Page 170 of Mafia And Maid
“You are when it matters, Camillo.” And that smile I’ve been craving so much over the last few days graces her gorgeous lips.
This woman.Whatever I’ve done to deserve even a scrap of her heart, I’ll forever be thankful.
“I really am sorry, Rosa.” I rest my forehead against her, breathing in her scent once more. “I’m working on things. I’ve finally realized that not everything has to be solved with fists and blood.” I swallowthe lump in my throat that threatens to choke me. “And I want to prove it to you right now—prove that I’m trying to be a better man.”
I pull away gently, leading her toward the table and nodding to the stack of papers there.
“What’s that?”
“Read it.”
Rosa gingerly picks up the packet and flips through it. Her face contorts as her brows pucker downward. “Camillo, is this…”
“I told you I’d find another way.” I clear my throat. “While you were with your family, I was doing this. Our lawyers are the best in Chicago. They know a specialist who helps people escape abusive situations, and she’s agreed to help on the case. We’ve been working on it already, and we have more than enough leverage to ensure that you’ll stay safe and that Grayden can’t take Ethan from you—ever.He has money, probably much more than what your father left you, but so do we, and I can assure you that he’ll run out before we ever do.”
“I don’t know what to say…”
“You can look it over later. I included our lawyer’s direct line and the specialist’s number so that you can speak to them and ask questions. Her assistant apparently went through something similar, so she’s also listed in case you want to speak to someone who’s been in the same boat as you’re in now.”
“Why did you go to all this trouble?”
“You know why.” I hope.
She stares at me, searching my face for something.
“I’m in. I’m all in, baby. With you. With Ethan.” I hold her gaze, hoping I appear calmer than I feel. My heart is pounding in my ribcage like it’s trying to break free of my chest, as though it wants to make a run for it before Rosa can crack it open more than she already has. “I’m not good at this. In fact, I think you know I’m terrible at all this…”
Emotions are a weakness I’ve always thought I couldn’t afford. Weakness gets people killed in my line of work. It makes them exploitable. But they’re also the reason I’d wage a war on every fucking rich asshole in this city who utters a word against anyone I care about. And I realize now that these emotions that strangle me, that drag me under, don’t make me weak when it matters. They give me strength.
“For you, Rosa, I’d do the impossible if you asked me to. I meant what I said when I told you I’d never be a good enough man. I’m who I am. But for you? For you, I’m trying to be this version you see.”
The room is still. Anxiety bubbles through me as I worry I’ve said too much. She’s just back—but have I already pushed her away again?
I’ve opened my heart and left it beating and bleeding at her feet. Is she going to kick it away? I can’t look at her…
She sniffs.
“Rosa?” I lift my gaze once more.
She wipes at her eyes, smearing whatever makeup she had on. No doubt another stupid requirement for her fucking family. Another deep breath, and she holds my eye. “Thank you. That’s what I want to say to you. And I can never say that enough.”
“You’re thanking me?”
She steps closer to me, cupping my cheek with her hand. In this position, we’re eye to eye, and her beautiful honey brown eyes glisten. “I am. Thank you for that.” She nods to the documents. “And for saving me. You don’t have to try to be some version you think I see. Youalreadyare the man I want.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.” Tears cling to her lashes, and her bottom lip wobbles.
Softly, I brush them away with the pad of my finger. “I’m not. Don’t say that, Rosa. We both know I’m not.”
“Yes, you are,” she insists. “You’ve done nothing but show me and my son kindness. You’ve done everything you can to make me fall in love with you when I was nothing. Why else would you do all that, find a way for me to be free from Grayden, give us a home and a family, if you weren’t a good man?”
I press my forehead to hers and sigh.
“You protect your family, Camillo. You’d do anything to keep them safe, and we were lucky enough to make that cut.”
My heart aches with the weight of it all. With the words I’ve longed to hear from someone—and with my love for her. And my fear that I’m not good enough for her crumbles as I listen to her.