Page 34 of I Would Die For You

I thought anger would get the best of me when we had this conversation, but that has deserted me. In its place is just sadness, and loss, too.

“Look at us, Stefano.”

“I’m doing just that, Kaya. All this, it’s for us. For you.”

“I don't understand. I didn’t ask for all this.”

“No, but it’s my job. I have to protect you.”

Something in the way he says this swirls more confusion in my mind . “Protect me? From what?”

He throws his hands up. “From everything. All this.”

“All what?”

Stefano stops pacing and pinches the bridge of his nose. “You know what? This is leading us nowhere.”

“Exactly.”

It’s strange how this one word, devoid of any fire, places such a termination on anything it’s punctuating.

“Kaya.” There’s an undeniable note of warning in his tone.

But my mind is made up. I can’t do this.

“I’m booking the next flight out of Torino in the morning.”

“What? No. You can’t.”

What will I say to that?

“I won’t let you.”

It’s not your place to decide.But again, I don’t say a word.

“Let’s talk about this,” he continues. “We can talk—”

“Like you’ve been promising me we’ll do ever since the night you went out for the first time as the Don’s enforcer? It's been over two weeks already.”

Guess I can’t keep my fire in for too long. It always ends up winning. How long will I keep on waiting? How much longer can I keep myself together and not drift away into nothingness because I lose a part of me now every time I’m with him?

Sighing, he runs a hand over his face.

“Kaya, I—”

We’re interrupted by the sound of his phone ringing. I know this tone, since I’ve heard it a few times now. That’s his mother calling, and as a good son, Stefano can’t not answer.

“Go on,” I clip out.

“Kaya…”

I swallow softly and turn my face away.

On a heavy sigh, he answers.

The silence feels pregnant, ominous, and it’s broken by just one exclamation.

“Dio santo,” Stefano says softly.

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