"Don’t you think it’s about ti we return to the house?" I asked Jace as we stepped into the suite.
He paused and stared at , concern clouding his features.
"You don’t like it here?"
I hesitated. "It’s not that. I just think it would be safer to go back now."
"No. It’s not safe."
"You’re sure?"
He gave a curt nod. "A hundred percent."
"What about seeing my brother?" I asked softly.
"I haven’t seen or spoken to him since my birthday. I need to see him."
"Mira, now’s not the ti for this. We’re walking on eggshells right now."
"Okay." I said softly.
For so reason, I felt a sting of tears which was unusual but I blinked it back before they could drop.
Jace stayed in the living room and worked while I went into the bedroom to lay down, feeling tired after I barely did anything all day.
All this was tiring. I wondered how long I would have to live like a fugitive. Always on the run from one thing or the other.
Every ti I thought about Jace and whatever we had been through, I felt a nervous pit in my stomach because it seed like it would never end.
First it was the Castillos, now it was Massimo who was constantly on our necks. I couldn’t enjoy anything without the feeling of trepidation because I knew sothing big was coming.
I wanted to believe Jace had it under control but on days like these, it didn’t seem like anything was going according to plan.
And no matter how much I asked, he wouldn’t let in on his thoughts.
I tossed and turned on the bed.
What if he didn’t trust anymore?
My eyes went as wide as tennis balls as I sat up. The thought had taken root and now I couldn’t sleep anymore.
I imdiately got out of bed and stord the living room where Jace was bent over his laptop.
"Jacopo."
I watched him freeze. It seed like his breathing slowed. Then he turned to and searched my face.
"Mia cara, is sothing wrong?"
"Do you trust ?"
I folded my arms and glared at him as he swallowed.
"Of course I do. Why would you ask that?"
"Well because you’re hiding stuff from ."
"I’m just trying to keep you safe princess."
"I don’t want that. I want you to let know what exactly is going on."
He rubbed his face and groaned. "Mira-"
I stopped him with the raise of my palm "No."
"Jace, this docunt Massimo has been fighting for, what is in it? I’ve been kept in the dark for so long and I’m sick of it!"
My voice went up a notch before I could stop it.
Jace stared at for a long mont and stared back, breathing heavily.
"Sit." he said with a sigh, gesturing at the couch.
I broke eye contact as my gaze trailed to the piece of furniture.
Doing as he said, I took my position at one end of the couch while he joined after pouring himself a drink. Maybe he needed all the courage he could get.
He swirled the amber liquid in his glass before taking a sip. His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. The silence stretched so long, I thought he wasn’t going to answer .
Then his voice ca, low and heavy. "The docunt you’re asking about... it’s called The Sanctuary Dossier."
I frowned. "What’s that supposed to an?"
"It’s not just a docunt, Mira. It’s a vault of every dirty secret that built the foundation of our world. Every deal. Every betrayal. Every death that was covered up to protect the families."
My brows knitted tighter. "The families? You an the mafia families?"
He gave a single nod. "Yes. The Romanos. The Castillos. Even Massimo’s father. My father... he made sure everyone’s sins were written down sowhere. Nas, accounts, recordings, financial trails—everything. If the dossier ever sees daylight, it’ll burn down the entire underworld."
A chill crept down my spine as he said that. "So Massimo wants it so he can destroy everyone?"
"No." His jaw flexed. "He wants to rule them. Whoever owns the dossier controls every Don in Italy and beyond. Fear is power, mia cara. That’s the legacy my father left behind."
I swallowed, trying to make sense of it. "And you have it?"
His gaze dropped to the floor, then found again. "I had it. I moved it months ago. It’s not in my possession anymore."
"You lost it?" My voice wavered slightly.
"I didn’t lose it," he said sharply. "I gave it to soone I trust more than I trust myself. A man outside this life, soone who doesn’t owe loyalty to anyone but . It’s the only way to keep it out of Massimo’s hands."
I blinked at him, still processing. "But if it’s that dangerous, why not destroy it?"
His silence was deafening.
"Jace?" I pressed softly, hoping I wasn’t pushing too much.
He exhaled slowly and leaned back against the couch. "Because it’s the only thing keeping us alive."
My heart lurched. "What do you an?"
"Massimo can’t touch as long as he doesn’t know where it is. If he kills , the information will be leaked automatically. That’s the failsafe. My father was paranoid. He built protection into every plan he made. Even death couldn’t stop his reach."
I sat there, stunned, watching him drain the rest of his drink like it was the only thing holding him together.
"Does your mother know about this?" I asked.
"She helped him build it," he admitted with a nod. "Back then, she was the brains behind most of his operations. When I took over, I swore I’d never use it. But Massimo... he wants to resurrect everything my father stood for. He thinks fear makes a leader untouchable."
"And you think love does?" I questioned.
His head turned sharply toward . I hadn’t even realized the words had slipped out. The corner of his mouth lifted, but it wasn’t amusent... it was exhaustion.
"Love makes you human," he said quietly. "But it also makes you vulnerable, Mira."
Sothing about the way he said it made my chest ache. I scooted closer, placing my hand over his. "You think you’re protecting by keeping things from . But you’re wrong, Jace. You’re just isolating yourself. I’m your wife, I need to be aware of these things."
Jace’s grip tightened around my fingers. "If anything happens to , Mira, you’ll call Tomas. He knows what to do."
"No," I said fiercely. "You’re not doing that thing where you talk like you’re preparing for your death. I’m not losing you."
His eyes softened, the gray of them was stormy but alive. "Then trust to end this."
I didn’t know if I wanted to slap him or kiss him. Maybe both. But when I saw the weight in his eyes , the quiet tornt, I just sighed and leaned into him.
He set his drink down and wrapped an arm around . "You weren’t supposed to be part of this life," he murmured into my hair. "I don’t know why my father insisted I marry you despite your innocence."
I swallowed the lump in my throat, rembering that letter I was yet to finish.
Jace continued, "But now that you are, you need to understand that every move I make, every lie I tell, it’s all to keep you breathing."
I closed my eyes, fighting the sting behind them. "Then stop shutting out."
He pulled back just enough to look in the eyes. "You really want to know everything?"
"Yes."
"Then be ready, mia cara, because once you do... you can never unknow it."
My heart pounded at the warning in his tone, but I nodded anyway. "Tell everything."
And he did, slowly, painfully, like each word peeled open an old wound. About how his father collected evidence on every family. How he once found his mother crying over the files, begging Vittorio to burn them. How the day his father died, half the n who swore loyalty to him disappeared, taking their share of the secrets.
By the ti he finished, the room was quiet except for the hum of the air conditioner and my uneven breathing.
He looked at , his voice low. "This is the war Massimo is fighting. Not for territory. Not for money. But for control of every person who’s ever made a deal with the devil."
"And you’re the only one standing in his way," I said quietly.
He nodded once. "And I’ll stay that way. Even if it kills ."
I shook my head, pressing my forehead against his chest. "No, Jace. Not if it kills you. We’re going to win this together."
His lips brushed the top of my head. "You really think you can stand in the fire with ?"
"I already am," I whispered.
And for the first ti in a long while, he smiled. A small, tired smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes but it was enough to make believe him when he said,
"I’d burn the world before I let it touch you."
Reviews
All reviews (0)