Marked by Crime Rivalry Book2 [✓]

P27

THE feeling returned. The feeling he tried so hard to push down. The feeling made his chest ache and his throat dry. That feeling made him want to entrap Teresa into a mental cage for another year.

Why? Because he wanted to withhold a painful truth that would unravel once she stepped foot into the building. But with that truth, she wouldn't make it into the building and that's what he couldn't allow. Nor could he allow his woman to walk in blind-sighted.
Yet a lie was like a moon, the sun was sometimes maybe even the stars, couldn't be hidden for long before they returned.

He felt like having a case of alethophobia lately, the crippling fear of the truth.

He remembered what Nala said. The more he pushed, the more she pulled. He was pushing this on her only because he knew it had done much more harm than good.

His hands grew sweaty as he squeezed her hand again, and lose his head and eyes to stare into hers. Better yet, search for any indication she was on the verge of escaping.

She was. Because he couldn't entrap her any longer.

Of course, he wanted to beg her to drop it but what would he do when that truth stood her in the face with a cruel smirk to hurt? That truth would hold the upper hand and everyone knew; that a Don was as strong as his Queen.

So he was hoping she would stand strong for them both.

"Tesoro... I told you this ball will be infested with many crime leaders like myself and Santino Moretti, Don of Milan." He wasn't finished but by the way, her eyes lit up, he wanted to be. Because she thought that wasn't bad.
"Luciano." She grinned. "I'm safe with you. I know that and that bastard doesn't—"

Fuck it.

"He and Laura are together" He rushed. It was only a theory but he was for sure. He watched as her smile wavered slowly as she pieced the missing piece of the puzzle. If they were together, Laura was at the ball.

His hope was crushed as she shook her hand and released his hands. "I want to go home" She instantly said.

Truth is better than a lie huh? That was the last time he let foolish advice infect his mind.

Teresa's heart began to race erratically and despite Luciano speaking, she hadn't heard a word. Instead, she was looking for a way to escape, she tugged at the door, but it was locked. The other was locked too and then the oxygen began to escape her too. "No! No!" She yelled out, her eyes shutting tightly as she remembered.

Oh God, Laura was a never-ending nightmare she'll never recover from. How could she? She kidnapped her, drowned her, harmed her, and tried to kill her babies and her. The nightmare she ran to Brazil to get away from.

"Tesoro!" He rose his voice as she began to sink into the seat but he pulled her upright. "I cannot watch you cower to her name again. I love you so much to allow you to do this to yourself"

He grabbed her by the arms but she wanted to push him away. "I want to go home! I can't be here! Don't make me please!"

It was heartbreaking to see Teresa cry and bawl, to beg him not to force her in there. He so wanted to heed her request but he couldn't. What kind of man would he be to not force her to face her fear head-on? To encourage her not to continue to run away. Laura was a fucking cruel woman. And nothing more. She was nothing but a cockroach that he'll soon kill. Teresa had to see that.

"Teresa, look at me." He demanded. She shook her head and continued to cry her heart out. Teresa could be as strong as she wanted, but the mere mention of Laura did this. Because of him. Because he let her fear fester. He brought the threat into his home, and his family, and she did more damage than he could ever.