Mafia Men IV: Rossi

Chapter 24

I sat at the table as we heard my room door close upstairs.

"Wow" Christian said and I looked at him

"What?" I asked annoyed

"She- You" Christian was rarely ever lost for words

"I think what he means to say is that you two are polar opposites." Miles said "Not that it's a bad thing."

"I've just seen the women you've gone after and she's just completely different" Christian said

"Like she's actually nice" Giovanni said laughing and they laughed too

I rolled my eyes.
"So what she's different from my usual type" I said

"Nothing wrong with that. She's nice cousin. I'm happy for you." Christian said

"Um are we missing why this meeting was drawn. Cameron is not himself" Tyler said

"He's in love. It changes you" Miles said and I looked at him. He was proof that it was true.

Tyler stood up from the table grabbing his empty plate and putting it in the sink.

"You guys are nuts" He said

"I'm fine. I wish you all would've gave me a heads up though" I glared at them

"You would've told us no" Giovanni said and I nodded

"Bring her to the lake house one of these days. She can meet the girls" Christian said

"Yea maybe." I said

"You can't keep her to yourself forever" Tyler said and I looked at him

"I can and I will." I said and he shook his head

"This guy" He pointed at me.

"You heard she wanted kids Cam. You always said you didn't" Tyler said and I stood up looking at him

"Shut your mouth Tyler" I said

"I'm showing you the truth Cameron. You're blinded by love and it's changing you." He said

"Guys" Giovanni stood up too as I got closer to him

"Say what the real issue is Tyler." I said "Say it. That you wanted Lia and you couldn't have her so you're pissed"

"I don't know what you're talking about. You guys see this he's losing his mind over her." Tyler said "And even so I saw her before you. If that's the conversation you want to have. I staked my claim way before you."

I punched him in his face and everyone rose. Soon Giovanni held me back from him and Christian stepped in between us. Tyler smiled and the blood was in his teeth.

"She's mine" I said to him

"Yeah until she sees who you really are Cameron. We aren't family men. You know that. I know that. You can't give her what she wants." Tyler said and I tried to lunge for him but Giovanni held me

"And you can?" I asked him

"I don't want Lia okay. I just want you to see that she may not be the girl for you. We are different. We always have been and always will be. I saw your face when she said she loved kids. You were scared. You don't want that but you're scared that if you reveal that to her then she's gone. You're scared to lose her because she will see who you really are." Tyler said

I shook from Giovanni's hold. My jaw clenched and I glared at Tyler. I wanted to punch him again but I didn't. He was right. I wasn't like Giovanni or Christian or Miles. They wanted to settle down. I didn't want that. This business was everything to me. They hated it and I didn't. They wanted out but I didn't. I was nothing without power. I couldn't tell Lia this any of this. She'd leave me and I can't let that happen. I won't let that happen. But I couldn't lie to her either. I couldn't let her believe that that was the life I wanted. I was completely lost.

I leaned against the counter and ran my hand through my hair.

"What do I say to her?" I asked them

"You be honest." Giovanni said "And let her decide"

"If she leaves me i'll die." I said

"I understand" Miles said looking out the window at the pool. "But she'll resent you forever if you make that decision for her Cam."

I looked at Tyler. He wiped the blood from his mouth. "I know asshole" he said "I'm just looking out for you"

"In his own fucked up way" Christian glared at Tyler

"Thanks...you guys" I said and they nodded. They began to walk out and I followed them at the door.

"Take care of her" Christian said as he was the last to leave. "Think about what's worse to lose. This sense of power or her. Then you'll have your answer. Don't let the fears of your past affect your future."

I looked at him and nodded. He pat my shoulder and walked out. They all honked at me as they each drove out in their cars including Tyler. I closed the door behind them and went upstairs to see Lia staring at her phone.

"What's wrong?" I asked her

"My father called me. Apparently Eli is out of prison." She said

"What?" I asked going over to her

"How long was the call Lia?" I asked nervously

"2 minutes" she said and I sighed

I went over to her and sat next to her. I made her look at me. Her eyes looked hopeless.

"Hey. I promise he won't hurt you okay." I said and she looked me

"You will protect me Cam, but who will protect you?" She asked and I ran my hand along her cheek

"I've dealt with worse men than him love. I will be fine." I said

"Don't. Please don't underestimate him. Please" She said and I nodded

"Okay. I'm sorry." I said

She laid her head in my lap and I watched her stare off into the distance. I had a plan in place men outside the prison watching his every move. I didn't understand why I wasn't notified. I'll have to kill them too. For disobeying my orders.

"Did your friends leave?" She asked me

"Yeah uh they're gone" I said

"Oh okay. They're nice." She said and then it was silent

"That's debatable" I said and she just looked dazed "About the whole kid thing-"

I started but she got up off my lap.
"Can we just have one bad thing today? I can't handle another right now." She said and I saw the disappointment in her eyes

I nodded. "Okay" I said

She crawled up into the bed. She laid down and got under the sheets turning her back to me. I got in the bed next to her pulling her into me and holding her finally doing what I wanted to do all morning. Her body fit so perfectly in mine and we were so close yet I couldn't help but feel so far from her.