The Tyrant (Banker 3)

“It’s not about money,” he hissed. “That company gives me purpose. It makes me feel like a man. It turned me into a fucking man. That job got my mom out of the cannery and gave me enough money to rent my first apartment. That company is full of my blood, sweat, and tears. It’s not about money.”

Tears ran down my cheeks. “You’re still choosing it over us.”

“Only because you’re making me.”

When I heard his final decision, I started to sob. “You said you loved me more than anything.”

“And I do.” He slammed his hand into his chest. “I would die for you.”

“You would die, but you won’t walk away from your company?”

“You know what I mean.”

“No,” I snapped. “I don’t know what you mean.” I tried to wipe my tears away, but it was no use. They just kept coming. “I can’t believe you’re doing this. You said you would always protect me, but you’re continuing to put us in harm’s way. Why don’t you see that?”

“I would never let anything happen to you—”

“Goodbye, Cato.” I walked past him and headed down the stairs and to the pathway. This conversation kept going in circles, and it would never stop. I asked him for the one thing that mattered, and he refused to give it to me.

He would rather lose me over his company.

Lose his family over his company.

I couldn’t reason with greed. I couldn’t reason with money. I couldn’t reason with wealth.

I could only reason with love.

But he couldn’t.

It was too late in the evening to flee the estate, so I went into the bedroom and gathered all the things I would need tomorrow. I stuffed all my clothes and accessories inside plastic bags then carried them into my old bedroom down the hall. I left his bedroom exactly as I found it—with no trace of me.

I went into Martina’s bedroom with the intention of taking her with me, but when I saw how angelic she looked, I chose to stand there and stare at her. The most beautiful thing I’d ever made was right in front of me—and she was half Cato. I made sure I didn’t cry as I stood there so I wouldn’t disturb her, but the emotion was wreaking havoc in my chest.

This was really over.

I could have kept my mouth shut and not cornered Cato, but I wouldn’t have been happy. I would always be scared, waiting for the next blow to strike us. Anytime my children were at school or staying at a friend’s house, I would be a mess until they returned. My life would be centered around worrying, worrying about the moment when someone would try to kill all of us.

If it were just me, maybe it was a risk I could take.

But not with Martina.

I couldn’t let anything bad ever happen to her.

What kind of mother would I be?

I watched her for a few moments before I left the room and went to my old bedroom, to the place where I used to live when I meant nothing to Cato. It was more luxurious than a five-star hotel, but I would prefer to sleep with Cato in a sleeping bag than be in here alone.

I got into bed without taking off my dress and cried.

Because the man I loved didn’t love me enough.

I’d risked my body and my dignity when I gave myself to Damien. That outcome could have been completely different. I might have been his prisoner a long time, and I would have been raped and tortured until someone saved me. I risked that for Cato—but he couldn’t do this for me.

When dawn arrived, I carried everything downstairs to the driveway. It was still cool after the long night, and I was exhausted from not sleeping at all. I’d just lain there, crying on and off throughout the night.

“Miss Siena, what are you doing?” Giovanni asked me in the entryway. He glanced at my hand, expecting to see the diamond ring Cato offered me.

“Martina and I are leaving. I need someone to drive us to my old place.”

“Of course…” His hands came together, and he slightly fidgeted in place. “I…I’m so sorry.”

“I am too. But it didn’t work out.” I moved past him.

Giovanni stepped in front of me again. “I don’t mean to overstep my boundary, but I assure you that Mr. Marino loves you with all his heart. Instead of fleeing, perhaps you should talk to him.”

“We’ve done enough talking, Giovanni. I told him I wouldn’t feel safe until he stepped away from his line of work…and he refused. After everything that’s happened, I can’t put our daughter through that. So…my answer was no.”

He gave a slight nod, his eyes filled with sadness. “He’ll come around.”

“I don’t think he will.” I stepped around him once more. “Cato is a stubborn man, but this isn’t stubbornness.” I moved up the stairs again and returned to my room. I gathered my final things before I dropped them off on the doorstep. Then I retrieved Martina along with her bag of essentials.