Page 40 of Kept

“You know, no one has ever asked me why.”

“Really?”

“Yep. Mostly people think it’s weird and change the subject.” I take a breath. “Are you familiar with the story?”

“Only the broad strokes. Catch me up,” he tells me.

“Okay, so the short version is they are madly in love, but dude is tricked and breaks his promise, so my character is trapped as a swan forever. He begs her forgiveness, and she gives it to him. He was tricked and all, and she’s not holding it against him. Even if he was an idiot.”

I feel Vincent laugh again.

“Anyway, she forgives him. But she also doesn’t want to live as a fucking swan forever. So she throws herself off a cliff. He loses his mind, and because it’s a tragedy and everyone dies anyway, he jumps too, and even though the whole damn thing was his fault, their spirits live in heaven. But as a little bonus, his sacrifice breaks the curse and kills the bad guy, so that’s nice too.”

“So why is that your favorite?”

“Because forgiveness is what you do for yourself, so you aren’t holding onto things that hurt you. But she still chooses her own path, rather than live a life that wasn’t hers. I think there is something beautiful in that.”

We fall back into the relaxed, comfortable silence again.

“So, this mafia thing. Your father was in charge?”

“Until he died. Then it passed to me.”

“Why not your brother? He’s older right?”

“Alessandro was already a priest. He joined the clergy years before. Pissed the hell out of my father.”

“Do you know why he did that?”

He shakes his head. “No idea. Maybe you’ll be the one to pry answers out of his stubborn ass.”

After a beat, I lock eyes with him again. “Vincent?”

“Yes?”

“You’re not going to kill me, are you?” I don’t know why, but suddenly I feel it in my bones.

“No,” he whispers and then crushes his lips to mine with a kiss so hot, I’m surprised the water doesn’t boil around us.

CHAPTER 21

Vincent

She snores.

My tiny little ballerina snores, and it’s fucking adorable. She’s still curled up in my arms, her head on my chest. It’s already later than I usually sleep, but now I really can’t delay getting up anymore. Carefully, I slip out from under her and slide a pillow under her head. She mumbles something before turning over and falling back asleep.

I make a quick run through my morning routine, and then into the walk-in closet to get dressed. I keep a selection of my clothes and toiletries here, since you never know when you’re going to need to come home and run the kingdom from the castle. My closet also comes with a small armory, because I am who I am. I collect my normal daily weapon and several magazines.

I stop by the kitchen on the way to my office to ask the cook to bring a breakfast tray up to Sarah. My brothers, as well as several of our captains, are already arranged around a coffee table, drinking espressos and alternating between serious discussions and trading insults.

“Good morning,” I greet them, and then spend several minutes with the assorted members, thanking them for their assistance. It took years after my father’s death, but I finally surrounded myself with a team of capos loyal to me. Marco nods at the oldest one, Enzo.

“Don De Luca, I was able to confirm with my people that several of the business deals that have fallen through over the last few months were thrown off intentionally. I believe there is going to be a play for power soon.”

“Thoughts as to who?”

One of the others speaks up. “Your former brother-in-law.”

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