Chapter 36: Chapter 36

My chest burned with anger as I abruptly stood from my seat. “What the fuck are you telling me right now?”

“I dropped out of the semester.”

Another heavy blow struck me, and I had to grip the back of my chair to hold me up.

“You…” I couldn’t bring myself to speak.

She hurriedly continued. “I wanted to be honest with you, so you wouldn’t have to worry about me. Things are kind of hectic right now, so you probably won’t hear from me for a while. But I promise you, I know what I’m doing and I’m safe.”

“What the fuck is going on?” I mumbled to myself in absolute disbelief.

“I met someone.”

I inhaled sharply, my voice dropping a couple of octaves. “I swear if you tell me this is all over some boy, I am going to beat your ass! Selena, you better be on the next flight back by tomorrow morning, or so help me, not even the devil will get me off you.”

She chuckled nervously. “You sound like our aunt.”

“Our aunt babied you; I’m about to whoop you.” I spewed threat after threat, deadly serious as I raged.

“I’m nineteen now. I’m an adult,” she countered.

“I don’t care if you’re an old woman with one foot in the grave, I’ll drag you out of France! Don’t piss me off, Selena.”

I swallowed the growl that threatened to erupt from my throat and squeezed the back of the chair until my knuckles turned white.

Stefano stood in front of me, his hands rubbing up and down my arms as he tried to calm me down.

I took a deep breath and tried again. “What do you mean you dropped out of school and you’re not coming home?”

“I’m sorry,” she said, not sounding sorry at all, “but I promise, everything will make sense soon. I just need some time to get used to this life.”

I moved away from Stefano and began pacing, using every ounce of my willpower to stop myself from running out the door and catching a flight to France.

“What life?” I asked. “This doesn’t make sense. Stop talking in codes and tell me what’s going on.”

“Well, if you’d let me talk,” she grumbled.

“Talk then! I’d love to hear what you have to say.” I placed a hand on my hip, the little patience I had left very quickly dwindling.

“Like I said, I met a guy, and he’s really sweet. You’ll love him. I just need some time to sort out my thoughts. I promise I’ll call you again when I can.”

I inhaled sharply. My voice cracked when I spoke next. “Your home is here, Selena. You can’t just spring this on me! Where did this guy come from? When did you meet? Why didn’t you tell me about him before? It’s too soon to be throwing your life away for some idiot you just met!”

Worry twisted my gut when I thought about how we were an ocean apart and I wouldn’t be able to reach her in time if anything were to happen.

“Come back home. Please,” I pleaded.

The line was silent for a few seconds before she softly murmured, “I can’t. I’m sorry. Don’t come for me either, because I won’t leave with you.”

“Are you ready to go?” I heard a male’s voice in the background, deep, with a rich baritone that didn’t sound like it came from a young male.

I froze.

“One sec,” Selena told the guy before speaking to me. “I have to go, Cat. I’ll call you when I can. Love you.”

“Selena Angelica Williams! Do not hang up this pho—”

The line went dead.

I gasped. My hand trembled as I took the phone from my ear to look at the blank screen. I couldn’t breathe. My thoughts were all over the place. Who was this guy? Why did she need to drop out of school? I was feeling so many things at once that it was stifling.

I tried calling her, but the call went straight to voicemail.

“Ah!” I tried to scream, but my voice was lost and all that came out was air. I was angry, frustrated, and hurt. How could she do this to me? After everything we’d been through. How could she just leave me?

Stefano’s hand landed on my shoulder, and I turned to look at him.

“Is everything all right?” he asked, his eyes full of concern.

I shook my head, tears welling in my eyes as I fell into his arms. He folded me in his embrace.

“I’m going to kill her,” I murmured against his chest, not bothering to hide my tears.

“What did she do?”

I couldn’t help the bitter laugh that slipped out as I recounted the conversation. I stood in his arms and told him everything, finding comfort in the soothing circles he drew on my back as our bodies swayed to his rhythm.

Our romantic lunch was ruined, but I couldn’t find it in me to care. I was too worried about Selena.

Stefano took me to our bedroom and had me sit on the bed.

I was in a daze, my mind going in circles as it tried to wrap itself around the situation.

How could she be so ungrateful?

I’d worked myself to the bone so she wouldn’t have to. I had been the one to feed her, clothe her, take care of her. I had fucking raised her.

How could she? Where did I go wrong? My entire life had revolved around two things: making sure Selena was happy and keeping our family together.

How could she throw all that away?

I looked up at the sound of Stefano’s shuffling, and I realized that he was stripping out of his suit.

I furrowed my brow. “What are you doing? I thought you had more work to do?”

“You need me more than they do right now. So, I’m taking the rest of the day off,” he said as he threw on a simple T-shirt and sweatpants.

My lips trembled.

When had I ever had someone so in tune with my emotions? He knew exactly what I needed without me having to ask for it.

“France is outside of my jurisdiction, but I have connections that can help. Do you want me to find your sister?” he asked, climbing into bed.

I perked up. “Would you?”

He smiled. “Of course. You’re the future Mrs. Catalina Roscotto. Who would say no to you?”

“That’s true. I am the future wife of a crime lord.”

He chuckled and tugged my arm so we both fell onto the bed. I sighed as my head rested against his chest, basking in his warmth.

“I just want to know that she’s safe. And that whoever she’s staying with isn’t dangerous,” I mumbled.

He played with one of my braids and said, “Well, from the many stories you’ve shared, she sounds like someone who can take care of herself. She’s a lot like you.”

I snorted. “Would I run off with a man and leave my sister?”

His voice dripped with amusement. “It’s possible.”

I slapped his chest. “Be serious!”

He laughed. “But wouldn’t you want to run away with me? It’d be fun.”

His words sparked a memory that I had somehow forgotten.

~I hopped into the passenger seat of Stefano’s car with a heavy sigh. “I’m tired.”~

~“Do you want to skip dinner and go home?” he asked as he leaned over the console and placed a quick kiss on my lips.~

~I shook my head. “No. It’s the weekend. Selena’s staying at a friend’s house, so we can finally have some time alone. I’ve barely seen you all week because of work. Don’t end the night just because I’m tired.”~

~I pouted and looked at him with puppy dog eyes.~

~He chuckled. “We can always reschedule for tomorrow after you’ve had time to rest. You just got off work.”~

~I waved a hand dismissively. “Spending time with you always brings back my energy. Don’t worry.”~

~“I’m glad to hear that, but I’d prefer helping you lose that energy.”~

~I met his intense eyes and gasped, slapping his arm. “Focus on the road!”~

~“All right, all right.” He turned his eyes back to the road, and we fell into a comfortable silence. I leaned back and closed my eyes, the motion of the car almost lulling me to sleep.~

~“If you had the chance, would you abandon the life you have now and run away with me?” Stefano asked, interrupting the silence.~

~“What?” I turned to look at him.~

~His face was cast in a shadow, hiding his true thoughts from me. Yet with every car we passed, the headlights would reflect off his orbs, and I’d get a glimpse of his endless eyes as they stared out in front of him. They were a beautiful mix of gray and blue and had the power to entrance me with one look.~

~His gaze was deep, filled with what I thought were endless worries. And I longed to ease some of his burdens.~

~“It’s nothing.” He shook his head and smiled. “Can you guess where I’m taking you tonight?”~

~I grew curious. “Where? I need a hint!”~

I blinked the memory away and looked at Stefano as he stared up at the ceiling, his finger still playing with that one braid on my head.

My heart grew heavy as I contemplated what he’d meant.

~“If you had the chance, would you abandon the life you have now and run away with me?”~

Had he…asked me to abandon my life to live a new one with the Roscotto family? Or had he asked me to abandon my life so that we could run away from everything, including the Roscotto family?

That couldn’t possibly be the case, could it?