Dark Ties (Made Men 9)

Managing to finally muster up the courage, she finally nodded and stood up from the chair. Was it weird that this felt like it was going to determine the rest of her life?

“Good luck, girl.” Sadie winked at her.

Maria, however, stopped her from leaving and, for the first time, Nadia got a good look at her bright, emerald-green gaze that matched the green in her older brother’s.

“I may be rooting for you just so you can turn his life upside down,” Maria began confessing as harsh words spilled for her pretty lips, “but I can already tell he doesn’t deserve you.”

That revelation from his daughter sent Nadia’s already fucked-up mind in a tailspin. So much so that she missed the odd look between Lucca and Maria before he started to walk her out, and the room full of people parting to give him a wide berth.

It wasn’t until she was faced with Dante’s door that everything stopped, and it was just …

Clear.

Eighteen

I Will Haunt You

Walking into Dante’s office, she hadn’t expected it, but her heart had skipped a beat upon seeing him again. However, with the look of his icy exterior, she doubted his had done the same.

Seeing him start to get up, she stopped him. “You can stay there. This won’t take long.”

“This won’t take long?” he questioned, stunned, and froze in place from rising out of his chair.

“Yes.” She waited for him to slowly lower himself back down to his chair before she began. “I don’t know what you planned to say to me, whether you were going to ask to see me again or not, but when I leave this office … it will be the last time you see me.”

It was easier this way, because if she heard him say he no longer wanted to see her, it would break her heart. But what would hurt even worse was if he did ask to see her again. Then she wouldn’t have the strength to do this.

Nadia couldn’t see anything in his hardened face, only the slight flex to his jaw.

“May I ask why?”

“I hate casinos.”

“You hate casinos?” he asked, confused more than ever.

“Exactly.” She nodded firmly.

“Then don’t play in my casino. I don’t care.” Dante seemed to have an easy fix, but when Nadia shook her head, telling him it wasn’t that easy, he continued, “I’m sorry, but I’m not understanding why that means you plan to never see me again once you hit that door?”

“We’re two different people—” It was him this time who was going to interrupt her, but she wasn’t done. Softly, she spoke the words containing the hard truth, “And you’re in love with someone else.”

Dante sat back in his chair, knowing exactly who she meant. “I will always love my wife. It’s not like she walked out on me, Nadia. She died … because of me.”

“I know you will, and I wouldn’t want that to ever change,” Nadia said, taking a breath. “But you’re not willing to share that love with anyone else, and as amazing as that night was with you, I know that’s all you could ever give me, and it would never be enough.”

She had to look past him now, the words too much for herself to bear saying, and Nadia couldn’t witness the pain beginning on his face from talking about his wife. “You can blame yourself for her death all you want, Dante, but she knew the consequences of being with you … just like I do, which is why … I can’t. I don’t choose a life where I will wonder if my next step will be my last, or if you don’t pick up the phone, it might mean you’re dead.” She spoke the name of the ghost that haunted his ice-blue eyes. “Melissa did … I don’t.”

Dante stared at her for several moments, having to take in what she said, and when he finally went to open his mouth, there was a knock on the office door before it flung open.

One of his men, holding a folder, paused upon seeing her. “Oh, sorry, I—”

“That’s okay. I was just leaving,” Nadia said, wiping away the tear that had fallen before she turned for the door.

Standing from his chair, Dante waved his man on. “Sal, can you give us a minute?”

“No, please stay,” Nadia urged him, and the man didn’t know what to do, but she kept him in place when she went to the door herself. “Tell your men I can make it home myself, and that I won’t be needing their services.” Turning, she gave one last look at the man who had stolen her heart and would never be able to give his in return. “Goodbye, Mr. Caruso.”

* * *

Dante fell back down in his chair, watching where she had just disappeared without giving him a single chance.