Page 31 of Shattered Choices

“That’s a lot of thanking.” He grins.

I smile slightly. “But now is the time for you to leave. I want you to sign those papers and send them back to me.”

“What are you saying?”

“It’s over, Salvatore. Leave the country.”

I don’t wait for his answer. I get out of his car and leave what’s left of my heart in it.

fourteen

Salvatore

“It is time for you to leave.”

The sentence has been playing in my head for the last few days. Of course, I didn’t leave, nor did I sign the papers.

Leaving without her is unacceptable. I refuse even to think about it. Because I can’t leave without my heart. Why is that so hard for her to understand?

Maybe because you never told her that.

The small voice in my head is getting louder every day, scolding me about the things I should and shouldn’t do.

It’s the truth; I told her I want her back, that I can’t live without her. But I never told her that I love her.

Because I do love her. I just need to show her that.

The question is how?

“How do I show her that I love her?” I look into the screen of my phone where I’m met with three sets of eyes. I’m still the CEO and don of La Cosa Nostra that has to lead both sides of the business, even if my most trustworthy men are taking care of everything.

When they asked when I’m coming back, I asked them a question that has nothing to do with their expertise.

And of course, I’m met with silence. I run my hand through my hair and take a sip from my drink.

“I don’t think we’re qualified to answer this question. Dante sure isn’t,” Marco says.

Dante shrugs and keeps playing with the knife in his hand.

“I don’t even know why I’m asking you.” I take another sip of my drink. The drink I just keep refilling.

I end the video call in the middle of Gabriel talking about business things I should take care of. Things that should interest me. Things that I, at this moment, couldn’t care less about because I need to reach the person who can answer my questions.

I’m on a mission.

Finding out how to show Isabella that I love her.

I park outside the villa and find myself on the side of a wall I can climb. Climbing the wall should be easy, so why do I feel like I just ran a few miles? When I reach the top, I sit on the wall and plan my jump. As I land on the ground, I stumble, and the alarm goes off.

Shit.

I look for a place to run and hide, but there is none. I run toward the house before I get caught. Just a few meters away, my attempt to run is cut short when I’m tackled to the floor face down.

My hands are twisted behind my back, and with one click, are bound with a zip tie. My legs are spread as I’m being tapped down. I laugh into the dirt, remembering I left my weapon behind me.

“Get up, figlio di puttana! This is going to be fun.”

A man I don’t recognize pulls me up to my feet, and as I try to free myself from his grip, he hits me on the back until I land on my knees. A second soldier shows up, and together, they drag me on my knees to the entrance of the villa.

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