Page 129 of Ravage God

He looked up at me, suddenly looking almost happy.

“What?” I asked.

He smiled. “That was Massimo. Dad and I had a meeting with Massimo a few days ago.”

My heart rate sped up. “You did?”

He nodded. “Yes. Dad wanted control over your life. Specifically, your future marriage. I don’t know why the old bastard is so keen on marrying you off.”

“Did Massimo agree?”

Valentino shook his head, and I let out a small sigh of relief. “I asked Massimo to allow me to take you back to my place, where you’ll stay until you marry. He just approved it.”

He said the last part quietly, his eyes searching my face as if he were afraid I might react poorly to his words.

“You mean it?” I whispered.

I didn’t have to live with Dad anymore. I didn’t have to be in that place, scared out of my mind that he would come at me from the slightest trigger.

Valentino nodded.

“You don’t mind me being there? It might cramp your style,” I said softly, still in disbelief.

“I want you there,” he said seriously.

Tears sprang to my eyes.

Panic entered his. “Unless you don’t want to.”

I shook my head. “I want to,” I said quickly. I wanted that more than anything.

He relaxed back in his seat and smiled. “Good. Then it’s settled.” A serious expression crossed his face. “I’m not like Dad. I will know if you try to sneak out of the apartment at night.”

My expression fell.

That meant no more late-night visits with Elio.

His face darkened. “And I need you to tell me who the bastard you’re seeing is. I don’t want to restrict your freedom. At least, no more than I need to. But I still need to know these things.”

I looked down at the table, taking in the condensation ring left behind from my soda.

“Okay. I’ll tell you. Just… not now. But I’ll tell you soon.”

He didn’t seem to like that. I held my breath as a small, dark shadow formed by his eyes. But then he nodded. I let out a small sigh of relief just as the waitress came back with Valentino’s card. He signed it, and we got up, walking out of the casino.

I looked at the slot machines as we passed.

“Did you want to play?” Valentino asked.

I shook my head. It wasn’t so much that I wanted to play. I just wanted to be like the people who played, who all looked so carefree, like they had more freedom than me. Even though I knew it might not be true.

Everyone had their stuff to deal with.

I wasn’t special, but sometimes, I wished I could just blend in like them.

When we stepped outside, the Vegas sun was glaring down at me.

Heat hit instantly, and I squinted my eyes as I looked around. I didn’t know what made me turn my attention to the left toward the Rockwood casino, but I froze when I saw Elio standing there with Chiara.