Page 326 of Valentino

Tears break the dam and begin to roll down my face. “Please, Val,” I whisper. “I’m begging you.”

“No.” He turns and continues packing. “You leave in ten minutes.”

I stare at his beautiful face, knowing it’s probably going to be the last time that I see it.

How many times can this man break my heart?

I turn and stumble into the bathroom and screw up my face under the shower, crying hard. Howls and sobs to the moon.

Knowing that when I get out that I have to say goodbye to the love of my life.

He won’t live long, I already know that.

The writing has already been written on the wall.

He appears and holds open a towel. “Time to get out, sweetheart.”

I turn the water off and step out and he dries me off, I dress in silence as he watches on.

“I love you, Anna. You know that, right?” He takes me into his arms. “I need to know that you’re safe.” He kisses my forehead.

I nod.

“Gabriel has his own guards, nobody can get to him in New York. And you’ll be with the girls, you’ll all be together.”

I stare straight ahead, numb to his lies.

“You call me when you get there.” He lifts my jaw so that I have to look him in the eye. “Okay?”

My eyes hold his.

“Tell me this is okay.” His eyes search mine.

“No.”

“I know you’re angry now. But trust me, this is for the best. You can come home as soon as this is all over.”

“It’s never going to be over, Val,” I murmur. “Is it?”

“It’s out of my control, Anna,” he whispers through tears.

“Okay.” I nod.

“Don’t be like this.”

I drop my gaze to the ground, I can’t even look him in the eye.

Zzzzz, zzzzz.

The doorbell chimes.

He wheels my bags out of the room and I follow him on autopilot. While he carries them downstairs, I take a long last look around the bedroom.

My heart bleeds in my chest as I slowly walk downstairs. He’s talking softly to Luigi and Gino.

“Here she is.” He smiles.

I walk past him.