Page 114 of Humility

I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to ward off the headache that had been threatening since my conversation with Jasmine. She was right, but I didn’t know how to fix everything. She believed in me. The love and trust in her eyes was like pouring salt on the stab wound in my heart. But, if the two of us were going to have a future, I needed to be honest and lay out the hand I was dealt and the cards I’d drawn right or wrong.

That was all before I made amends to her father, and I had no idea how to do that without him shooting me. I would shoot me if it were my daughter. How could I expect or hope for forgiveness?

Don Falcone, I’m sorry that I snuck into your daughter’s room, took her virginity, got her pregnant, left her, stopped speaking to her, and wasn’t there for her when she needed me the most. I’m sorry I humiliated your family and stole your family heirloom worth millions. While we’re at it, let’s tack on everything since Jasmine came here, like almost getting the most precious person in your life killed.

There was no fixing it. At every turn, I shot myself in the foot. My stomach churned as the headache got a little worse. The harder I tried to hang on to her, the further she slipped away. I wanted to whisk her off to some far corner of the world with no one and nothing but us until we died in each other’s arms.

To make matters worse, I’d made a deal with the devil to save my own skin, and that deal was coming home to roost. Fucking Lucas. I should’ve known he would try something like this, and I would bet every last cent I had that the second attacker was Jacapo.

After finding out what Kristof learned about how Jacapo had leaked the information about a traitor to my father, I knew it was him. How the two of them ended up in bed together didn’t matter. What did matter was that Jasmine was now their target. Jacapo was after the head seat at the table, and Jasmine was in his way unless she married him, and she would never agree to that. My best guess was that he knew she was going to marry me. The fucker probably watched me fuck her and set his trap. He knew I was young with ambition, and my father and his approval were weaknesses. He set out to destroy us and almost succeeded until Jasmine happened to come here. Had he followed her? Did he have some tracer on her? I didn’t know, but she would never be safe until she was married and her father signed the papers.

She hated the man already. If she learned about this, I could see her storming back to Italy to shoot him herself. The addition of Lucas was all on me. Fuck my life.

A thought came to me, and I pulled out my phone, dialing Giovanni’s number—not the stupid burner cell, but his business line. I wasn’t surprised when it went to voicemail. The prick was avoiding me.

When the message beeped for the voicemail, I growled into the phone. “I understand your coded message. If you don’t get control of the cuckoo and put it back in its cage, then I swear I will make sure every Don knows about what he did and how you covered it up. I still have a copy of everything, including the video footage, locked away for safekeeping. And, just so you know he took another run at Jasmine and I will put a bullet between his eyes if he tries again. I will destroy anyone in my way to protect what’s mine and happily die dragging you to hell with me. My soul already belongs there, but I’m happy to have company. Get. Him. Under. Control. Now. Don’t test me.” My voice was steely and threatening as I hit the end button and slammed my cell on the desk.

I didn’t care if he was the Don of Dons. No one went after Jasmine without feeling my wrath. The earlier rage threatened to spill over once again, and I sucked in a deep breath to try and get it under control.

“Angelo?” I jerked, my heart jumping as Jasmine spoke.

I smiled at the sight of her in the doorway. She was a vision in the ice-blue lace dress. My heart pounded hard, and the blood thrumming through my body pushed the anger aside.

“You look beautiful, Tiger.”

Stepping around the desk, I walked across the room and pulled her into my arms as I kissed her hard. My hand snaked up into her thick, wavy hair, and I was tempted to skip dinner and jump right to dessert. I’d never thought of myself as a coward and aimed for the top of everything I did, but when it came to losing Jasmine, I was weak. I just couldn’t tell her as much as I knew I should. Even if she forgave me, which I couldn’t see, her father never would. Marrying her would force his hand, and I prayed he cared more for her happiness than wanting my head on a spike.

“Are you okay,” she panted as I broke the kiss and held her tight.

“I am now. Come in, I’ll let the chef I hired know we’re ready.”

“Wow, this is beautiful Angelo. You did all this for me?” She reached out and ran her hand down the vines and twinkling lights I’d hung. They reminded me of the wineries back home. The table was set for two with silverware and flowers while wine sat on ice, chilling.

Tugging at her hand, she laughed as she twirled and was once more in my arms. “There is nothing in this world that I wouldn’t do for you. Nothing.”

“Are you sure everything is okay? Not that I don’t mind this romantic side, but you seem upset.”

I wanted to spill my guts as I stared into those honey eyes that had stolen my heart so long ago. Instead, I rested my forehead against hers and closed my eyes.

“I’m just so happy. Happy scares me.”

“I’m happy, too.”

“I better let the kitchen know we’re ready, or I’m going to tear this dress off you instead.”

I felt her smiling even with my eyes closed. Her body radiated happiness, and I soaked it up as I would the sun’s rays. “Well, you went to all this trouble. It would be a shame for it to go to waste.”

I beat back my uncontrollable fear and pulled out her chair. “And I bet you haven’t eaten any lunch?”

“Guilty as charged, but the new greenhouse is really coming along. I’m so excited.” She beamed as she spoke, and my mood started to shift. We were safe for now. I needed to just enjoy this time with her.

I sent the text message to the kitchen, and a moment later, a tray was wheeled in through the open door. “Chef Louis has prepared all of your favorites.”

One by one, the silver trays were placed on the table, and Jasmine’s mouth fell open. “Oh my gosh, this looks divine. Thank you.”

“My pleasure Mademoiselle. If you should need anything further, I will be in the kitchen preparing the dessert.”

As soon as the door was closed, I leaned in and kissed the side of Jasmine’s neck. I loved that I made her shiver.