Page 20

Chapter Twenty

Blaze

How quickly she’s become an everyday part of my world. My routine. My life. I never got to ask her what she meant that drunken night; if it was true she was having feelings for me, or merely wine talk.

Now, the moment has passed.

“Don’t talk champagne talk in the light of day,” I joke lightly to no one.

After returning from the yacht, Cleo locked herself in her room to focus on the wording of her email request. When I checked on her an hour later, she was softly snoring under the covers.

I kissed her cheek and left, returning to bed by myself. I despised it. Falling asleep with her in my arms is my favorite part of the day, and I always look forward to it. Now I’m the one who can’t sleep alone.

What will I do when she returns to the city ?

We planned to have breakfast together this morning, but she canceled, explaining that she felt she had neglected Seraphina and would instead do morning yoga with the Beauties and Dame. I can’t help but feel jealous. He better not be watching my girl in those bee leggings while she stretches and bends.

Why haven’t I taken up yoga? Because I need to work. Before she came, I was a workaholic. I hung out with family. I haven’t even seen Haze and Ophelia since that first dinner.

In a few days, she will leave, and everything will change. I would say it will go back to the way it was, but after a taste of having her as mine, I’m no fool. I know nothing will ever be the same.

Her ability to return to the city hinges on me. I’m tempted to sabotage the entire family and blow up everything I’ve been working towards so that Cleopatra will be forced to stay here in my arms, where she’s safe.

Ever since the meeting with Liam, I’ve been in contact with someone from my past—a good friend from school. Massimo Moretti, a fellow Bronx kid.

We lived in the same subsidized housing, went to the same school, ran in the same circles, and even dated the same girl, once. We got into a fist fight over her and somehow ended up closer after that.

When I joined the Bachmans, I lost touch with Mass. I had no idea we’d soon be rivals. After the bomb threat at the church, I called him. We’ve been talking every day since, any time I can sneak away for a private call. Together, we’ve formed a plan for a truce between the families .

The heads of the families have agreed to a temporary settlement. We all stay on our turf and discuss how things will go down in the city's future. At least, for now, there will be peace. We all know what hasn’t been said: war is coming. But we’ll hold it off as long as we can.

Haze is upset with me. I went over his head and talked to Liam before speaking with him. He’ll get over it. I couldn’t have both of them hyping each other up to strike while I have a truce in place.

I also had a personal reason to make peace. Cleo needed to go back, and without a truce between families, I couldn’t imagine a world in which I would let her leave Italy. I’ll be putting surveillance and security measures in place for Cleopatra.

She’s agreed.

“Will everything be set for us to leave on Thursday? I want a day to decompress before Lydia’s wedding.”

She’s a good girl. She’s eager to return to her life, her job, her little buggers.

Who am I to interfere, simply because I have feelings for her? What do I bring to her besides a life she doesn’t desire? The allure of billionaires and organized crime doesn’t appeal to a salt-of-the-earth, old-soul woman like her.

I may be able to square my shoulders and hold my head high strolling through the dangers of the city, but with her, I’m weak.

Her sweet, feminine voice happily interrupts my thoughts. “Knock, knock! ”

“Hey, Cleo!” A big smile stretches over my face. I’m becoming an eager puppy every time she walks in the door. “Have you heard back from your principal yet?”

She shakes her head. “Not yet. Hopefully soon. If not, I’ll go see him on Monday.”

“Seraphina left yesterday. How are you holding up?”

“Not bad! I’ll see her in a few days. We’re still flying out on Thursday, right? So we can be rested for the wedding?”

“Right.”

“And then we’ll be roomies! I did tell you she asked me to move in, right?”

“Yes.” A couple of times.

And each one was like a dagger in my heart.

I don’t know if I can let her go.

“I…um…” I run a hand over the back of my neck. I had no idea letting her go would be this hard. “I talked to the guys, and they’re going to put your wardrobe under the jet. So, you’ll have everything with you as soon as we land.”

“Gosh, I don’t know if all those clothes will fit in my tiny closet. Her second bedroom is like a shoebox.” She glances around, looking wistful. “Nothing like this beautiful place.”

“You could stay?”

She laughs, thinking I’m joking. I’m not. “I need to go back,” she says. “Whether I get the first-grade position or not, I’ll move to a new classroom. I need to get prepared. ”

Change the subject. “Tell me about Lydia’s wedding. What can I expect?”

“Lydia wanted something basic. She’s having a simple church service.” She looks down, suddenly shy. “Actually, um…she’s getting married at the same church your brother got married in. That will be…nice.”

“Our church.”

“Not our church, Blaze. The church.”

I press my hand into the wall above her head, surrounding her in the cocoon of my body. “It’s the one we had sex in the back of, though. That makes it ours.”

“You’re funny.” She shrinks away, ducking under my arm to stand a few feet from me. I’ve sensed she’s been pulling away the closer we get to returning to the city. “Um, but that does bring up something I wanted to talk to you about.”

Hope sparks in my chest. Could this be the moment we put our doubts aside and she gives in to her feelings?

“As far as sex, I think we should cool it,” she says. My hope comes crashing down. She tries to give me a sweet smile, but it doesn’t reach her gaze. “I don’t want either of us getting hurt.”

I don’t say anything. I can’t.

“Is that okay?” she asks, looking at me with genuine concern.

“I’m okay if you’re okay,” I say quickly. “Tell me about the reception. Is Lydia having one? ”

“Cake, champagne, and dancing. Then a bubble sendoff, and then, it’s over.”

Her eyes meet mine.

It’s over.

Her words are heavy, holding so much more meaning than the end of a wedding reception.

She’s set her date. She’s been clear with me from the beginning. This wedding will be the end of us.

When I get on the jet and fly back to Italy, I will never go to the city again. I can’t because I’ll want to see her if I do.

And if I ever have to see her with someone else…I don’t think I can bear the pain.

We stand there, an awkward silence between us, tension sharp and tight pulling between us.

“Cleo,” I say.

“Yes?”

The sound of her phone suddenly breaks the tense moment—it’s her personal one. Now that we’ve called a truce with the Morettis, I’ve returned it to her. She pulls it from her pocket, glancing down at the screen.

“It’s a text. From my principal!” Eagerness fills her voice. Her eyes quickly scan his words.

“What does it say?”

“Oh my.” She finally looks up at me, and she’s positively beaming, grinning from ear to ear. “Dreams come true. He’s letting me go up to first grade! I’m staying with my kiddos.”

My throat closes as I try to choke out words of congratulations. “That’s—that’s great.”

“Isn’t it?” She flings herself into my arms, hugging me tight in her excitement.

I wrap my arms around her. “That’s great news. I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks!” She breaks our embrace too soon.

This news has brought her so much joy. Who am I to stand in the way of her dream job and her inevitable marriage to Nathan, the accountant, and Bernice, the cute yet slightly neurotic Maltese?

Her safe bet. Her predictable future. Her white picket fence.

I’m just a kid from the Bronx who never quite made it out, and the only thing I can offer her other than myself is jewels she has no desire for.

That girl doesn’t need a crown to make her queen.

And she clearly doesn’t need me for her king, either.

It’s midnight, and my time is up. This is the part where I’m supposed to turn into a pumpkin.

Void of all emotion.