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It hurts that there is no feeling from him at all.
“There’s no need.” The last thing I want is a favor. “I think going back to America will help fix things, both with my reputation and my father.”
His presses his lips together. “Michael will understand. He can’t hold it against you forever. Besides…” He pauses, looking at me with a searching expression. It’s the most emotion he’s shown in this entire conversation, “Perhaps some distance and letting things die down is for the better.”
It feels like someone has twisted a knife inside my heart.
“When I saw you and Luciana talk, I realized how Michael must have felt. And as a father, I cannot blame him for how he reacted. You have to put yourself in his shoes.”
I say nothing in response. He’s made himself clear, and I don’t want to make myself seem like a begging fool by asking more of him. He is done with me, discarding me like a regret.
“If you need anything else—”
“That won’t be necessary.” I turn my head away so he doesn’t see the tears forming in my eyes. “I’ll handle everything from here.”
I walk off, and he doesn’t stop me. Whatever little bubble I’d been living in these last few weeks has finally popped. It’s time to go back to my real life.
20
ENZO
It’sforthebest,I try and remind myself.
Quinn going back to America is a devastating blow, but I’m trying to make my peace with it.
When she told me, the shock was enough to make me go back into my shell, showing no emotion. My reaction had hurt her, of course. I could see it in her eyes. But what good would it have done if I had reacted any other way?
It would have made our goodbye even more painful than it was.
If things were different, I would have stopped her, claimed her in front of everyone who dared to point fingers at her character, and we could have made it.
But as a father, my priority had to be my children.
Luciana.
I go looking for her. She’d left abruptly during our conversation, and I knew she sensed something was up between us. Her opinion mattered most to me out of all my children, and I knew I had to do some damage control before she ended up hearing something I didn’t want her to.
She’s standing by the open bar, helping herself to a drink when I intercept.
“Care for some company?”
“If it’s you, always.” She smiles.
“About earlier…”
“Oh, you mean the whole thing with Quinn?” Her eyes burn with curiosity. “Yeah, that was a little weird. I felt like I was about to get caught in a crossfire.”
“We weren’t arguing or anything,” I assure her, “It was just… tying up some loose ends.”
“Loose ends?” She scrunches up her nose. “About business, you mean?”
I thought this would be easier.
“Business, yes. Did you get a chance to speak to Alessio?”
She shakes her head. “I hardly see him around. You know how he is, always busy with his own life.”
So, Luciana doesn’t have a clue about Quinn and me. I know that I have to tell her sooner or later, but for now I choose to wait.