Page 105 of Debt to the Mafia King

“I don’t know,” I admitted softly. “I guess that depends on you?”

Her head snapped back. “Why me?”

“Because you might decide that you don’t want to be with me. But I’ll respect your decision as long as I can still be a part of your lives.

“You didn’t want to be with me. Or are you just saying this because you want to be in your son's life.”

Bending over her I found her lips with mine. “I’ve always wanted to be with you, Leah. Letting you go was the hardest thing I ever had to do. But I needed to keep you safe, and I couldn’t guarantee that if I wasn’t in charge. Hell, I can’t even guarantee it now that I am. My father—”

“Died, I heard, and I’m sorry.”

“I’m not. He’s not important now, Leah, because he is part of the past, and I want to concentrate on our future.” My eyes locked with hers. “If you think we have a future?”

I held my breath.

She didn’t say anything. She just stared, a little line appearing between her tired eyes like she was trying to read my thoughts.

“You—”

“Look.” Fumbling for the good chain around my throat, I pulled the locket clear and opened it so she could see the two tiny pictures inside.

One side, her; on the other, our last scan photo. She sucked in a breath.

“I’ve worn you next to my heart since that night, Leah, because you are the only one who has ever had my heart. Just you and now him.”

“Then, why did you leave us? Why were the last things you said to me—”

I cut her off. “The last words I said to you were that I loved you. You just didn’t hear them.”

Her blue eyes widened. “You love me?”

“Yes, I love you, Leah. This old man has always loved you. And if you will let me, I will love you for the rest of my life.”