Page 135 of Mafia Virgin (The Kings of Italy)

“Why not? Your twin has her own career, no?”

“Yes, but it isn’t easy. It requires money and security and a lot of patience on Enzo’s part.”

“Dai, you think I don’t have patience or money?” Grabbing her hand, I stroked the soft skin of her inner wrist. “I will make this happen for you, I swear it. Please, choose a life with me, amore. All you have to do is say yes.”

Indecision swirled in the depths of her brown gaze. “You said we would never be equals, that I thought I was smarter than everyone else.”

I clasped her face in both palms and rested my forehead against hers. “Emmalina, I’m not a perfect man. And I can’t promise I won’t ever hurt you again or say something stupid. But I love you, and I will apologize over and over until you believe me.”

Her fingers wrapped around my wrists, holding me in place. “I have to think about this.”

My heart sank to my toes. I hadn’t convinced her. Maybe she didn’t love me as much as I loved her, or maybe she couldn’t forgive me for what I said and did. Or maybe I truly was cursed.

I pushed all my emotions aside, buried them deep. There was nothing more I could say. If my confession hadn’t changed her mind, then I had to accept it. I had to let her go.

I started to pull away, but her hands latched onto my shirt. Eyes pleading, she whispered, “Wait, Giacomo. I’m not saying no.”

“But you are not saying yes, either.”

“I just need time. This all happened so fast and my father is still dying. I don’t know what I want or need—”

“Emma! Oh, my god!”

A tall brunette with similar features to my wife launched herself at Emma, breaking our hold. I stepped back and found Enzo D’Agostino and his brother Vito striding toward us. They both wore grave expressions, no doubt worried over their other brother.

“Hey, Gia,” Emma said, hugging her sister fiercely. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Where is he?” Enzo barked at us, his brows pulled low.

Emma answered first. “He’s being treated. They haven’t given us any updates.”

“Then I will learn these updates for myself.” Enzo moved around us and headed straight for the hospital doors.

“No, wait,” Emma called, but Enzo didn’t break stride. He disappeared inside the building, Vito right behind him.

“Come on, Em,” Gia said, tugging her sister along and pretending I didn’t exist. “Let’s go find out how Massimo is doing.”

Emma let Gia pull her toward the hospital, but I stayed put. I only cared about her, not a Napoletano mafioso, and I wanted to continue our conversation. I wasn’t ready to give up. I imagined throwing her over my shoulder and carrying her back to my plane, fighting any man who tried to stop me.

“I just need time.”

I wasn’t stupid. I knew what that meant. It was what people said when they didn’t want to hurt you to your face.

Emma looked over her shoulder at me, and I saw her frown.Are you okay?she mouthed.

NotCome with me, orHurry up.Not even a promise to talk later. It was clear she didn’t want me to follow.

Instead, she was worried she’d hurt me, because that was Emma. She cared about everyone else at the expense of herself. It was one of her most admirable qualities, but I didn’t want her concern. I wanted her to fight for us, for me. I wanted our fake marriage to have a real chance.

I wanted her to choose me.

But that obviously wasn’t going to happen.

The big industrial-looking building swallowed her up, the electronic doors closing with aswooshthen falling silent.

I let out a long breath and steeled myself against the pain rippling through my chest. As a young boy I’d learned that love disappointed and hurt. It allowed others to have power over you. It gave them the ability to rip out your heart and shred it into tiny pieces.

I wouldn’t make that mistake again.

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