Page 57 of The Players

She froze. Did he know? “I think I told you enough the other night.”

“Whatever, or whomever, it is that you fear, I’ll take care of it. Just tell me. I’m not the man anymore, that promised you to—”

Her fingers pressed against his lips, silencing him. “Don’t. Please. I don’t want to talk about the past. When you promised to meet me here and run away with me, you were not a man.” His eyes strained and she could see how her words hurt him. “Sorry, I don’t mean it like it sounds. What I’m trying to say is that I’ve blamed you for so long for everything that went wrong in my life. Truth is, when you made that promise, you were just a boy. It was wrong of me to hold on to that grudge for so long. I guess it was just easier to have a scapegoat to blame for when destiny gives you the finger.

“When I found out that my grandfather had arranged for me to marry Franco, I could have run away. You were not my only option, no matter what you’d promised. I go to the shelter every week and see women, sometimes just teenage girls, who have fled a situation much worse than I was in. Yes, they are scared and unsure of their life, but at least they have taken action, taken control of their own life, instead of waiting to be rescued.

“I wasn’t brave enough back then. I knuckled under, because I was afraid that I couldn’t make it on my own. Part of me hoped that the rumors about Franco were wrong. I even convinced myself it was a good thing that you didn’t show up that night. I told myself that it was a sign. That perhaps you were the dragon in disguise, and Franco the misunderstood knight.” She took a step back. “Either way, you are not that boy anymore, and I’m not that girl. You have opened your home to me, saved me from horrible men. You’ve more than made up for a mistake, that wasn’t your mistake to begin with. All I want is to right the mistake I have made as well. On my own.”

He was silent for a second, then cupped her cheek. “There’s no shame in asking for help.”

“Still, I’m not asking for any.”

His hand dropped, even as his eyes pinned her down. “I can’t promise to stand by and watch when you need me. Even if you are too proud to ask me for it.”

His words held a promise. One fact she already knew—Vince Detta was never going to leave her to deal with her own problems. When he claimed a woman, he was all-in. Sadly, she couldn’t let him. Not doing all she could to help Marni was the biggest regret of her life. What if Vince found out she’d left a little girl in a hellhole and lost all respect for her?

She turned toward Franco’s grave one last time.

Vince pulled her close. “Say your goodbyes.”

It was as if he could read her mind. Burrowing into his side, she took strength from his presence and did exactly that.

CHAPTER 20

CARMEN

The next morning, when Carmen went downstairs for breakfast, she found Vince sitting at the kitchen table, reading a newspaper on his tablet. As usual, he was immaculately dressed in a dark suit and silk tie.

He cocked a brow when his eye landed on her bag. “Leaving the citadel?”

“You’d do well to wipe that smile off your face.”

He sent her a scorching look. The kind that made her heart beat faster, and part of her wish they were naked in bed again. If she didn’t put an end to his flirting, she knew exactly what was going to happen. Her ending up in bed, staying inside, yet again.

“I’m going to see Jazzy today,” she started. “And before you go all frowny face on me, let me tell you that you can’t stop me. I have a life. Also, Jazzy has kind of threatened to hunt me down with a club and hit me over the head with it if I don’t show my face soon.” Even without the threat, Carmen had been planning to visit Jazzy. Not only did she miss her fiercely, but she also needed her help.

“Of course you should go. I’ll take you.”

“No need. I can go myself.”

His look said otherwise. “Iwilltake you.”

The automatic protest on her lips died, as it would be no use fighting this. It wasn’t the first time she had been chauffeured around town. Franco hadn’t allowed her to go anywhere on her own, claiming it was for her protection. Before him, it had been Grandfather who had ruled her to be transported around with a bodyguard and driver. Even after Franco’s death, it had been Raul who insisted she wouldn’t go outside alone. Some things never changed.

By noon, Vince dropped her off at Jazzy’s for a long overdue visit.

Seeing Jazzy standing in the doorway with a baby bump made Carmen realize she wasn’t so little anymore. No, she was round, and frankly, beautiful. She also looked spitting mad.

“Finally!” Jazzy snapped, hands on her hips. “I was about to storm the castle. Where have you been? And why the hell did I have to learn from Gio that you’ve moved in with Vince and Sy?”

This tirade went over for about ten minutes, as Jazzy practically dragged her inside, placed her on the couch, and sat next to her. When they were being served coffee, she finally stopped. The scowl hadn’t left her face though.

Carmen put down her coffee and pulled Jazzy into an embrace. “I love you too, sis.”

“Please, just tell me what’s going on with you. No one tells me anything. I tried to eavesdrop when Vince came over, but I got caught,” she shamelessly admitted. “Ever since I’ve gotten pregnant, Gio thinks I’m this porcelain doll. It’s really annoying.”

“He loves you.”

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