Page 119 of Mafia Virgin (The Kings of Italy)

“Oh, Mo.” Her hand landed on my arm. “I never should’ve said those words that day. You arenothim. Not even close.”

“You didn’t hear the things I said, or see her curled up and crying. It was unforgivable, Viv. It’s good she left.”

“You don’t mean that. I could hear in her voice how much she cared about you.”

“It doesn’t matter. I won’t make her stay and terrorize her for the rest of our lives.”

“I don’t believe it. I don’t believe you’d terrorize any woman. You’re not like him. You’re the complete opposite of him.”

“Then maybe I’m becoming him. Maybe I really am—”

“If you say you’re cursed again, I’m going to punch you.”

I sighed. Vivi loved me, so she was trying to reassure me. But I didn’t deserve it.

“Mo,” she said. “You said she left. So even if you were awful to her, she didn’t just take it. Instead,sheleft you. See the difference? She won’t let you turn into Don Gero. And you know what that means?”

I peered over at her. “What?”

“That means you can’t let her go. You have to win her back.”

Win her back? Impossible. I wouldn’t even know how. “I came here to talk about you and Federico, not my marriage.”

She lifted her chin. “There’s nothing more to discuss about me. You’re going to let Federico and I live our lives.”

“Are you pregnant?”

She shoved my shoulder. “Dio mio, is that all you got out of what I said? No, I’m not pregnant. We are using condoms.”

I frowned. I didn’t want to think about my sister having sex. “How will you support yourself?”

“I don’t know, but Federico and I will figure it out. Maybe we’ll stay here. Maybe we’ll move to Paris. Whatever we do, it will be on our own terms.”

It wasn’t lost on me that Emma had predicted this.“Maybe she wants a life for herself, one where she isn’t locked away.”Except I hadn’t listened. And now my sister has married and is moving away from me.

My throat tight, I forced out, “All I have ever wanted was to protect you, sorellina.”

Viviana eased forward and wrapped her arms around my neck. “And I’m grateful to you for it. I never would have survived without you.” I held her close and we stayed there for a long beat before she said, “It’s time to let me go.”

What choice did I have? I could drag her back to Mirabella or the mansion and keep her hidden, but she’d never forgive me for it.

For my entire life I always put my sister first, so why would I stop now?

“I don’t want to,” I said quietly. “But maybe you’re right. Maybe you need to choose.”

I felt her sag against me, her relief evident. “Grazie, Mo.”

I kissed her forehead. “Be happy, Vivi. And you will always be my family.”

“I’ll contact you once we settle somewhere.”

“Ti voglio bene, cara mia.”

“Ti voglio bene, fratello.”

When she eased back a tear had fallen down her cheek, so I smoothed it away with my thumb. “Can I still punch Federico? Just once?”

She laughed, as I knew she would, and wiped her eyes. “Don’t you dare. I happen to like his teeth where they are.”

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