Page 71 of Gary

Ignoring the slow turnover of her heart, she continued to stare out the glass door and remained silent. “I left because I could not tolerate what my family was doing anymore. I was never into what they were into.

And it disgusted me. I only stayed that long because of my mother. I loved her. She and my uncle Graham made thingstolerable for me.” He eased out a breath as memories flooded him.

“There are things I cannot talk about, at least not yet. Yes, I was taught to use weapons when I turned six. And I was fascinated by that lifestyle. The women, the drinking, the orgies, the violence, I relished it when I was that age. But then I grew up and noticed things.

Like the way he treated my mother, the way he treated other people. Employees, people who got in their way. And I realized that I did not want to live like that. I started to rebel, and my defiance would bring me beatings and terrible punishments. Will you look at me?”

She turned her head slowly, eyes shimmering with tears.

“I am sorry,” he whispered hoarsely.

“For what? Deceiving me in the first place? For what your family did to my dad? Do you expect me to just accept it and move on?”

“No!” His hands were clasped between his thighs, his expression pleading. “I want to be given a chance. I want you to say that you believe me. I want…” He closed his eyes briefly, before opening them to look at her.

His eyes roved over her face, the moist cheeks, the brightness of her eyes due to tears and he wanted nothing more than to crush her in his arms and never let go. “I want to marry you, build a life with you. I want to prove to you that I am not like that. I never was.”

“I can’t.”

He felt the full weight of depression crushing his chest. “I know I lied by omission…”

“I loved my dad.” The tears were trickling down her cheeks. “He was everything to me and when he died, I could not function. I was devastated. I will always look at you and be reminded of how he died and why.

Your family had tons of money and leaving that apartment building alone would have cost them nothing. They paid us off after; by putting us here!” She looked around the open plan living room with its azure, blue walls, and hardwood floor. “But I would have preferred to have my dad with me.”

“I had nothing to do with it!”

“No, but your name is Moretti, and I am going to be reminded of that every day.” She shook her head. “I can understand a child’s helplessness and the fact that you had no choice but to do what you saw them doing. But I am not going to be comfortable being with you. I am sorry.”

He heard the finality in her voice and knew that there was nothing he could do to dissuade her. He had lost her. Had lost the only woman he would ever love and nothing else mattered anymore.

Rising slowly, he moved forward and hauled her up against him. “I adore you.” He whispered harshly. “And I would do anything to erase the past, anything to make you happy. No one is ever going to love you the way I do.”

His hands cupped her face, and he lifted it to his. “No one.” His lips crushed hers and she did not resist. She couldn’t. She needed his touch, the feel of his mouth on hers. Tears coursed down her cheeks as she realized that this was goodbye.

Her heart was breaking. She had no idea how to go on without him, but she had to. She could not live with him knowing the truth. Her fingers curled into his jacket as she went on her toes and returned the passionate kiss with an ardency that shook him to the very core.

But then he ended the kiss and pushed her away from him. He stood there staring at her for a minute, before turning on his heels and walking out of her life.

Collapsing back in the sofa, she buried her face in the cushion and sobbed as if her heart was breaking.

*****

“You’re leaving?”

“Yes.” He clipped.

“When?”

“In a few days.” Gary turned to face his uncle. After he left her home, he had gone straight to the site where construction was already underway. And then he had come back to his place.

“The community center…”

“We have an exceptionally good crew dealing with and I can monitor it while I am away. There is nothing here for me anymore.” Walking over to the cabinet, he poured two glasses of scotch and handed one to him. “I will tell the old man goodbye before I leave.”

“You are running away again.”

Gary sent him a sardonic glance. “Damn right.”