Mafia Casanova - M. Robinson Page 0,36
that.”
He scoffed out, “Now for that, I get a genuine response?”
“I honestly don’t know what you’re trying to get at. I wouldn’t have married you—”
“If my brother hadn’t given you up? Where is he now, Eden? Because I haven’t seen him in two years. I’m the one who’s been here with you. Don’t you see that?”
“Whose fault is that, Tristian? What did you say to him?”
“The truth.”
“Which is what? What’s the truth?”
“That he needed to stay away from us.”
“Us? Or me?”
“My family.”
“Interesting statement considering he’s your brother.”
“Fuck him.”
“Tristian!” I said a little too loudly.
He leaned, breathing into my ear, “Oh wait, I forgot. You already did that. Have you spread your legs since the last time he took what was mine?”
I shoved him, unable to hold back.
“Eden, shit.” He shook his head. “I’ve been drinking. I didn’t mean that.”
“Yeah, you seem to do that a lot.”
“Look, I’m sorry, all right?” His easy smile was back, his eyes drilling into mine like he needed me to believe him this time when it was always the same argument.
“You know what they say; a drunk person speaks the truth.”
“Then, you should start drinking so I can get it from you.”
The conflicting emotions came tumbling down on me, crippling me. I suddenly needed some fresh air, a moment to myself.
To think.
To breathe.
To cry.
I hated showing weakness in front of anyone. Before he could throw more poison, I snapped around, making my way toward the outside rose garden of the banquets where my birthday was being held, and I could be alone. Giving him my indifference the instant I stepped into the exquisite garden where intricate roses lined every step in my direction.
Inhaling a long, deep, sturdy breath, I stood in front of the fountain in the center of the garden, trying to distract myself by the water and the soft glow it gave everything around me. Usually, this view would have me awestruck and at peace, but I couldn’t stop the emotions that were consuming my mind and body.
And then just like that, it unexpectedly changed…
For the first time in two years, I felt him.
Romeo.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“People change. It’s just a matter of whether they die before it happens.” —Orochimaru
Eden
He approached from behind, and I had no need to turn around to know who it was. Had I summoned him? I supposed in a way I had. The water gurgled and splashed in the fountain as though to assure me it bore witness to our presence.
“It’s you, isn’t it?” I whispered, my heart pounding against my chest with such force it was physically painful.
“Isn’t that why you texted me this morning?” he countered in a husky, masculine tone.
Why did that simple response strike such a chord inside of me? “I texted you because—”
“You miss me,” he chimed in. “Not that I can blame you; if I were married to an accountant, I’d have blown my fucking brains out at this point.”
I wanted to reply, but what could I say to that?
Already, my lips twitched with the need to react. Romeo never censored himself; he was blunt, chaotic, unapologetic about himself, and the way he saw the world.
And that included his brother.
I heard his footsteps follow that brought him closer to where I stood in front of the fountain. My breathing hitched as soon as I felt him come up behind my shaky frame. I didn’t turn around, I didn’t move, afraid if I did he’d disappear like he was just a figment of my imagination.
I closed my eyes, waiting for I didn’t know what. His warmth increased the closer he got, convincing me I would combust any moment. We weren’t even touching, yet his presence engulfed me. Owned me. He was everywhere.
His hands.
His lips.
His love.
He leaned in just inches away, letting his whiskey breath brush against my ear. Assault all my senses. Shivers coursed through me and down my spine while my knees buckled.
I wrapped my arms around my stomach, trying to hold in the emotions that threatened to spill, comforting myself with the truths that were revealing themselves to him. Knowing he noticed. There was no way he couldn’t have felt the effect he always had over me.
His touch.
His aura.
His mere presence.
“Happy birthday, Red.”
My breath hitched as I shuddered, weakened, the wall I built came tumbling down at our feet. A much different reaction than I’d had when Tristian called me that minutes before.
I never imagined this would be my life. Forever stuck between a man who refused to let me go and one