Page 53 of Doll's Eye

His gaze is locked on me as he stomps forward, and I quicken my pace towards him. The space between us diminishes, and I throw my arms around his neck as he crushes me against his body. “I swear I had nothing to do with it,amore,” he rasps into my hair as he strokes it and holds me close. Not giving a shit that we have eyes on us. For him to be so bold with his longing in front of his men and in front of another family is a proclamation that says much.

“I know. I knew the whole time. I knew you wouldn’t ever do that,” I say in a hurry, clinging to him and unwilling to let go.Basking in his scent and the heat from his embrace. It’s precisely what I’ve needed during the most agonizing week of my life.

“Can I take you home now?”

“Please.” I pull back, and we stare at one another. He looks at me as if he hasn’t seen me in years, and I know exactly how he feels. It was painful to be separated like that, and I wish to never be torn from him again. My family home will always feel like home, but he is where I belong.

I look back and see that Paolo is safely back with my brothers, and he and Armando have joined forces in their dismay. I look between Tullio and Santino. Neither of them wants to let me go, but they know they have to.

I turn back to Massimo. “Let’s go home,” he says, taking my hand.

Chapter twenty-seven

Massimo

Having Alessia back, I feel like I can eat, breathe, and sleep again.

I was miserable without her.

On the way home, we don’t speak as I hold her in my lap and bury my face in her hair. “Mi sei mancato molto, amore mio.” I missed you so much, my love.

“I knew you had nothing todo with it.”

“I know.” I lift my head and caress her cheek. “If you thought I did, you’d come for my head.”

She smiles and rests her head on my shoulder. “I’m glad you know me so well.” Her lips gently press against the side of my neck.

“I do.”

“They’re going to kill him,” she whispers.

“I know.” My jaw ticks, and I look up to discover that we’re already rolling up to the estate.

She lifts her head and stares me in the eye, her beautiful golden-brown eyes bouncing all around. The vehicle comes toa stop, and we put the conversation on hold to head up to our room, where we can speak freely.

“What will his men do when they find out?” she asks as we both stand there with some distance between us.

“I’ll have to get rid of some. Between Ezzo, Sarita, Vinny, Monte, and myself, we’ll be able to weed out the ones who were most loyal to my father.”

“Why did you do it? Why would you give up your father to get me back? Tullio called off the truce. You don’t have to marry me,” she says gently.

I stalk her. “I neverhadto marry you, Alessia.”

“Tullio also said it was you who procured our arrangement. Not your father.”

I dip my chin once and stop right in front of her. “I’ve wanted you for years.”

“The gala.”

“Yes.”

“So, was that a test or something?”

Amusement lifts one side of my mouth. “Sort of.” I let a gap of silence hang between us. “Ask me again why I traded my father for you. Why I was going out of my mind without you.”

She licks her plump lips, and they fall slack with short breaths. “Why, Massimo?” Her voice comes out as soft as a whisper.

Threading my fingers into her hair, I hold her close. “Because I love you, Alessia.” Her eyes widen slightly. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t prevent it,” I say with absolution and remorse, referring to the accident. “So damn sorry.” Knowing the pain she now lives with, it’s a burden I will, too, carry.