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“I hate it, Grazia.” He turned to me and I was touched by the blazing flames in his eyes. “Letting you go over and over again is my hell and I can’t keep living in it.”
“Oh, Salvatore.”
He tried to walk away, but I chained him with my arms, trying to quiet the storm.
“Stay with me,Tesoro.”
“What?”
“Don’t go home.” For a second, I believed he didn’t hear his own words. “I have to put my father in the ground today, and I need you with me.”
“You don’t need anyone. You’re the strongest man I know.”
Salvatore Fiori was the closest thing to a god that I’ve ever known. I had seven brothers and they were all strong, fearless man, but Sasa always towered above them. In my eyes he was untouchable.
“Not for this.”
“Yes, for this. You are ready.” I said, loud and clear, believing every word. “You were born to be a king, and now it’s time to take your throne.”
“We should have been married by now.”
My blood froze. This was not the time for us to debate a childhood fantasy that was lost years ago. There was no point.
“You’ll be fine without me. I have to return.” My eyes slid to the clock hanging on his wall. “My father will expect to see me at breakfast.”
“Your father.” After repeating my words, he chuckled, but it was a very bitter sound. “They always come before me. Fabiano, your brothers, even the Bernoulli girls, you always run to them first.”
“Salvatore, that’s not fair.”
“Don’t talk to me about fairness, Grazia. What in our world is fair? I’ve put bullets in people for looking at me the wrong way, so no, I’m not a fair man, but fuck it, Grazia Paulina, I’ve always been fair to you.”
A lump formed in my throat stopping my response from coming out. Yes, he was right, I was always special to him. Back when Salvatore never missed any of my ballet practices, my brothers used to tease him and say that I was his master – that I could make him dance to my tune. He always indulged me, even when I was a capricious bitch, but that didn’t give him the right to throw it in my face.
“I don’t understand what you want from me, Salvatore.”
“I want you to give me a sign that you still care. It’s supposed to be me and you, not you and your father.”
“I wasn’t given a choice and you know that. It was our parents…”
“Fuck that, their time has passed. My father’s dead.”
But mine wasn’t. Mine was on the other side of town, waiting to have breakfast with his daughter.
“That doesn’t change anything, Salvatore, it just makes everything worse. You’re not just the son of an enemy now, youarethe enemy.”
He stopped from pacing the room and looked at me. The impact of his eyes almost kicked me back.
“Che cazzo mi hai appena detto?[26]” He spoke low. Terrifyingly low.
“Salvatore, what I mean is...”
“Repeat the fucking words.” I didn’t. I just sat there like a deer staring at the hunter’s shotgun. “I’m your enemy?”
“No!Maledetto[27]! I’m just saying that now you’re the Don of the Fiori family – one of the most powerful people in this country. Today, you inherit power, and respect, and a loyal brotherhood ready to serve you and you also inherit my father’s anger.”
“Fuck your father!” He yelled – roared – like I’ve never heard him before. Salvatore had an unmatched temper, everyone knew that, but until this minute, I’ve never feared him. “Say the damn words again.”
“What words?”
