Delilah hurried into the hospital. She’d just gotten a call that Christian was awake. Finally. It’d been more than a day, and she’d been worried sick about him. After the terrifying event of watching him being beaten, she couldn’t think about anything but him. She needed to know that he was okay so that she could think straight again.

She didn’t have much time before her next class. She’d already missed two and a quiz when everything happened. Her professors had been somewhat understanding, but if she didn’t get back to her work, she’d fall behind, and she couldn’t afford that.

Delilah arrived at his room and peered inside. His mother sat beside the bed. It had been strange to meet her for the first time while they waited together for the ambulance to come, but hopefully they could get to know each other better through this.

Christian’s mother waved her in. Delilah entered and stared at Christian in horror. His face was purple and puffy with bruising and swelling. One eye was nearly shut. And the worst part was, he looked better today than he had yesterday. She’d been hoping that he would look more healed today.

“Hello Delilah,” his mother said. She patted Christian’s hand. “I’ll come back later.”

“Bye Mom,” Christian said.

She patted Delilah on the shoulder as she left the room.

Delilah scooted her chair closer and took his hand. “How are you feeling?”

“Ready to go dancing again,” he said flatly.

“Are they giving you pain killers?”

“Yeah.”

There was silence for a few moments. Delilah had much to say, but she didn’t want to overwhelm him while he was in this state.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

She wiped away a tear. “Yeah. I wasn’t hurt or anything. It was scary though. What was it all about? I didn’t hear most of it, but something about your father?”

Christian closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. “It’s time I told you the truth.”

“Okay…” She swallowed hard, having no idea what to expect.

“It was about my father and the family business,” he said. “And I need you to understand that what I’m about to tell you can’t leave this room. You cannot tell your mother, your siblings, your friends, co-workers—no one. Understand? Or it might put you in danger.”

Her eyes widened. “I won’t tell anyone.”

“The family business is actually the mafia. That’s why I don’t want to be part of it. That’s why I want to do my own thing. That’s also why I can’t. People don’t just opt of the mob. I might’ve gotten out, being born into the family instead of being made part of it, but it wouldn’t have been easy, and it doesn’t matter now.”

“What do you mean? You don’t still want to get out?”

“I do,” he said. “More than anything. But I can’t. Now that my father is dead, I have to take over his role. If I don’t, that asshole Mark will win. But what’s worse is, my mother would be broke. And me. We have some money of course, and there was a decent life insurance policy, but it won’t last. My mother has lived a life of luxury for most of her life. I don’t want to see her forced to marry some random mobster just to maintain her old lifestyle.”

“Wow.” She thought about all he’d said for a moment before responding. “Well, if that’s what you have to do, I’m sure you’ll find a way to make the best of it. There have to be mob guys who don’t do things like kill all the time. Maybe you could be less involved.”

He gave a humorless laugh. “It doesn’t work like that.”

“Then… I guess we’ll find a way to live with it. I mean… I know this isn’t what you want to do, but—”

“Delilah. You’re not getting it. I can’t be with you. You can’t be anywhere near me.”

“What? Why? Why would you say that?”

“It’s not safe for you. I don’t want to be in this life, and I would never drag another person in with me. What we had was fun, but it’s over now. I have to focus on running this business. I can’t be worried about you getting hurt.”

“You don’t have to. I can take care of myself. You mean so much to me. I’m willing to risk it if that’s what it takes to be with you.”

He shook his head. “I don’t want a relationship. I don’t want a girl around all the time.”

“But…”

“Look. I think it’s clear that you have stronger feelings for me than I do for you. I’m sorry that’s how it is, and I did have fun while we were together, but that’s all it was. You have school and your family to worry about. I have a business to run. It doesn’t make sense for us to be together, and it’s not safe. There’s just no reason to keep seeing each other.”

Delilah bit her lip and swallowed hard, trying to hold back her tears. “Okay,” she whispered. “Then I’ll go.” She stood and gave him one last look. “Get better soon.”

She hurried from the room. She had barely made it into the elevator before her eyes filled with tears. As soon as she reached her car, she let the sobs free and cried for a long while.

How could he end things like this? After all they’d been through together? They’d had fun, sure, but it was so much more than that. Even though she hadn’t wanted to, she’d started to fall for him. And now it was over, just like that. She never had meant anything to him. She was just his toy to play with and toss aside when he was through with her. And now he was through with her.