Page 49 of His Prize

The footsteps stopped. “Are you ready to give up on me that quickly?”

I can’t help him. There’s nothing more I can do for him. I have to make sure he’s okay.

“Yes,” I said, not turning to face him.

“Look me in the eyes and say that, Bonnie.”

I slowly turned around and swallowed my tears as my eyes connected with his. “Yes, Israel. I’m ready to give you up.”

Especially if I had to give him up to the future I knew he was working so hard to preserve.

21

Israel

“Israel Rossi,you’re under arrest for the murder of Branson Baker.”

It all happened in such slow motion. One minute, I was joking around with my brother at the breakfast nook while Bonnie made breakfast and the next moment? I felt the cold, unforgiving metal of handcuffs being slapped against my wrists. I heard Gio yelling at the police in the background. I heard him cursing and threatening them. Telling the officers they’d never get away with such blatant disrespect for personal liberties. Or whatever nonsense he spouted whenever something happened to the family.

It was Bonnie, though. It was her I couldn't take my eyes away from because the look of fear in her eyes crushed me. “It’s going to be all right,” I said.

Bonnie swallowed hard. “Israel, I—”

I shook my head curtly. “Don’t. I’ll be fine.”

The detective tightened the cuffs around my wrists. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will—”

Gio started yelling, “You’ve got no proof. No evidence! Israel, don’t you say a thing. I’m calling our lawyers right now. We’ll have you out of this in—”

Bonnie’s voice fell against my ears. “You should have married her, Israel.”

I blocked everything out as the police hauled me down the hallway. I held Bonnie’s eyes for as long as I could before she disappeared from sight. I knew she thought I should’ve married Alice—gone with the Esposito’s instead of sticking by her side. I’d rather rot in prison, though. I’d rather waste away in a jail cell with a bunkmate named Brutus than waste my life away with a woman I didn’t love. Besides, I didn’t want this life. If taking the throne in my family meant living without Bonnie, I’d gladly run for the rest of my life.

So long as it meant running with her.

“Don’t worry, Iz,” Gio shouted, “I’m going to find you a way out of this!”

Bonnie snickered. “Shut up, Giovanni. You’re bothering the neighbors.”

I grinned as the officers shoved me into the elevator. I stumbled on my feet, my cheek falling against the wall of the metal encasement. I straightened my back quickly, though. I wouldn't allow them to make a fool out of me. I’d walk out of here with my head held high, knowing damn good and well I did everything I could to make sure Bonnie stayed alive.

And safe.

Bonnie couldn't save me from this, anyway. Despite the power she currently wielded in her family, this was beyond the scope of her capabilities. And I didn’t want her to, anyway. I didn’t want her to sully her name and tarnish what she was working toward just to save me. She’d already done that. She already attempted to cover for me. Now, I was my family’s burden.

Not hers.

If living in jail with my memories was all I’d get out of this life, then I could die a happy man. So long as the last woman I kissed, or held, or fucked was Bonnie, I could fall asleep happy and dream of her until someone sliced my neck in prison. I knew it would happen, too. There were plenty of people my family had put away whenever they outlived their usefulness to us. I wouldn't survive a month in a place like that.

“I love you, Bonnie,” I murmured.

The officer snickered. “Save it for the stand, Rossi.”

I slowly turned around and saw Bonnie standing there. As the elevator doors closed, I watched her eyes grow wide. And I knew why. I knew what had happened—she had heard me. She had heard me admit that I loved her for the first time. I held onto her gaze as the doors started to close. I watched her take a step toward me before Gio reached out for her, holding her back.

“I love you too, Israel,” she said.

And with a grieving heart, I swallowed down my tears. “I promise you, everything will be okay. I’ll always be with you. Never forget that,” I said.

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