Page 176 of Mafia And Maid
“You need to rest, Rosa.”
“Camillo—”
“Please don’t do this Rosa,” he says in a quiet, hoarse voice.
The way he talks breaks my heart. I clutch harder. “Don’t what? Tell you that you did what you needed to? That you saved me?”
“But I…” He shakes his head, sending the wavy strands bouncing about. It’s messier than normal. A telltale sign that he’s raked his hands through it repeatedly. He can’t meet my eyes.
“Saved my life,” I insist, willing my voice to stay even. “If you hadn’t shown up, if you hadn’t had stopped him, I’d be…dead.” I swallow the lump in my throat. “If you hadn’t stopped him for good, he would have just tried again. And again. And maybe when Ethan was with me. You’ve saved us both.”
“You shouldn’t want me around.”
My hand cups his stubbled jaw, as I stand on my tiptoes so I can meet his gaze. “But I do. My son and I are safebecause of you. You did what you needed to do to protect us. I will never fault you for that.”
His body sags, and exhaustion is visible on his face, along with lines of worry.
My heart aches. “You. Saved. Me,” I repeat, hoping it’ll get past whatever walls he’s left up between us.
“You never should have been in danger. If I’d just got his ass thrown in jail the first time, maybe this never would have happened.”
“He’d have found a way out.”
“I don’t want you to think I’m a monster, Rosa.”
“You aren’t one.”
“I am. I’ve never cared what others thought of me. But I care whatyouthink. Because I’m not sorry he’s dead. I’m not sorry I killed him. I’d have done it months ago if I knew this was going to happen. There isn’t a line I won’t cross for you or Ethan.”
“That doesn’t make you a monster.”
“It does. I don’t care I took his life. But I know you do, and that fucking kills me.”
I’m silent for a few moments before carrying on. “I’ve just been hoping for something that was a fantasy the whole time. I hate violence—hate it with passion. But now, I see that it’s a necessary evil sometimes. It should scare me how easily I’ve come to that conclusion. But it doesn’t. It was wishful thinking that Grayden would ever leave us alone if we fought him in any other way. You did what needed to be done, Camillo, and that’s the end of it. It’s not the only option mostof the time—but in this case, it was. I don’t…” My voice breaks. “I don’t think you’re a monster for doing what you did. Please say you understand, Camillo?”
He closes his eyes briefly. “I understand, Rosa. I’m just so fucking thankful that you and Ethan are safe.”
“Me too,” I murmur against his lips. “Now, I’m starving. Can I have something to eat and maybe a cup of tea? Has anyone cooked?”
His forehead rests against mine. “Cate did. It’s not as good as your cooking, though.”
I pull back with a smile and slowly hobble back to the bed. Everything aches, but I’m alive.
“Rosa?”
I snuggle into the bed again, smiling at him. “Yes?”
“I don’t deserve you. But I’m going to do everything I can to keep you.”
I pat the bed beside me. It’s no use arguing that he’s already done enough. Neither of us is completely fixed. We’re both a little broken in our own ways. But together, those broken pieces seem to fit like we were made for each other. “Then let’s start right now...”
CHAPTER 45
ROSA
I stifle a soft groan as I sweep up the last of the broken vase from the den. The soft rays of morning light fill the room. It’s a mess. Blood smears and puddles in certain spots, but I make a point not to look too long at it.
I don’t know where Camillo and his brothers moved Grayden’s body. It’s better that I don’t.