13. Emilio
My penthouse had never felt so confining, so stifling before. I paced back and forth in the grand living room, my footsteps echoing off the sleek, polished marble floor. Nervous energy coursed through me, crackling like an electric current.
Enzo had delivered the message that he had Griselda with him. The thought sent a surge of anticipation through me, a flicker of relief that she was safe, but then quickly turned into dread.
How would she react? What would she say when she saw me? After all, this whole charade was my idea. I had no way of predicting how she”d take it. Would she be furious, feeling threatened and deceived? Would she succumb to fear once I revealed to her all of what was happening?
The clock on the wall seemed to be mocking me, its hands inching forward at an agonizingly slow pace. I ran a hand through my hair, tugging at the locks in a futile attempt to calm my nerves.
I had rehearsed what I would say and how I would explain everything, but now that the moment was here, my carefully crafted words seemed to desert me.
What if she won”t listen? What if she refuses to give me a chance to explain? The very thought twisted my gut into knots. I couldn”t bear the idea of losing her trust, of seeing disappointment in her eyes, of having her turn away from me.
The sound of the door opening made me freeze in my tracks. I turned towards it, my heart in my throat. Enzo walked in, and for a moment, I held my breath. Then I saw her. Griselda, standing there, looking both pained and upset.
My eyes zeroed in on her, making everything else fade into the background. The soft glow of the room”s lights highlighted her features, painting her with a gentle warmth.
She was here.
It had been several days since I had last seen her, but it felt like it had been years. I took a step forward, my feet almost moving of their own accord.
She turned towards me, and our eyes locked. Her hazel gaze held a mixture of emotions— surprise, apprehension, maybe even a flicker of relief, but most of all, anger.
It was a whirlwind of feelings, and I didn”t know where to start.
”Griselda,” I began, my voice barely above a whisper, the tumult within me a stark contrast to the hushed tones. ”I... I know this is a lot to take in, and I understand if you”re angry.”
Her expression twisted with a mixture of confusion, frustration, and perhaps disbelief.
And then, without warning, her hand swung, and the sharp sting of her palm meeting my cheek jolted through me.
Stunned silence filled the room, freezing the air.
Enzo”s face shifted, his eyes burning with a protective fervor, but I held out a hand. I knew he wanted to retaliate, to defend me, but I shook my head subtly, signaling for him to hold back. This was something I had anticipated, something I had braced myself for.
I met Griselda”s gaze, her eyes flashing with fire. The throbbing sensation in my cheek was nothing compared to the ache in my heart, realizing the pain I had caused her. The breach of trust must have driven her to act out.
My hand gently touched the spot where her slap had landed, and my fingers cool against the lingering warmth on my cheek.
”I deserved that,” I admitted, my voice calm.
Griselda took a step back, her surprise at her actions apparent. Her features contorted as if struggling with the aftermath of her impulsive act.
”I... I”m sorry,” she stammered, regret filling her eyes. ”I just—”
”It”s okay,” I interrupted gently. ”I expected this reaction. I understand your anger.”
My calm demeanor seemed to ease some of her worry. But behind that understanding, I felt the weight of the moment. This was a test, a crucible that would define what lay ahead for us. I had made a choice, and now it was up to Griselda to decide if she could accept it.
”I need you to know that every step I took, every decision I made, was to protect you,” I explained, my tone sincere, the honesty of my words laid bare.
”I know it was a breach of trust, and I can”t apologize enough for that. But, Griselda, you have become very precious to me, and that drove me to do whatever it took to keep you safe.”
She listened, her eyes searching mine. It was a fragile moment, the outcome uncertain. My heart beat erratically, the anticipation clawing at my chest.
Finally, she nodded, a slight easing of her tensed shoulders evident.
”I need time to process all of this,” she admitted, her voice wavering. ”But I”m willing to hear you out.”
Relief washed over me as Griselda”s initial anger seemed to dissipate, replaced by a more measured, albeit cautious, stance.
”I understand why you”re upset. This situation is far from ideal, and I regret that you had to be dragged into it.” I apologized again.
Griselda remained wary, her eyes still holding a glint of suspicion.
”There were men who came to the hotel looking for me,” I proceeded cautiously. She gave the slightest nod, acknowledging my words. ”They won”t hesitate to harm anyone close to me.” I watched her carefully, gauging her reaction.
She seemed to digest this information, her expression composed. ”So, you’re worried that they’ll come after me?”
”Yes,” I affirmed.
”But why didn”t you just talk to me about it?” she challenged, seeking understanding.
I sighed, realizing the depth of her frustration of not knowing what was going on.
”Why now?” she pressed.
I shook my head, knowing that there was still so much at risk.
”I”m telling you now because I was afraid you might be in danger,” I confessed, my voice heavy with regret. ”I was also afraid that if I approached you directly, you wouldn”t want to listen. This way, you had no choice but to hear me out.”
Griselda looked at me, a mixture of emotions playing across her face. It was an incredibly difficult situation, and I wish I could have handled it differently but at this moment, being honest was the only choice I had left.
She still didn’t speak, so I pressed on. ”It was a difficult decision, and I acted on instinct, but now, I promise to be honest with you and tell you everything.”
Griselda looked at me warily, her eyes searching mine for sincerity.
”The truth?” she asked cautiously.
”Yes,” I said firmly. ”I”ll tell you everything: no more secrets, no more half-truths. I want you to know that I genuinely care for you, and I will do everything in my power to keep you safe.”
”Alright,” she said in a cautious tone.
I gestured for her to sit on the couch, and I took a seat across from her, gathering my thoughts.
Enzo lingered nearby, clearly still wary, but I signaled that it was fine for him to leave. He shot me one last concerned look before closing the door behind him.
Griselda was leaning forward slightly, her eyes locked onto mine. I took a deep breath, my gaze steady as I began to unveil the truth.
”I truly am part of the mafia,” I stated plainly, watching her reaction.
Her face contorted into a mix of disbelief and shock, and her mouth opened slightly as if to speak, but no words came out. I continued, wanting to explain as best as I could.
”I belong to the Fiore family, one of the strongest mafia families. We”re engaged in a long-standing feud with the Mancini family, a rivalry that has lasted for decades.”
She took a moment, processing the information. I could see the disbelief in her eyes.
”Your father...?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I nodded solemnly. ”My father is the current don, the head of the Fiore family. I”m the youngest son, with an older brother who is the heir to the family legacy.”
I could see her struggling to grasp the reality of what she was hearing, and I braced myself for her reaction. Her eyes bore into mine, and she leaned forward.
”I could get you arrested,” she threatened.
I understood her anger and fear, but I couldn”t help but chuckle bitterly.
”You could try, Griselda,” I said, ”but the harsh reality is that it would be a futile endeavor.”
Hearing her threaten to have me arrested felt like I had been stabbed in my already wounded heart. I had known that the truth wouldn”t be easy for her to accept, but her words cut deeper than I had anticipated.
Her gaze turned sharp, anger now battling with curiosity.
”Why?” she demanded.
I sighed, choosing my words carefully. ”Because my family, the Fiore family, has connections and power that reach far beyond what you can imagine. We have people in law enforcement, in the judicial system, and even in politics. Attempting to expose me would not only endanger your own life but also those of your loved ones.”
“You’ll hurt those I care about?”
“No,” I answered truthfully. “But my father will.”
She blinked. The gravity of my words seemed to hit her, and her shoulders slumped in reluctant defeat.
As I grappled with the pain and sadness, I wondered whether there was a future for us. Would we be able to build a relationship? Griselda”s voice interrupted my thoughts, breaking through the heavy silence.
”What happens now?” she asked with resignation.
Taking a deep breath, I gathered my resolve and looked at her earnestly.
”I want you to stay with me for the time being,” I said, my voice gentle but firm.
”What?” she exclaimed with incredulity evident in her eyes. ”What about my job, my mom, my friends?”
I explained, ”We”ll sort everything out. You can call your mom and your friends and come up with an excuse. As for your job, you were suspended. There is no need for you to worry about it.”
Her eyes narrowed.
”Will I no longer have my privacy?” she demanded.
I softened. ”I”m sorry, it”s just... I”m trying to look out for you, Griselda,” Putting as much sincerity into my voice as possible, I implored, ”It”s the best way to keep you safe.”
She sighed with reluctant acceptance. ”I don”t have a choice, do I?”