Page 49 of Roses are Royal

DANTE

“Why do you call me tesoro mio?” Ro asks the question I was hoping to avoid for as long as possible so I wouldn’t have to lie to her any further. But with her naked, warm, and satiated body wrapped up in my arms, I know I have to give her something.

Keeping her held tight to my chest, I give her an answer that contains as much truth as I can reveal right now. “It’s because you are the most treasured thing in my life and someone I wouldn’t want to share with the world if I had the power to do so. If it were up to me, I would lock us both in this house forever and never leave this bed.” I give her the smirk I know makes her melt in an effort to cover the internal disgust with myself because my half-truth tastes bitter on my tongue.

In reality, she is far more than just valuable to me and my future; she is extremely valuable to the entire Nicoletti family in more ways than she could know. Can someone really put a price on their freedom? When my price is her, I’m not sure I’m willing to pay it anymore, consequences be damned. Maybe we can disappear together. I have enough money stashed away for us to live on an island somewhere, but would she even want that? Does she even want me in that way? There are no barriers or bridges I wouldn’t cross for this woman in my arms, but will she still want me when she finds out the truth of who she is and the secrets I’ve kept?

“Dante,” she says, almost hesitantly, “I want you to know that I’ve never known true safety and security until I met you. I’ve always been an overthinker, needing reassurance, and most people in my life found me taxing or didn’t understand what I needed to feel safe enough to let my guard down, so I would be called ‘too much’ or ‘not worth the effort.’ I had to shield myself with sarcasm and harsh independence to hide the tired and scared girl inside. You are the first person I have been able to let my guard down with and just breathe. I feel true peace in your arms.” Rose voices her admission softly as I pull her closer to my side.

My heart breaks at her confession. What can I say in response to the very thing I’ve always wanted to hear from her lips from the moment I laid eyes on her but knew I would never deserve?

“I know you didn’t have the best childhood,” I say as she huffs out a laugh against my neck at the understatement of her upbringing, “but I can see the storm of thoughts and emotions that swirl around in your mind through your eyes. I know your brain tries to think through every possible scenario and outcome in an effort to protect yourself from being hurt again, but when you are with me, I will chase the storm away. With my hands, my mouth, my love—let me quiet the thunder of your thoughts. And baby, you are never too much for me. You are my everything.” I love you. I want to say the last part out loud, but I don’t know if she is ready for that, and I don’t want to tell her until she knows everything. All my secrets and half-truths. I hope she is willing to accept what I have done to keep her safe and forgive me because, at this moment, I know I can never give her up.

62

LUCA

Iknow it’s probably only a matter of weeks, if not days, before my team descends onto this sleepy, deserted town to take care of the job I seem incapable of finishing, but I need to do something before that happens. I need to talk to Ro. And Dante.

As much as I prefer to keep my cards close, I think we are past having secrets with her safety in the balance. She hasn’t texted me about her schedule since I saw her yesterday, but I’m sure she has been busy. The house looked breathtaking. Her talent is unmatched and was honestly being wasted at Franklin & Sons. I wish we could’ve worked together sooner, but I knew I couldn’t reach out before. But now…now I’m not going to waste any time when I can have her in my life again.

As if my thoughts of Ro have summoned her, the exact woman I need to speak with walks straight through the door of the diner, bell jingling above announcing her presence. But instead of turning right and walking toward her favorite booth, the booth I am currently occupying, she walks right up to the counter to speak with Shirley, who is standing behind it wiping down the space an older gentleman just vacated.

I didn’t want to have this conversation here, but maybe we can at least discuss getting together later to chat. Perhaps I can make her dinner at the place I’m staying at? It would be nice to spend some time alone with her outside of Dante’s house. Before I can move from the booth to speak with her, though, Ro turns around and leans on the counter, with no intention of sitting or staying. She hasn’t seen me yet, and it’s nice to observe her like this. Seeing her true emotions before she feels the need to put on whatever mask she thinks she needs to wear for the person or situation. And the pure emotion I see on her face is one I haven’t seen in a very long time…happiness. Pure, unadulterated joy radiates off her.

I honestly haven’t seen her this happy since graduation night…before I broke her heart. We were almost free, and I ruined it. I can’t ruin this again for her. Whatever has caused this change, I need to make sure I am not the one to take it away. If I’m lucky, maybe she will even let me add to it.

As she turns back to the counter to grab the to-go cup from Shirley, I take the opportunity to slide out of the booth and head toward the restrooms. I don’t want her to see me right now. I need to figure out my next steps first and talk to my team before I inevitably blow up her entire world. That is the last thing I want to do to her…again.

63

ROSE

Dante and I just finished cleaning up the kitchen from dinner when there is a loud and insistent pounding on the front door. Dante is upstairs in his room on a business call, so I don’t want to interrupt him just to answer the door. He has been more on edge lately, and I feel like it has something to do with work and his boss, but he doesn’t seem like he wants to share much about what is going on, so I haven’t really pushed the issue. But if we are going to do this and actually try, he will need to figure out a way to open up a little bit more about what he is going through. Maybe it’s something I can help with, even.

The banging hasn’t stopped, and now that I’m in the entryway and almost to the front door, I can hear a male voice shouting my name. That’s strange. I check the peephole to make sure it’s safe, and I see Luc on the other side of the door, looking distressed. I don’t wait another second and open the door to let him in and figure out what is going on.

“Oh thank god you’re still here! I didn’t think I’d make it in time!” Luc can barely get the words out since he is panting so hard and pulls me against his chest in a tight embrace like he needs to physically touch me to ensure I’m actually here.

“Luc, what are you talking about? Where else would I be? And why are you breathing so hard?” I say against his chest. I can feel the staccato rhythm of his hammering heart against the side of my cheek that is pressed into his chest.

Without answering any of my questions, Luc pulls back to see my face but still doesn’t let go of my arms. “Where is Dante?”

“Um, he’s upstairs on the phone. Why? Luc, you are starting to freak me out. Tell me what is going on. Are you in some kind of trouble?”

“No, you are.”

Just as Luc delivers his ominous response, as if that wasn’t enough to set me on edge, my world goes from looking Luc in the eyes to total darkness. I can’t hear anything over the ringing in my ears, and I can’t tell if I’ve gone blind or if something else is affecting my vision. My body feels numb, and I have a split second where I think I might be dead. That is until the pain reverberates through my limbs all at once. I think I let out a moan, but I can’t be sure. What the hell just happened?

Smoke is everywhere; is something on fire? My vision is still spotty as I blink rapidly, trying to see through the haze to find Luc, but I’m having trouble sitting up. I press down on the floor with both hands, but the pain shooting up my left arm is so intense it almost makes me pass out.

I’m slowly able to stand and orient myself when I hear someone calling my name. Not someone, Dante. Oh thank god he’s okay! I try to respond, but the smoke is so thick it makes me cough with every breath. My thoughts are singularly focused on getting to Dante and finding Luc.

“ROSE!” Dante shouts frantically, and I can barely make out his outline through all the chaos. I also hear other male voices shouting, but my focus remains on Dante.

“I’m here.” I croak out as loud as I can, limping slightly in the direction Luc and I were standing and holding my left arm against my chest. Somehow I was thrown across the entryway and landed near the bottom of the stairs.

“We need to get out of here, NOW!” I can tell by Dante’s tone there is no room for argument, but I need to find Luc.