Page 226 of When We Fall: Part One

“Ah, Dominic’s kingdom of misery,” he mused. “It’s trivial.”

“Trivial? Is he not to run it?”

“He is. He won’t. Alessio runs it. It’s just a gnat for Dominic to deal with. Something that hangs over his head. It means nothing.”

“So you’re only doing it to torment him?” Rosalie asked.

Matteo leaned forward. “Ah, you do pay attention. I thought you were more than just a beauty.”

Rosalie’s cheeks flushed again.

“Dominic is soft. It’s a means to harden him.”

“Maybe soft is good,” Rosalie said. “I’m soft.”

“You’re sweet, not soft. Someday,bel fiore,you will be hell in heels. I can see that in you. You’re tired of the life you’re in. At one point, you’ll have enough. When that day comes, I eagerly look forward to seeing what you do with the power you wield.”

“How do you know?” she asked.

“Because you remind me of someone I used to know,” he said sadly. “Alessandro’s mother was a lot like you. Terribly sweet, overwhelmingly beautiful, intelligent, and much too good to love a man like me.”

I looked at my hands, my throat tight. My mother had been an incredible woman.

“Do you have a picture of her?”

I looked at Matteo, who pulled out his wallet and handed her a tiny square. Rosalie peered at it.

“Anson has her eyes,” she whispered.

“He does. She had the bluest eyes. Like looking at a bright summer day. She lit up my world of darkness by walking into the same room as me.”

“She was beautiful.” Rosalie handed the photo back to Matteo. He studied it briefly, his Adam’s apple bobbing before he tucked it back into his wallet.

“She was.” He reached out and took Rosalie’s hands in his. I was surprised she didn’t flinch away from him.

“I want the world for you, Rosalie Bishop. Tell me what you desire, and I shall make it yours. Anything.”

“Anything?” she whispered. “Promise?”

He nodded. “Yes. Anything. I promise. I never break my promises.”

She bit her bottom lip for a moment. I leaned in as she spoke in a soft voice.

“I want you to stop fighting. I want you to leave this life behind and live in peace for the rest of your days. I-I want you to be happy, Matteo. I want you to fall in love again and realize it means more than any war or pile of money. It means more than power and fear. I want your happiness. I mean that.”

I sat frozen in place and looked at my father. He hadn’t expected that response either.

“Rosalie Bishop,” he murmured. “You are an intriguing creature.”

He continued to hold her hands despite her answering him.

“You said anything,” she said, her voice soft. “You promised.”

He chuckled softly. “I did, didn’t I? I don’t break my promises, either. Interesting turn of events.Rosalie Bishop.” He shook his head, a tiny smile on his face. “Alessandro, she’s really something. Keep this one around. I like her.”

I smiled at that. “I will, Father.”

He released her hands as Alessio came out with a woman in tow.