Page 96 of From Rome, With Hate

“What about Francesco Ferrari?” I ask, tightening my grip around Rome’s hand on my thigh.

“I’ll take care of Francesco,” Rhys answers quickly.

I look at Rome with tears in my eyes. A mixture of emotions fill my chest: relief, anger, confusion, fear, safety. It’s a pendulum of feelings passing over me in waves.

“My work is done here,” Rhys says, cutting the silence. “Well, as far as the Montgomerys are concerned. Go live happily ever after or some shit.”

Rome smirks, catching my attention.

I can’t help a brief smile playing on my lips, either. Again, a pendulum of emotions.

Rhys ends the call, and Rome immediately deletes the photo Rhys sent him. Once he’s done, he drops his phone back on the table and sits up.

“Lark, I…”

“You don’t have to say anything.” I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “I just need a moment.” Every secret and truth revealed in the past consumes me. My relation to Rhys, my brother’s secret, and the fact the man trying to kill us is dead.

His arms wrap around me, pulling me to him. He rests his head on my chest, clinging onto me. I place my hand on top of my husband’s head, threading my fingers through his hair. Resting my cheek against my hand, I cry. Tears stream down my face, soaking into Rome’s hair. The swaying trees in the distance blur with my watery gaze. The tension and stress we’ve carried around with us these past several weeks disappears with every breath I take.

“I’m not sure what this means, Rome.”

He loosens his arms around me and raises his chin. I rest my hands on his shoulders, look him in the eye, and fall in love with him all over again.

“I think it means we’re free,” Rome whispers, dragging his finger across my cheek.

“Free?” Tilting my head to the side, I pinch my brow. I don’t think I even know what it means to feel free. I’ll never be freefrom the pain of losing our daughter. But being here with Rome, rediscovering our lost love, fills me with a new feeling. Hope, maybe?

“Free to go home.”

A sob escapes me, and I find myself laughing and crying at the same time.

“I can’t tell if these are happy tears or sad,” he mutters, wearily.

I sniff, laughing even more as I wipe my fingers under my eyes.

I’m strong. I’m independent. I’m resilient.

“Happy, Rome.” I giggle. “These are happy tears.”

He breathes a sigh of relief.

“So,” I start, “what you’re saying is, I get to go home and see my friends and family?”

“Yes,” Rome whispers. He plants a gentle kiss to the base of my throat, sending my stomach somersaulting again. “But we have one more thing to clear up before we head back home.”

“What is that?” I pinch my brow and run my fingers over the back of his head.

“We made a deal when you first got here.”

My entire body freezes, knowing exactly where he’s going with this.

“The one thing I always wanted.” I nod in understanding. “Divorce.”

“Is that what you still want?”

I narrow my eyes and cradle Rome’s face in my hands. Running my thumbs along his cheekbones, I stare at his handsome face, knowing he’s ruined me for all eternity. All the years of believing I could ever find someone who compares to him, over.

“I told you already.” I rock my hips against him as his hands slide across my back. “You’re all I’ve ever wanted.”