Page 26 of Armando

Ican’t let go of Armando. My arms are locked around his neck the entire ride back to his house, and I don’t loosen my grip even when he shifts my weight to get out of the car. Armando carries me inside without missing a step, then collapses on the couch.

I immediately tuck my face into his shoulder, feeling raw and exposed. My head is spinning, my body aches, and my temples throb. I’m not sure what to think about anything or anyone. All I know is that Armando makes me feel safe. He rescued me. That has to count for something.

“Did he touch you?” Armando asks, his fingers skimming over my arms and neck, searching for wounds. “Are you hurt? I mean, Jesus, I know you’re hurt. Fuck,” he mutters. “What can I do? How can I make it better? God, Allegra, I failed you.”

His voice cracks along with my heart. I peer up at him, seeing the worry, regret, and self-loathing in his hazel eyes.

“Precious girl, I’m so sorry. Tell me how to fix this.”

“The truth,” I rasp, my voice scratchy from crying. “I want to believe you,” I add. “You’re the only good thing that has ever happened to me.”

“I should have been honest with you from the beginning. I see that now,” he starts, tucking a few strands of hair behind my ear. “I was afraid I’d scare you off with my profession, and I wanted more time for you to get to know me, to see who I am away from what I do.”

I nod slowly, trying to understand. “Do you work for my uncle?” I whisper, not strong enough to ask the question out loud.

“Fuck no,” he answers forcefully. “Never.”

The tight band squeezing my chest loosens. Armando’s eyes burn with conviction, and I know he’s telling me the truth.

“I work for the Mafia,” he continues. My breath catches in my throat, and I blink at him a few times. “I’m an enforcer for the Di Salvo family.”

“Security and collections,” I say softly, repeating what he told me this morning.

“That’s right. I use my strength to protect the family, secure assets, and take out the garbage.” I nod, taking in his words. “We may be criminals, but we have a code. The Boss, Romeo, is very clear on that. No women, no children, no human trafficking.”

The longer I stare into the brutally honest eyes of the man I love, the more my heart softens. I can see him breaking apart, crumbling at the thought of losing me.

Armando strokes my cheek, his touch achingly tender. “Remember when you asked me why I took you in and gave you a place to stay?” I nod, furrowing my brow. “I was nothing more than a dirty street rat. I got sick of being shuffled around foster families and group homes, so I ran away with my only friend, Leif. We did what we had to do to survive.”

“Oh my god,” I murmur, stunned by his confession. I would never have guessed the man with a home theater who always dresses in a suit was homeless as a teen.

“Leif found a way out through the military. I knew I couldn’t follow him. Never could picture myself as a soldier, but I guess I needed to find a different leader to follow.”

The corner of Armando’s lip twitches, and I somehow know it’s a joke he must share with his childhood friend. I get the strangest urge to meet him and thank him for having my man’s back.

“Romeo caught me stealing from one of the Di Salvo warehouses,” Armando goes on. “I thought he was going to shoot me, but instead, he offered me a job and a place to live. I was suspicious as hell, but smart enough to realize I’d never have an opportunity like that again. I know it’s a lot to process, Allegra. I understand if you don’t want to see me anymore. I’ll leave you alone if that’s what you–”

“Don’t leave me,” I whimper, my heart squeezing painfully in my chest. The words come spilling out of my mouth before I can think them through, but I don’t regret it.

Armando cups my face, wiping away my tears with the pads of his thumbs. “If you want me, I’m yours, Allegra. But you have to say it. Tell me you can forgive me for failing you.”

Leaning forward, I rest my forehead on his. “I forgive you for not being honest, though I understand why you did what you did.” The tension drain from Armando’s muscles, like he’s finally able to breathe for the first time all day. “You didn’t fail me, though.”

“I did,” he counters. “I failed to protect you. I promised your uncle would never harm you again, but…” He shakes his head in disgust, but I stop the motion with a kiss to his forehead. This man is unraveling before me, destroyed at the thought of anything bad happening to me under his watch.

“I followed you,” I admit. “I overheard the address you told your driver and ordered a cab with the iPad. It was my fault, Armando. I put myself in danger because I didn’t trust you.”

“No, sweet girl. None of this is your fault. I didn’t give you a reason to trust me.”

“You gave me a thousand little reasons. I let my fear take over and jumped to the worst conclusion.”

Armando combs his fingers through my hair, letting his fingers trail down my spine. “You have been through a lot of trauma, Allegra. It makes sense that you wouldn’t trust easily. I should have known you would see me for me. I should never have given you a reason to doubt me in the first place.”

My incredibly gentle yet fierce protector closes the distance between us, kissing me softly, taking his time to taste me and explore my mouth. It’s so sweet and tender I feel like I might cry.

“Armando,” I breathe, feeling our connection once more.

There’s no room for doubt when he’s pouring his heart and soul into every touch, every whispered word, every kiss. I need him in the most primal way, need him to take control and show me how perfect we are together.

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