When She Loves (The Fallen, #4)(86)

Oh, but it does. Its roots penetrate through cracks, destroy walls, crumble strong foundations. I don’t recognize myself anymore.

I need to undo this.

“Was he wrong? I don’t think so. The only thing that’s wrong here is me and you.”

Her eyes widen with disbelief, as if my words don’t make any sense.

“Rafe—”

“You’ll leave with your sisters today. I want you out of this house. It’ll take me a few days to clean up the mess you caused and get the papers in order. I’ll mail them to you in Italy.”

“You can’t do this.” Cleo reaches for me again.

I tear my arm out of her grasp and move toward the door. “I’ve said everything I have to say.”

“Where are you going?” Her voice cracks, and God, how that hurts me.

“To figure out some way that today doesn’t end with my consigliere dead.”

“Why would he die?”

I halt. Slowly, I turn around to face her. “Because I called Gino Ferraro for help when I knew you were in trouble, but I didn’t have time to warn Nero. Nero shot one of Ferraro’s men by accident. The don’s nephew. He’s dead. Now, Ferraro wants Nero dead.”

Blood drains out of her face. “No, no, he—”

“Ferraro expects me to deliver Nero’s body in the next twelve hours. All because of you and your recklessness.”

Shame floods through me as soon as that sentence leaves my mouth. The truth is, it’s as much my fault as hers. No, it’s more. I am the don. My people are my responsibility, not hers. But I need her to leave. I need her out of my house, out of my mind, out of my heart. I need her gone.

“No. No.” She covers her mouth with her hands, tears cascading down her cheeks. “You can’t do it. Nero can’t die because of me. Rafe, please. Please tell me—”

I turn on my heel and leave. I can’t hear her voice anymore. Can’t look at her face. Not if I’m going to be able to do what needs to be done.











CHAPTER 38











CLEO


I collapse onto my knees right on the floor of his office, my face wet with tears, my entire body shaking. How can this be happening? Gino Ferraro wants Nero dead because of me.

Nero. Rafaele’s closest confidant and friend. His consigliere.

I squeeze my eyes shut and let out a low moan. There’s an insistent ache inside my chest that expands until I feel nothing but pain. Footsteps sound outside the room, drawing closer and closer. The door creaks open, and there’s a gasp.

“Cleo!”

I don’t have the strength to even raise my face toward Vale. She runs over and crouches down beside me, placing her hand on my back.

A moment later, Gemma’s there too. She pulls out a tissue from somewhere and starts dabbing it against my face. “What happened?”

“He… He wants a divorce.” My voice breaks.

Vale gasps. “What?” She and Gemma exchange a look. “Oh, Cleo. Let’s get you off the floor, okay? And then you can tell us everything.”

They help me up and lead me toward the leather couch on the other side of the room. I feel like I’m about to shatter.

“It’s over between us,” I whisper.

Gemma’s eyes are wide and disbelieving. “There’s no way. He’s angry, but he’ll calm down and realize that’s ridiculous.”

I shake my head. They weren’t there when he said those words. There wasn’t a hint of doubt in his tone. He meant them. “He wants me to go to Italy with you and wipe his hands clean of me.”

Vale heaves a pained sigh. “Does he know that you love him?”

I never told them that I love him, but there’s no point in denying it. It’s fucking obvious. I sniffle, feeling like the biggest idiot in the world. “He knows. It doesn’t matter. He doesn’t want me after the mess I caused.”

Gemma scrunches up the tissue in her hand. “What mess? You’re fine. Everyone is fine.”

“No.” My lips waver. They don’t know the kicker yet. “Nero killed one of Ferraro’s men by accident. Now Gino Ferraro wants retribution.” My chest feels tight, like it’s about to cave in on itself. “He wants Rafaele to kill Nero.”

Gemma’s mouth falls open. For a moment, no one speaks.

“That’s insane,” Gemma says eventually in a hushed voice. “Nero is his consigliere, and Gino must know it wasn’t intentional.”

“It doesn’t matter. Rafaele has been trying to make peace with the Ferraros for a long time, and this jeopardized the whole thing. I jeopardized the whole thing.” I squeeze my fists so hard my nails pierce my skin. “I’m a fucking idiot. It didn’t even occur to me that the text could be fake. I just dropped everything and ran.”

Vale wraps her arm over my shoulder and pulls me closer. “But how can he blame you for acting like that when you thought Gemma was in danger? You were scared and worried. Most people would have reacted the same way you did.”

“And how is it your fault Nero shot a Ferraro?” Gemma shakes her head. “None of this makes sense. I don’t understand why he’d push you away.”