Page 110 of Righteous Enforcer
“I’m not a monster. My father was harsh, yes. Ruthless even. But he built everything we have to protect us." I move closer, needing her to understand. "This life isn't just about violence. It's about loyalty. Protection. Family."
“I know.” Her tone suggests she doesn’t see protection and family as a positive, but as danger.
I run a hand through my hair, trying to gather my thoughts. "I understand why my father scared you. I understand why this world seems impossible to navigate."
She watches me cautiously, as if she knows my answer won’t change what she believes about me and the world I live in.
"But Eva, you did have a choice. You could have come to me. Trusted me with the pregnancy. With my father's threats. I would have protected you both. Found a way for you to be safe, even if it meant sending you away with enough money to build that normal life you wanted.” I’d have hated it, but I’d have done it to keep her and Mirabella safe. Because sometimes, breaking your own heart is what it takes to protect those you love. “I could have been the man you needed. The father Mirabella deserved."
I step closer, close enough to touch her but holding myself back. "You didn't love me enough to trust me. That was your choice."
"That's not true." Eva shakes her head, tears pooling in her eyes. "I loved you."
Her admission hits me square in the chest, at first filling me with warmth, but followed by confusion.
If she loved me, why didn’t she trust me?
"That's why I couldn't involve you. If you'd stood against your father for me, what then? He would have destroyed you or made you choose between your family and us. I couldn't be the reason you lost everything."
I step closer, drawn to her despite my better judgment. "You don't know what I would have done."
“If you chose me, you’d have ended up like Luca… exiled. You’d end up resenting me, and even then, we might not have been safe.”
“Luca is living his perfect life. If leaving would have resulted in that, I’d have done it in a minute because my life has been far from perfect since the night I got word you were dead.” My jaw is tight. “I had a right to be a part of the choice. You took that from me.”
She closes her eyes, and I think she finally understands what she did to me.
My side of the situation.
But when she opens her eyes again, I see the same wariness.
“Don’t you see? With Alessandro? It's like history repeating itself. Your brother is no different than Lorenzo. The same threats, the same impossible choices."
I want to deny it, defend my brother, but I don’t because I know she's right.
"I'm so tired, Adriano." Her voice breaks as the walls finally crumble. "I'm tired of running, of looking over my shoulder, of never feeling safe."
I pull her against my chest, unable to stop myself from comforting her.
"All I want is to feel safe. To be loved." Her words come between ragged breaths. "And for Mirabella to grow up feeling those things too."
"Then why did you run again?" I ask, pulling back to look in her eyes. "I was giving you everything you just said you wanted, safety, love, a family for Mirabella."
Eva's gaze drops. "You can't protect me. Not if Alessandro decides to hand me over to the Bratva."
"Look at me," I say, using my finger to lift her chin until her eyes meet mine. "What do I need to do to make you believe you can trust me? Alessandro will only hand you over to the Bratva over my dead body."
Confusion crosses her face. "How can you still feel that way, after everything I've done to hurt you?"
I shake my head, unsure how to explain the war inside me. "I don't know. I wish I had a better answer. All I know is that as much as I want to hate you, I can't."
The admission costs me, but it's worth it to see that flicker of hope return to her eyes.
"I know something is happening that terrifies you," I continue, holding her gaze. "Something bigger than just my father's threats or Alessandro's distrust. You're the one making this harder than it needs to be by keeping secrets and not trusting me."
Her lower lip trembles as she looks up at me. For a moment, I think she might finally tell me everything.
"I want to trust you. More than anything."
