Basics. This abused woman was concerned about her basic necessities.
I vowed, “As much as permitted, we will.”
Her questioning the word ‘permitted’ had me explaining that there were limits to what I could do inside her home. That her grandfather had the final say. That he was our boss and we had to obey.
“But,” I told her, “your mother has granted Sal and me permission to be your personal guards when we return.”
“So, you can be in my room.”
Every revelation caused more explanations. “Yes and no. And definitely not as we are now. Here.”
“Explain.”
“Scarlett, I will not be able to hold you,” my throat tightened, “or lay in your bed. Nothing like that.”
Her arms fell to her sides. “No.”
I swallowed. “Please know it will not be because I don’t want to.”
Her eyes went to Sal, who was holding his chest, sorrow owning his expression. “I can honestly say you are one of the most important people in my life.”
Scarlett sounded so sad now. “Then why? Why can’t we just be who we are together?”
If I didn’t have to stay alive to protect her, her desperation and pain would have caused me to put a bullet in my head at the thought of causing her so much misery simply by not being with her as we have been. She sounded so raw and confused. I felt like we were ripping away the little bit of stability she had. It was her ‘hired guns’ who she knew and trusted. She soon would have to learn we were beneath her.
I tried, “It isn’t proper.”
Of course, that word confused her even more. I never knew how ‘status’ was so full of bullshit until having to explain to a young woman who lived by the feelings of her heart alone. Sal was right. She didn’t care about monetary possessions or who was ‘better’ than who. She couldn’t have cared less about anything the world, mistakenly, valued on a daily basis.
Scarlett was the epitome of ‘living in the moment.’ How her heartbeat was all she valued. And beat it did, for me and Sal.
Frustrated with all my explanations of ‘proper,’ this smart woman asked, “Why does my ‘virtue’ matter so much?”
And here we go… “Because of marriage pro—” I quickly reworded ‘prospect’, to not remind her of bikers, “a man your grandfather may want you to marry someday.”
“Marry?”
“A man you spend your life with. Someone that makes your heart beat.”
She waved me off. “I already have two. No need for another. I will tell my grandfather no.”
Sal mumbled, “I am so in love with this woman.”
“You don’t understand, Scarlett. Your grandfather, he, uh, uses marriages to benefit his business.”
“No.” With a furrowing brow, she insisted, “My heart says that is wrong.”
How could I voice that her heart was not even to be considered?
“Scarlett—”
“No,” she growled.
“But,” I again tried to explain, “it is how it is done.”
Tightening fists, she proclaimed, “Then I’m not going to Italy.”
“Scarlett.” She had to understand we didn’t have a choice in the matter. “Be reasonable.”
“Stop calling me that! I am Scar!”
She was regressing again. I didn’t want to lose all the traction we had made. I needed her to understand what that horrible name meant. “But ‘Scar’ is a name they called you.”
Arms at her sides locked with aggravation. “It is all I’ve known for twenty years!”
Her being in a rage was going to get me nowhere quick. I needed her to calm down. I raised my hands. “Okay. Okay… That name may be something familiar to you, but it reminds me of what I saw the day we found you. Is it possible we compromise?”
Puffing, she was borderline seething. “I don’t even know what that means!”
I was wishing Sal would give some words of wisdom, but he stayed quiet.
I was on my own with her. “If you stay calm, I will explain.” When she didn’t yell at me, I continued with, “Okay. Thank you. A compromise is like a trade. A way to ‘meet in the middle’.” As a literal example, I took a physical step toward her. Then I waited for her brilliant mind to comprehend my meaning.
Pride soared as she took an angry little step toward me.
So full of adoration, I clutched her face. “The very first time I saw these magnificent eyes, they reminded me of the galaxy where the stars hang in the sky. Endless and mesmerizing. I still see you this way, a limitless being who is learning her freedom.”
Suddenly, I remembered a conversation that had made no sense to me at the time…
Mrs. Rossi studied me a little longer, then her golden eyes widened. “Oh, you have a very deep connection to the Giordanos.”
“I do not wish to.”
A gentle smile appeared. “Ah, then maybe you will need to learn to ‘wish’ upon stars.” Her eyes sparkled. “You will belong to one, one day.”
Scarlett’s lips parted, then she softly said, “Angel—”
Those lips. I had to touch them as I realized Mrs. Rossi had seen how much I would adore this young woman. My thumb grazed her mouth as I told her, “I don’t belong to Heaven, but will fight to belong to a Star.” Then I waited, silently begging for her to take another step toward me, only this time, between our minds.
I knew she understood my meaning when I felt her body sigh. “That is… a good trade.” She was letting me call her Star in place of Scar.
Thank you, Mrs. Rossi.
Realizing Scarlett was truly a part of my destiny, I went from just being in love with her, to loving her madly. Mrs. Rossi’s premonition felt like granted permission, yet all the Giordano rules made this union impossible. I was torn between love and insane jealousy. My heart pounded for Scarlett, and to avenge any future ‘prospect’. My lungs labored for her, and at the thought of any future kills if anyone wished to hurt her or test me.
Breathlessly, she asked, “You want to taste me again?”
My soul answered Scarlett with my starving jealous Italian grumble, “I want to ravage you until my very last breath.”
“W-What did you just say?”
My body was trembling for all I wanted. I had to regain control over myself, so I shut my eyes to block out the sight of perfection. “Nothing.” But, then I saw my gun pointed to some man who planned on marrying my Scarlett.
From the kitchen, fucking Sal chimed in, “He said he wants to ravage you.” When I glared over my shoulder, he only shrugged. “Hey, don’t look at me like that. I only make her want to drink wine. Speaking of,” he looked around, “where is my glass?”
Unsure, Scarlett asked me, “Is ravage good?”
Even though I knew it would be life-changing, I replied, “No.” I needed to get away from her before I took her to the floor and climbed on top of her like a mindless animal who was bred only to pleasure her.
“Liar,” claimed my friend who refused to help me out.
Insecurity ran out in Scarlett’s next questions. “Why? Why won’t you touch me like that?”