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I shake my head. She’s not.
“It’s you that needs to make some decisions here. Then we all go from there.”
She nods, but I swear I see her mind still working. “Xanny, one more thing.”
“What?”
“Don’t try to drug me or do something to knock me out.”
Her lips purse, and she doesn’t try to deny it.
“I could be pregnant.” I whisper so only she can hear it. Her mouth falls open.
“Thatwas always my dream, Xanny. Those books I read showed me what love could be. I wanted to find my true love. A love so great he’d do anything and everything to have me and keep our family safe.”
“Unconditional love. Nothing like our parents,” Xanny whispers. I’m not sure if she’s talking to herself or both of us.
“And I’ll give my Leone unconditional love right back,” I vow before I head back into the house. Xanny needs to do some soul searching on her own and without having to worry about me.
When I enter, I find Leone pacing back and forth. He stops the second I come through the door.
“You’re staying?”
I run over to him and fling myself in his arms. He catches me. “I am, but don’t be acting like you’d let me leave even if I wanted to.”
“I want you to want to be here.”
“I do, too, more than anything.” I press my mouth to his. “Plus I still have a deal to complete,” I tease.
“She’ll come around.” Leone sees right through me trying to pretend I’m okay.
“I want her to stay.” Tears fill my eyes.
“She has to choose it.” He strokes the back of his hand down my cheek. “I’ve already chosen you; now she has to do the same.” He leans closer and brushes his lips against mine. “And she will, because you, little one, are irresistible.”
When he kisses me, my cares melt away, and I’m lost in Leone, in all of him–the dark and the light, the gray, the totality of him, of the man I love.