Page 132 of Bellini Born

“Summer?” I approached her slowly, like she was an animal about to spook. “What’s going on?”

Her lower lip wobbled, and she croaked out, “You said we were safe.”

“I know.” I hung my head in shame. “I was wrong.”

It was foolish to think the Russians wouldn’t retaliate after I took out their leader. My actions were responsible for yesterday’s attack on my wife. They knew she was my weakness and planned to use her to hit me where it hurt the most—my heart. Something I’d kept guarded until Summer walked into my life.

“And I’m so fucking sorry,dolcezza.” Those words came out on a pained whisper as I lifted my gaze to meet her watery one.

She squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head. “No, I’m sorry.”

“What? Summer, no—” I moved toward her, but she cut me off with a raised hand.

“I thought I could handle it—this life. I thought I was strong enough. But maybe I’m not. I’m not really sure.”

A sob bubbled up from her chest, and barbed wire wrapped around my ribs so that each breath I took caused a million cuts.

All I wanted to do was pull her into my arms and promise that what happened yesterday was a one-off and would never happen again. But we’d both know that I would be lying, so I kept my lips sealed shut.

She sniffled. “As much as I love you, I need to take some time away to get my head on straight after all that’s happened.”

There was a hole in my chest from where those words carved my heart out. She’d finally seen the ugliest side of what it meant to be a mafia wife—not just any mafia wife, but that of a don—and that meant I was going to lose her.

I swallowed thickly. “I understand.” Moving closer, I cupped her cheeks, thumbing the moisture away only to have more replace it in an instant. “Take all the time you need, but know this will always be your home, and I’ll be here waiting. Forever.Becauseti amo, Summer. There will never be anyone else for me. Only you.”

Summer buried her face in my chest as she wept, and I held her tight, knowing it might be the last time. Giving her the space she needed could backfire. She could decide that this life wasn’t what she wanted. ThatIwasn’t what she wanted.

When she pulled away, she hit me with a smile so sad it tore my soul to shreds.

“Give the girls a hug and a kiss for me and tell them how much I love them. Tell them—” Her voice broke. “Tell them I’m visiting Aunt Gabi, and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Of course.” I nodded. “Tino will drive you.”

She winced at the reminder that her former security guard/driver had died protecting her.

“I have to go,” Summer rasped, the words barely audible between hiccups.

There was a beat of hesitation, almost like she wasn’t sure she could make herself leave, and I held my breath, hoping for a miracle.

But then she turned on her heels, grabbed her bag off the floor, and walked through the door, taking my heart with her, as she let it slam shut on its spring-loaded hinges behind her with a deafening crack.

My hands flew to my head, tugging on my hair violently, as I paced; the temperature on the anger I felt toward myself rose with each passing minute. I needed an outlet, a way to release this aggression, this all-consuming rage coursing through my veins before it ate me alive from the inside out.

Stomping through the penthouse, I burst through the closed door to my office, kicking it shut behind me. Then I went on a rampage, destroying everything in sight. I must’ve blacked out at some point because when I came to, I was on my ass with my back against the wall, and the room was in shambles. Brokenglass and torn paper littered the floor. My computer screen had been smashed in with God only knew what. Hell, even the couch had poly-fil stuffing spilling out from several giant gashes in the leather.

Yet none of it changed the fact that my wife had left me, and there was no one to blame but myself.

“What the fuck happened?” Enzo’s voice had my head snapping up.

Burying my face in my hands, heart twisting, I confessed, “Summer’s gone.”

“Gone?” he asked cautiously as he stepped closer. “Like—”

“Like yesterday was more than she could handle, and she left.”

Enzo blew out a heavy breath. “Shit, man. I’m sorry.”

“I want a team of four men on her around the clock, rotating in eight-hour shifts,” I ordered. “Just because she isn’t under my roof doesn’t mean she stops being a target.”