Page 80 of The Killer Cupcake
"I won't let him hurt you,” Matteo said, lowering his gaze. I swear it on Junior’s life. “But I have to help my brother. He’s all I’ve got left in the world. He's only hurting himself. He loves you. You’re safe.”
"This isn't love! Can't you see that? It never was!” she protested.
Matteo took a long drag and exhaled slowly. "I only got one good eye, so I can't see much."
"When will this stop? What do I have to do to make him go away for good?”
"Don't know. If Debbie ran from me with my kids… I wouldn’t stop.” He shrugged. "Maybe you can end it properly. Make him understand. Or lie to him, and give us more time to get him some help. We’ll take him to the priests in Italy if we have to.”
Her hand ghosted over her belly, dropping before he noticed. She pushed through the barn door.
And there he was.
The sight of him hit like a physical blow. Love and terror tangled in her chest, stealing her breath. He looked beautiful. If a man could be considered that. He was dressed in a tailored suit as if he had groomed himself for his return. Suddenly, she was overwhelmed with the same adrenaline attraction she had felt for him when they parted. Every fiber in her body wanted to launch herself at him for him to catch her. Have him kiss her and hold her. To feel his strong arms around her, keeping her protected as his girl. Kathy closed the barn door slowly behind her.
He rushed toward her. She stumbled back as the euphoria lifted. Her hands went up in defense. "Don't touch me!"
He froze. Tears shimmered in his eyes to see her afraid of him.
"Let me explain,cara mia?—”
"I don't want to hear it!"
"Please, Kat. Please." He dropped to his knees, prostrating himself. "I can't live without you. I'll die without you!"
"You're a liar! Just leave me be!”
"It was Mama's suicide, then the marriage—I can explain Maria." He remained on his knees in his nice tailored suit. "I slept on the floor, Kat. I was with you, not her. She says I got drunk, but I know it's a lie. I don't remember, but she had babies and I didn't know what to do?—"
She stared down at him, horrified by his complete dissolution.
"I'm begging you." His face lifted, ravaged by grief and sorrow. "Forgive me. Just this once. Forgive me! I’ll never lie to you again. Never! Can’t I get one more chance?”
"It’s too late, Carmelo. You had your chance. You had three years of chances. You left me to rot while you had another life, a wife, and kids. I had nothing. Not even my family.”
He sobbed.
“I was good to you, Melo. I gave you everything. I suffered for you. And you just took and took and took, leaving me behind,” she said.
“Nooo, no, no,” he wept.
“Do what you always do—leave me here to while you’re their champion. Get out of my life!"
He struggled to his feet, destroyed. “Take it back!”
“No!”
“Take it back!” He shouted at her, enraged. “Take it all back. You know I love you. I survived for you. I will die for you! Take it back!”
“No!”
Hyperventilating and horrified, he stumbled back from her. “Bonano's right. You're poison, Kathy. You're killing me for making one mistake! Just forgive me. I'm dying inside. Please!"
"The boy I loved is already dead. Or never existed." She forced the words past her tears. "So yes, I'm your poison. Now leave me alone!"
She turned to go. He rushed her, spinning her hard against the barn wall. Her head swam as he trapped her there, his forehead pressed hard to hers. His lips so close she feared he’d kiss her. She froze, terrified of provoking worse. What if she told him her truth? What if he knew about the baby in that moment? What would he do?
His eyes burned into hers with the first sign of rage directed at her that she truly feared for his mental state and her life. "I'll never let you go, Kathy Freeman. Hear me? Never. So bake me one of your killer cupcakes, because that's the only way you escape this."
