part of this family, but it’s pretty clear I’m an outcast.
“There wouldn’t be one person here who hasn’t suffered at his hands,” Reef mutters under his breath, disgusted.
“It makes me sick. All the people he killed, all the lives he ruined, and he still has half the city turn up to pay their respects,” I whisper back as we escape the masses.
Onyx’s vacant eyes meet mine, and he nods. I know he feels it as well. This evil man ruined all of our lives. He did unspeakable things for decades and got away with it. Yeah, he got blown up by his own sons, but I’m sure I could have thought of a worse way to end him.
We find a nice quiet spot under an old weeping willow tree, and I suck in the first full breath since we arrived at the cemetery this afternoon. If I get told to play the part one more time, I’m going to be sick. Like seriously, I’m going to throw chunks over the next person to say it. I tug my wool coat closer over my chest, a chill coming over me.
Reef’s hand finds my back, and he rubs slow circles. “Are you alright, wildcat?”
I glance up at him. He looks sad, and I know it has nothing to do with the funeral. Every day we stay in this place he looks like he’s losing himself more. “Do you ever feel like you can’t breathe aroundthese people?”
“Like they’re suffocating the life out of me? All the time. Romeo can’t even tell his ma about me.”
I raise a brow. “That’s fucked.” Taking his hand in mine, I give it a squeeze, my heart aching for him. And then it all makes sense, their fighting lately and his sadness. There is so much more going on here. I smile up at him softly. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t just sign the papers.”
“I get it, wildcat.” His hand moves to cup my chin. “You’re a good person. You’ll make the right choice tomorrow, I’m sure.”
“What if I don’t and more people suffer because of me?” I turn to Onyx. “And don’t say I can’t save them all,” I warn him.
