Page 125 of My Mafia Queen

Of course I do.

He said there was no future, and I acknowledged that.

How could I not?

He does what he does, and I just proved to him I’m not ready to live that kind of life.

I’m not that kind of person.

“I do,” I murmur.

“Okay, then,” he says as we slowly walk toward the other side of the house. “Nothing has changed. I’m still who I am.”

“But this is about me.”

He looks at me, smiling and gently stroking my hair.

“No matter who you are,gattino,it doesn’t change who I am. I won’t keep you in my life so you can get killed or see me getting killed. We’ll figure something out,” he adds, which still doesn’t sound like much.

There is nothing to be figured out.

We’re either together, and I swear loyalty to him the same way he’s sworn loyalty to his organization, or there’s nothing.

Him sending me away sounds like protecting me by keeping me away from him.

Sure, it’s what I’ve always wanted––to be safe––yet in reality, I couldn’t figure out how to accomplish that.

Tina is an important part of my life. I want her safe. I don’t want to put her in another dangerous situation.

Is she safe now?

That’s debatable.

Would she be safe with me as her legal guardian?

That’s debatable as well.

Would Damaso’s men help us stay safe?

Yes, of course they would.

But there are other dangers besides having bad people come after us.

I suddenly reflect on my life with her.

Would my job be enough to support the two of us?

Even with his help, I need to make sure I can take care of her.

I’m suddenly torn now because my plan no longer feels like the ideal situation.

It’s like I’m caught between two timeframes of my life. In one, I’m this new bold person who learns quickly, although not quickly enough.

And in the other, I’m the old version of myself, still hesitant and lacking confidence.

And time isn’t on my side.

“What would you like to do tonight?” he asks when we enter the hallway, showing no intention to go to sleep.

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