Page 148 of Auctioned to the Mafia Don
The words leave me before I can stop them.
Stefano’s face changes.
Barely.
But I see it.
The control he wears so easily fractures at the edges. His eyes darken. His mouth parts once before he closes it again, like he is afraid any answer will break the room open further.
I hate him for making me say it first. I hate myself more for needing him to hear it.
“I was angry,” I continue. “I am still angry. I do not know if I will ever stop being angry about Leon. You took something from me. You took the chance to see him answer for Alice. You took the choice, and you did it because you thought your version of love mattered more than mine.”
“It didn't.”
“No.”
“It does not.”
His voice is rougher now.
“I should have trusted you to hate me and stayed anyway.”
The room goes still.
He takes one step closer.
Then stops.
“I am sorry,” he says.
NotI am sorry you are upset.
NotI am sorry you misunderstood.
Just the words.
Simple. Bare. More frightening than any threat he has ever given me.
My eyes burn.
I look away because I cannot let him see how close I am to breaking.
“You do not get forgiveness because you finally said the right thing.”
“I know.”
“You do not get to touch me because you came back.”
“I know.”
“And you do not get to disappear again because the conversation becomes difficult.”
His face tightens.
“I will not.”
“You cannot promise that.”
