Balotelli-Bale Series Book #6: Regina Mia & The Godfather Part 1

Chapter 6: About New York...

Keira's POV
I have a wistful affection for New York that is overpowered by the grief I suffered here.

The decision to come back to New York was for my children and for Nick. If I had my way, I would never set my foot here, not even if I'm dead.

I wasn't born in New York. I was born in Texas. I spent a chuck of my childhood there until my parents wanted a change of scene and we moved to New York. It's here that we bought a tract if land and made it home. It's here that my preteen and teenage years were spent. It is here that I pursued a modelling career, a ballet career and my mother even tried to get me into acting. She wanted me to be famous. I did get famous I'm New York but it wasn't for the right reasons. I believe the correct term is infamous.

I was in a cafe the other day and two women behind me wouldn't stop whispering. When I turned to look at them, they kept quiet. When I fac d forward, they kept whispering. Their whispers were not as hushed as they thought. They were talking about me.

Words like homewrecker, whore and mistress are not unfamiliar to me. They pretty much described me while I was hear in New York and they haunted me in Marseilles but people were always too scared to piss off Sinclair. The whispers in Marseilles faded. I grew accustomed to the peaceful silence until I came back to New York. It's like they never forgot. My mom got her wish. I did become infamous for murder, for wrecking a family and for a scandalous affair. It's unfortunate how people can make sure that past mistakes define a person. I believe that people possess the power to be greater than their mistakes. All they need is a second chance.

That's why I'm still friends with Sinclair after how our marriage ended. His mistakes do not define him. But what about me? Is it a mistake to have an affair twice or a decision? Am I living up to some of the names I was called?

The bottom line for me is Nick. It seems I'll be anything for Nick. He has me on chokehold. I'll never be with another man without him being part of the story.

Our story started here in New York. This where we met, fell in love, got into a scandalous affair and this is the same place it ended badly for both of us. I hate it here.

"This is where we met, remember? That cold afternoon... was it in the afternoon?"

I looked around the rooftop. It's now a restaurant. The whole building is an office building. It's nothing like it was when I first came here, the day I met the architect.

"It was fall, just like it is now, at three in the afternoon but it looked gloomy for an afternoon."

"You remember it."

"Like it happened yesterday. You saved me from your employees." I smiled at him.

"Do you know that my heart started to beat to your rhythm from the moment I lay my eyes on you?" He got closer, taking my hands into his. "I fell in love with you and I have spent every breath after that falling deeper. I can't measure the depth of my love for you. I can only tell you and hope that you trust me enough to fully surrender your heart to me."

"I... Let's sit down." I walked past him to the closest table. I wasn't sure what to expect when he asked me to meet him here. We faced each other. "I saw my dad today. I mean I went to his grave. I haven't done that since I buried him. Almost six years... I guess I never had to because I wasn't in New York the whole time. I had so much to tell him but I did not get the answers I was looking for. What do you want to ask me Nick? I can't help but sense there is something-"

"Do you love me?" He got to the point.

"Yes Nick, I do love you."

"Do you love Mancini?"