“We will be leaving now for Maine.”
He nods. “If you hurt my sister, I’ll personally hunt you down and murder you. Do you understand?”
Gavril grins, baring his teeth. “I’d like to see you try.”
My brother’s fists clench and I wonder if the fight is about to kick off again.
“But you don’t need to worry about me hurting Camilla.” His eyes narrow. “I’m her protector now.”
A shiver races down my spine at that declaration.
“I’ll tear apart anyone who hurts her, so I won’t be the one to do it,” Gav says.
I move forward and approach Massimo. “I’m sorry it came to this.”
He nods. “Me too, sis.”
I swallow hard. “I don’t want this to come between us.”
His expression hardens. “I’m sorry, Camilla, but there’s no way this can’t come between us.”
Excruciating pain squeezes around my heart. “What are you saying?”
“At least for a time you are going to have to keep your distance.”
“You’re kicking me to the curb for this?”
“Father won’t be happy.” He places a hand against his forehead. “First Mia and now you. At least Mia’s pairing was respectable.” He glares at Gavril. “Not a fucking professor.”
Gavril growls. “Careful Morrone.”
Massimo straightens, holding his head high, glancing at Leo. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”
Leo nods, chucking Massimo’s jacket at him, which he shrugs on. After one last glance in my direction and a soft shake of his head, he turns to leave the warehouse, with Leo following behind. The rest of the men filter out behind them, a few of them hobbling out with bad injuries and blood staining their clothes, but strangely enough, none of them died.
Once they’re gone, Gavril turns to face me. “Still want me now?”
It’s a good question because what I witnessed was honestly insane, but somehow I want him more. All of that he did for me, and while he may not be able to admit his feelings in words, he just demonstrated them with actions instead. “Of course.”
He gestures for me to approach him and I run into his arms, squeezing tightly.
The fear I felt at the prospect of losing him was enough to carve my heart from my chest. “I meant it,” I murmur softly, my face buried against his chest.
“What?”
“I love you, Gavril.” I squeeze tighter and crane my neck to look at his face.
His eyes are bright with emotion, his throat bobbing. “I—I...”
I shake my head. “Don’t say anything. You don’t need to.”
He draws in a shaky breath. “You make me a better man, Camilla.”
“I’m not sure that’s true. You just almost committed mass homicide for me.”
There’s a haunted look in his eyes, and I wonder what terrible deeds his past holds. A part of me is curious, but I know it’s best not to dwell on the past.
All that matters is our future.