Book two of 'The Vengeance Duology'
Five years ago, the lads and I made the biggest mistake of our lives-a reckless decision that shattered everything.
We destroyed what mattered most, but my deepest regret is how much I hurt her.
Every moment of pa...
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"This was a big mistake, I'm sorry."
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. She's standing there, adjusting her clothes, her eyes filled with regret.
"What—what do you mean it was a mistake?" I ask, my voice barely steady. I'm trying to make sense of it, but the more I look at her, the more I can feel her slipping away.
Valentina avoids my gaze, busying herself with smoothing out her skirt, and it only pisses me off more. "You don't mean that," I tell her, hoping I'm right, hoping she'll take it back. But the silence stretches between us, thick and unbearable.
She finally meets my eyes, and the sadness there cuts deeper than I expected. "Alessio... we shouldn't be doing this. It's complicated."
Complicated? That's the excuse she's using now? "Complicated?" I scoff, trying to keep my frustration in check. "You think I don't know what complicated is? You just said you wanted this—us."
"I know," she sighs, shaking her head, "but that doesn't make it any less messy. Tom, the mafia, everything—"
"You think I care about any of that?" I cut her off, stepping closer. "You think I don't know what a mess looks like? You think I care about Tom or his fucking feeling?" The mention of his name grates on my nerves.
Her face hardens, and she pulls away. "You don't get it. This isn't just about you or me. It's bigger than that."
I stare at her, not believing what I'm hearing. "Then explain it to me. What is this really about? Because it sure as hell feels like you're running away."
Her lips press into a thin line, and for a second, I think she's going to say something, something that'll make this make sense. But she doesn't. She just stands there, silent.
"You can't keep doing this, Valentina." My voice lowers, frustration and hurt mixing together. "Every time we get close, you pull back. And now you're telling me this was a mistake? After everything?"
She looks down, avoiding my gaze again. "It shouldn't have happened."
"Bullshit." I snap, stepping in front of her, forcing her to look at me. "You don't get to just walk away after what just happened. You want to call this a mistake? Fine. But don't pretend you didn't want this as much as I did."
Her jaw tightens, and she finally looks me in the eyes. "Alessio... I can't."
"Can't or won't?" I ask, my chest tightening. "Because there's a difference."
She stays silent, and that silence is louder than any answer she could have given me.
"So we have sex, multiple times, and now you're calling it a mistake?" My voice rises as the frustration builds inside me. "You're unbelievable, Valentina. You're not the only person with feelings here, you know. I have them too."
