Vittorio
She was with him.
Vittorio ran his hand through his hair once more, before remembering he had gloves on. He shed them as well, throwing them on the floor before him. Tonight had been too easy and he’d nearly had a heart attack at the thought of how easy it would have been for Rocco’s men to slit her throat as she slept.
But it didn’t matter now. He had her in his sights, her shampoo filling his senses and causing him to clench his hands together so he wouldn’t reach out and touch her. There was a wariness in her eyes he desperately wanted to rid her of before he did any touching.
Clearing his throat, Vittorio looked at Sharon.
“Why did you leave me?”
Her eyes widened, and she wet her lips, the subtle movement making his cock tighten with need. Hell, it had been too long. He should have dumped off in some chick before he had come for her.
“Vittorio,” she said softly.
“Why did you leave me?” he asked again, his voice coming out rough.
She had no idea what he had gone through these past few days without her, nearly going out of his mind with worry, the pain all too real in his heart. He wanted to tell her, but was unable to get the words out.
Fuck, she was going to kill him in the end.
“I’m sorry,” she finally said, crossing her arms over her chest. “I-I couldn’t deal with the violence. You scared me and made me question if we were really in love or if it was just an infatuation.”
Surprised, Vittorio swallowed hard.
“You don’t love me?”
She gave out a little, desperate laugh.
“I wish I could tell you no, but I do love you. I’ve tried to block you out of my mind, out of my heart, but you just keep worming yourself back in and I… well, there’s no need to fight it, honestly.”
Relief flooded his body. Thank god, she still loved him.
“I’ve looked for you every fucking where.”
“I know,” she answered, swallowing. “I-I saw the news. Are you truly doing that for me?”
Vittorio rubbed a hand over his face.
“It started out because of you, but it turned into something bigger, something that I should have done a long time ago. So, yeah, I did in the beginning, but we are truly at war now.”
“And you wonder why I left you.”
Her words stung but he could appreciate her honesty.
“I’m sorry,” he said flatly. “This is who I am. I can’t stop this.”
The car slowed, and their conversation was cut off as the door opened and Vittorio climbed out, reaching back to help Sharon out as well. Her touch was warm on his hand, but he didn’t let go of her hand, holding onto it like she would disappear at any moment and this would all be a bad fucking dream.
Vittorio was grateful that she didn’t pull away. Instead, she interlaced her fingers with his as he walked them toward the building, silence between them as they made their way to his penthouse. He didn’t know what to say to her, afraid that if he said the wrong thing, she would demand to be taken home and he would never see her again.
He fucking hated feeling weak.
Once they were inside his penthouse, he set the alarm before turning back to Sharon.
“Do you want something to drink?”
She shook her head, wrapping her arms around herself.
“I’m fine, thanks.”
“Would you care to sit?” he tried again, gesturing to the couch.
As much as he wanted to take her directly to his bed and bury himself between her luscious thighs, Vittorio knew there were things that needed to be said between them.
Sharon arched a brow at him, a smile flirting on her face.
“I’ve never known you to be this civil, Vittorio.”
He groaned, his cock twitching at the look on her face.
“I’m trying to give you space, so we can talk.”
She covered the distance between them, leaving mere inches between their bodies.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Anything,” he said hoarsely, his hands balled into fists.
“Do you truly love me?”
Vittorio felt a bit lightheaded as he stared down at her, drinking the sight of her standing there in his living room with nothing but a t-shirt and shorts on.
“God you have no fucking idea how much. I know I fucking suck at showing it, but I missed you so damn much it hurt. I dreamed about you every night.”
Her eyes glistened with tears, but she didn’t reach for him.
“I-I’m sorry I left. I was scared.”
“I know,” he said softly. “I just wish you would have left a fucking note.”
She let out a choked laugh.
“You aren’t going to beat me, are you?”
Vittorio shook his head.
“Not unless you want me to. All I want to do is hold you and never let you go.”
She let out a sob and closed the space between them, crashing into his body. Vittorio let out a breath as he crushed her against him, burying his face in her hair.
“Don’t ever leave me again. I can’t fucking take it.”
Her tears soaked through his t-shirt as she pressed her body against him.
“I-I won’t, I swear it. I’m so sorry.”
“Shh,” he said, stroking her hair.
He had been pissed at her at first, especially after knowing that Rocco hadn’t taken her, but all of that was old news. While a lesser man would make her suffer for leaving him, he was just glad she was unharmed and with him now.
“It’s fine,” he said.
Sharon pulled back and he wiped the tears from her face, giving her a tender smile.
“It’s all in the past,” he assured her.
She nodded and stood on her tiptoes, her lips brushing his.
“I won’t ever leave you again, not willingly anyway.”
His arms tightened around her.
“I won’t let anything happen to you. I fucking swear it.”
“I believe you,” she said, a shy smile on her face. “And I want to show you how sorry I am for leaving.”
Vittorio’s body went into overdrive as she dropped to her knees.