Page 58 of Forsaken Promises

“What did he say to you?” I ask, my voice rough with barely suppressed rage. “Did he try to spin some bullshit story about me and my family?”

Sofia shakes her head, her expression more puzzled than frightened. “Not exactly. But Dom… he said some things that didn’t make sense to me. He kept going on about how much he hates you, how I should watch my back around the Sicuras. I don’t get it. What's his problem with you? Why does he despise you so much?”

I feel the weight of the day pressing down on me, the memory of Gaspare’s lifeless eyes boring into my soul. The last thing I need right now is to deal with Luca’s mind games, to have to defend myself against his lies, to delve into painful memories.

“Sofia, please,” I say, my voice strained with exhaustion and barely suppressed emotion. “I can’t do this right now. I can’t talk about Luca, about why he hates me so much. Not today, not after what I’ve just had to do.”

But Sofia isn’t deterred, her expression set with a stubborn determination that I know all too well. “Dom, you can’t keep shutting me out like this. I need to understand what’s going on, what Luca’s deal is with you and your family. How can I support you if you won’t let me in?”

I feel my frustration mounting, my temper fraying at the edges as she continues to push and prod. “I said notnow, Sofia. Why can’t you just drop it, just give me some fucking space to breathe?”

But she won’t let it go, her voice rising with each word. “Because I’m your wife, Dom! Because I’m supposed to be your partner, your equal. How can I do that if you’re constantly keeping secrets from me, constantly pushing me away?”

Something inside me snaps, the exhaustion and the guilt and the anger boiling over into a white-hot rage. “You know what? I’m done,” I spit out, my voice harsh and biting. “I’mdonetrying to prove myself to you. If you want to believe I’m a monster, then go ahead.”

Sofia’s eyes widen, shock and hurt flashing across her face. “Dom, what are you talking about? I never said I thought you were a monster. I just want to understand?—”

“Understandwhat?” I cut her off, my tone mocking and cruel. “I told you to leave it alone for now, but you just won’t fucking do that. You keep pushing and pushing. So fine, believe whatever Luca told you about me. I don’t care.”

I laugh, the sound bitter and broken even to my own ears. “So if that's what you want to believe, if that's the man you think I am… then go ahead. Run. Run as far and as fast as you can, and don’t look back. I won’t try to stop you.”

28

SOFIA

Ifeel like I’ve been slapped, Dom’s words echoing in my ears like a cruel, mocking refrain. ‘If that's what you want to believe, if that's the man you think I am… then go ahead. Run. Run as far and as fast as you can, and don’t look back. I won’t try to stop you.’

This is just like when we broke up all those years ago, when he shattered my heart into a million jagged pieces. The same callous disregard for my feelings, my love, my very presence in his life.

And what’s worse, he hasn’t even tried todenyLuca’s claim, hasn’t bothered to reassure me that I won’t end up as just another casualty of the Sicura Family.

Is this what I have to look forward to? A life of constant fear and uncertainty, never knowing if the next bullet or the next betrayal will be the one that takes me out?

I stiffen, my spine straight and my chin lifted as I meet Dom’s gaze head-on. “If that’s how you really feel,” I say, my voice cold, “then maybe I will go. Maybe I’ll take Luca up on his offer and get the hell out of here before I become just another body in the Sicura family’s graveyard.”

Dom’s eyes widen, a flicker of shock and something that might be fear crossing his face. But I don’t let myself dwell on it, don't let myself be swayed by the pain and the regret that I see swimming in his dark gaze.

Because the truth is, I’m tired. Tired of the secrets and the lies, the constant push and pull of his hot-and-cold affections. Tired of feeling like I’m always one wrong move away from losing him, from being cast aside like yesterday's trash.

I feel a hot rush of anger and hurt coursing through my veins as I reach into my purse, my fingers closing around the smooth, glossy surface of the plane tickets. The ones I bought for us, for the surprise trip I thought would bring us closer together.

But now, looking at Dom’s cold, dismissive expression, I know that it was all just a foolish dream, a naive fantasy of a love that was never really mine to keep.

With a bitter laugh, I pull out the tickets and toss them onto the bed, watching as they flutter before settling on the mattress. “Here,” I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm and pain. “You can use the other ticket for whatever girl you pick next. Since I’m so easily replaced, so disposable in your eyes.”

Dom's eyes widen, confusion and something that might be regret crossing his face. But I don’t let myself dwell on it, don’t let myself be swayed by the false hope that he might actually care.

Instead, I turn on my heel and stalk toward the door, my vision blurring with the tears that I refuse to let fall. I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry, of knowing just how deeply his callous words have cut me.

“Sofia, wait!” Dom calls out, his voice tinged with desperation and something that sounds almost like fear. But I don't stop, don't even hesitate as I reach for the door handle.

Because I’m too close to breaking, too close to shattering into a million jagged pieces that I know I’ll never be able to put back together again. And I can’t let him see that, can’t let him witness the depth of my pain and my vulnerability.

So I keep walking, my heart clenching in my chest with every step that takes me further away from him. From the man I love, the man I thought I could build a life with.

But why? Why do I keep hoping, keep dreaming of a future that's nothing more than a cruel, taunting mirage? Why do I keep searching for proof of his love, for some sign that he would move heaven and earth just to keep me by his side?

I'm a fool, a naive little girl who’s been chasing after a fantasy that was never really mine to hold. And now, as I feel the weight of Dom’s gaze boring into my back, I know that it’s time to let go.

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