Page 48 of A Son Hidden from the Sicilian

“No, it won’t. You can’t seem to graspmyproblem. It isn’t that I love you. I don’t mind loving you. Maybe if I thought you didn’t love me back, that would be more uncomfortable. I don’t know. But it’s impossible because you do love me.”

“Love, love, love!” he muttered. “Why is this all anyone speaks of?”

“Because it’s important? It makes life meaningful? You love so many. Why do you refuse to accept that you love me? What is so wrong with who I am? What I am?”

For a moment, there was something in his expression. A softness and a pain that she thought meant she’d gotten through to him. But he didn’t speak.

He also didn’t leave.

So she pressed on no matter how much it hurt. Because she loved him. She wanted him to accept that love as much for herself as she did for him. She could make him happy. They couldbea happy family if he’d just let her in. “I don’t understand what you’re afraid of. But I understand you’re afraid. Tell me—”

“I am not afraid of anything. Every challenge in my life I have met head-on and will continue to do so. You have no choice in this matter, Brianna. I am in charge.”

In charge? No, she didn’t think so. She’d had enough. “Why?”

For a moment, his mouth opened and no sound at all came out. Like he couldn’tfathomthe question, let alone an answer to it. “What...do you mean?”

“What exactly are you threatening me with to keep me in line, to assert you’re in charge? Because you aren’t the president of me. Or the CEO. You can’t just make decrees and expect me to follow them. We’re just two random people in the world. So why are you in charge? How are you going to assert this? Are you going to fire me? Well, I’m not your employee. Are you threatening me for custody? I don’t think you are. Maybe you want to kill me off? That would be the simplest way.”

His jaw clenched. “Brianna.” So disapprovingly.

“You’re so used to everyone jumping to do your bidding, but I cannot go against my best interests. Iloveyou. I will do a lot of things to put Gio first. I would sacrifice almost anything for him. But I can’t sacrifice myself—every happiness. If I did, he would feel it.”

“He will have us both. Every privilege and opportunity afforded to him. He will have family. That is what matters.”

“Those thingsdomatter. But so do I. And so do you. Being parents doesn’t mean we have to be robots, sacrificing every emotion for our child. We get to be human.” Maybe it wasn’t romantic love that had made him bitter. His parents were dead, so she hadn’t given much thought to them, but maybe they were responsible for what he thought of love. “What did your parents do that hurt you so much? Perhaps I should ask your sister. Maybe she’d be more forthcoming.”

Thatcertainly got through to him, but he didn’t warn her off. Didn’t divulge any family secrets. He just stood there, looking like a sailor lost at sea in a storm. She wished she could reach out and be his anchor.

But he’d have to choose it first.

“You may ask Saverina whatever you wish. You may find out every dirty family secret. Be my guest, Brianna,” he said, so coldly she shivered. “But I will not change my mind, and if you wish that to be a threat, so be it.”

Then he stormed out of the office, leaving her no better than she’d been when she entered. Just more hurt.

But she had tried. Her mother was right. If she had left without trying, there would have been guilt. She would have had regrets.

Now she could return to New Jersey free of all that.

If only she could be free of loving him and hurting for him.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

LORENZOSATATthe long dining room table surrounded by his family. Hisentirefamily. Somehow they had managed to all come this weekend despite the fact that every Christmas was a circus act trying to get everyone home at the same time.

Suspicious.

But nothing was more suspicious than Brianna interacting with his siblings. Smiling and laughing along with them, like she hadn’t come to his office earlier and dropped all sorts of bombs.

Like she wasenjoyingherself.

And why shouldn’t she be? He’d taken care of everything, hadn’t he? He’d spent his afternoon neutralizing another round of stories about Brianna and Gio planted by Dante. He’d moved forward with his plans to renovate the north end of the estate to outfit Brianna and her parents and build an art studio.

She remained safe and taken care of because ofhim. She would not enjoy the same back in New Jersey.

She should be thanking him. She should be following all his plans to the letter with nothing but gratitude. Because that would be best. Foreveryone. He always did what was best for everyone. Because if he didn’t...

Brianna wasn’t Rocca. He’d never let her be put in a position where she had to sacrifice so much.

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