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“What?” His hand wraps around my arms, spinning me around until I am face to face with him.
“It’s an excuse. It doesn’t have to be this way.”
He growls. “No, it’s not. This is the way it is. If you don’t like the way things are, then leave.”
“It doesn’t have to be this way.” I repeat. “Look at Rhett and Spencer. They both found a way to balance a love life, hockey life, and mafia life. Their girlfriends understand their hectic schedules.”
“They aren’t the heir to the empire. They don’t share the same responsibilities as I do.”
“I get that. I really do. I’m not trying to monopolize your time, but I can’t keep us a secret. I don’t want to keep us a secret anymore.” I let out a sigh as more tears blur my vision. “So this is it, then?”
He crosses his arms. “Only if you say it is.”
“I want more with you, Joseph Marino. I want to go out on dates with you. I want to tell our friends we are together. I want to have hope for a future together.”
His gaze darts to my office door. “That’s never going to happen, Alexandra. Not as long as you are with me.”
He grinds his teeth together before continuing. “You need to find someone who can give you everything you want and need because I’m not the man for you.”
He walks over to my door, unlocks it, and leaves without giving me another glance.
My heart shatters into a million pieces. I knew this was a possibility when I decided to confront him, but I didn’t expect to feel this torn.
I don’t want to be a secret any longer, and if I need to pick myself up and move on, then I will.
As of this moment, Joseph Marino is dead to me.
Chapter Two
JOSEPH
Blood can’t actually boilin your veins, but I’m pretty sure my blood is damn close to it. My foul mood is still lingering days later, even though I’ve hit the gym for two hours.
I’m sweaty, my muscles are sore, and I’m pissed and ready to take it out on anyone that dares to cross me, starting with the guy downstairs in the interrogation room.
I’m pissed at the family I was born into.
I’m pissed at Alexandra.
Most of all, I’m pissed at myself.
Why couldn’t I tell her the truth? Why couldn’t I just man up and agree to take her out on dates?
I shouldn’t have strung her along as long as I have, but I can’t promise her a happy future. I can’t promise to keep her safe. Just look at Francesca and Savannah.
Alexandra deserves a safe and stable life, not one filled with danger and crime. She deserves to be treated like a queen and shown off.
I can’t give her the life she deserves.
It’s more like I can’t, and I won’t.
I let out a sigh and jog down the flight of stairs to the basement. It’s quiet and dark. Everyone else is out enjoying their lives and their girlfriends while I’m here alone, trying to deal with my pent up anger.
I’m turning into my father more and more by the day, and not in a good way.
I stretch my neck from side to side and crack my knuckles before heading inside the interrogation room.
It’s dark and quiet except for the small red light hanging from the ceiling beams. It illuminates the man sitting on the metal chair.