Twisted Hearts (The Camorra Chronicles 5)

I scoffed. “You’re impossibly arrogant, do you realize that? Who says you were my biggest wish?” I blew out the candles, feeling lighter than before.

Savio leaned forward, peering into my eyes. “So what was your wish?”

“I’m not going to tell you.”

“I bet I know it. You want to see my tattoo.”

“No,” I said quickly. Though, I was really curious about it.

Savio narrowed his eyes. “You’re a bad liar.”

I was, but I hadn’t lied. Since Carlotta had been born, I had only one wish. “I want Carlotta to become healthy, that’s all.” My voice broke and I quickly looked away from Savio’s intense gaze. Tears prickled in my eyes. Way to go to ruin the mood.

“Hey,” Savio murmured and pulled me against him. It was an innocent hug, but the feel of his warm, strong chest so close still awakened my body.

His palm stroked my back, again the most innocent touch, but my insides seemed to come alive with a need that terrified me. Clearing my throat, I pulled away. “How about we eat cake and watch a movie. Or do you have somewhere to be?”

Another woman, maybe.

“I have all night,” Savio said as he took our plates and carried them into the living room. We sank down on the sofa. I reached for the plate that Savio held out to me and took a bite.

Savio had already shoved a big chunk of the chocolate cake into his mouth. “Your nonna is a goddess in the kitchen.”

“She’ll slap you for the blasphemy if you tell her that, and she won’t even care that you’re a Falcone.”

When he lifted the fork to his mouth again, my eyes fell on the tattoo on his wrist. Not the Camorra tattoo on the right but the broken watch, speared by a knife on the other. Savio noticed my gaze of course and some of the lightness disappeared from his eyes. I didn’t want to ruin the mood but at the same time, I wanted to find out more about the man whom I’d marry in the not too distant future—hopefully.

“What’s the meaning of that tattoo?” I asked, and Savio relaxed again. Had he thought I’d ask him about his mother and how she’d tried to kill him and his brothers? Savio turned his body to me and extended his arm so I could see the tattoo more closely. The watch was so intricately inked that it looked real, just like the knife which had been driven into it from above. If you didn’t know they were there, you could even miss the scars. I didn’t dare to touch him, not just because I worried this spot was too personal for him but also because I didn’t trust myself this close to Savio. My body had never before felt this abuzz.

“The watch symbolizes time and mortality. People always tell you time’s running out. We have limited time on this earth and that we have to make every moment count.”

“But don’t you live by that credo? You seem to be enjoying your life more than a little, so why the knife destroying the watch?”

“Because I don’t let anyone, not even time or death, dictate how I live my fucking life. So the knife stops the watch from ticking, from reminding me that every moment could be the last. I don’t need reminding.”

I released a small breath. “I feel as if I haven’t really lived yet. You have already experienced so much, and I haven’t.”

Savio moved closer and cupped my face. I became still, as a war raged inside of me. Part of me wanted to kiss him, to feel his closeness, but the other part couldn’t commit to this, not as long as Savio couldn’t commit fully. He couldn’t have part of me, when he saw fit. I wouldn’t allow him to half-ass this. Yet, I didn’t pull back.

Savio searched my eyes. “You’ll experience everything you want with me, Kitty.”

His face came closer and I still didn’t move. My brain didn’t function, even when my mind started screaming at me to stop this.

Our lips were only a couple of inches apart. The lock turned and I jerked away.

“Gemma, I’m home!” Diego called.

I quickly moved to the other end of the sofa, as far from Savio as possible, before Diego stepped in. He was carrying takeout from the Capri. His smile fell the moment he saw Savio. His eyes darted from him to me. “What’s going on here?” He stalked into the room, dropped the takeout boxes on the table then glowered down at us.

Savio leaned back and motioned at the cake. “We celebrated Gemma’s birthday. I didn’t want her to be alone so I kept her company.”

Diego looked at me for confirmation.

“I was lonely.”

Savio’s expression flickered with protectiveness, but then he stood. “I’ll leave.”

Diego shook his head. “I brought enough food. You can eat with us.”