CHARLES

Iopened the front door of the Levine family estate and stepped outside as a long line of limos pulled into the driveway. The fourth one halted in front of the steps, and the chauffeur opened the passenger door to let my father and uncle out.


I went down to the ground and held out my arms to my father. 'Papa!"

'Bambino!" He hugged me, kissed me on both cheeks, and then patted my face. 'How's the situation at Fort Knox?"

I laughed. 'We're going to war."


He laughed too, and I went over to my uncle Antonio. He hugged me and kissed me too. 'You introduce us to the consigliere, Charles," my father told me.

'Right this way." I led them into Levi's office, but when the usual formal greetings started, I slipped away.


I dashed upstairs to Geneva's room, tapped my knuckle on the door, and let myself in. She turned from the vanity mirror to face me. She wore a magnificent, shimmering gold-foil gown with her hair piled on top of her head in a tower of curls.

'You look stunning," I murmured.

She dipped her eyes to my tux. 'You don't look too shabby yourself."

I tried to smile, but my face didn't work right. 'I came to say goodbye."

Her eyebrows rose in the middle. 'Do you have to?"

'Yes, I do. The visitation period is over, and I have to go home to my family."

She gulped and nodded down at her hands. 'I guess I expected that."

I stepped closer. 'I'm going to the gala in convoy with you and Levi, but I'll be riding with my family. My father and uncle are meeting the Italians with Levi. Then, after it's over, I'm going home."

'I wish you didn't have to go." Her voice cracked. 'I understand why you have to. I just wish… I wish it could last forever."

I stroked her cheek. I would have liked to kiss her and do a whole lot more to her, but now wasn't the time. 'We both know this isn't going to end in us getting married."

Tears welled up in her eyes. 'I love you!"

'I love you too. I've always loved you, and I always will."

'I'm sorry." She looked down, and her tears overflowed. 'I wish it could have been different."

'I know you have feelings for Levi and Ryder. I understand why you would choose one of them over me."

'I didn't! I could never choose one of them over you! That's why I could never choose you over one of them, either." She shook her head fast. 'I don't know what's wrong with me. I just wish we could all just keep doing this forever. I never want it to change."

'It has to." I didn't want to kiss her on the lips in case I smeared her lipstick, so I kissed her on the forehead. 'I love you, but I have to go. I'll see you at the gala."

I put my arms around her, and she hugged me back. She rested her head on my shoulder sniffing for a minute, and when we separated, she fought to get herself under control. 'Okay. I'll see you later."

I kissed her forehead one more time and left the room in turmoil. God, I loved her so fucking much! Why did I have to leave? Why couldn't all of this go on forever? Why did someone have to marry her at all?

I shook those thoughts out of my head and went back down to Levi's office. He was just coming out of it with my father and uncle.

They all shook hands and kissed each other on both cheeks. 'Thank you, Don Vincenzo!" Levi exclaimed.

'It's our pleasure, Consigliere," my father replied. 'Come along, Charles."

My father and uncle went back out to the car. That left me alone with Levi. I held out my hand, but he pulled me into a hug instead. 'Thank you for everything you've done," he told me. 'I'm really going to miss having you around."

I blushed when he kissed me on both cheeks just as though we might be equals. 'It was an honor to be your guest. I… I really don't want to leave."

'Of course, you don't." He laughed and clapped me on the shoulder. 'Let me know if you ever want to come back."

I couldn't stop blushing. 'I want to come back."

We both laughed. I couldn't stop touching his arm and clasping his hand. He really was one of the best men I'd ever met—maybe eventhebest. I didn't want to leave him any more than I wanted to leave Geneva.

He finally gave me a subtle push and nodded toward the door. 'You better go. You don't want to keep Don Vincenzo waiting."

'Yes, Consigliere." I hugged him one more time, but one more time would never be enough.

I broke away and went out to the car. I got in with my father and a truckload of security people. My father, uncle, and I sat on one seat with our chief security manager next to my uncle.

I got smashed against the door and turned my attention to the night falling over Manhattan. The limo purred out of the driveway, and I lost sight of the estate.

Was I really driving away from one of the best times of my life? Would I ever get over the regret of leaving Geneva—of leaving all of this?

I couldn't imagine loving a woman more than her. If I married someone else, I would spend my life wondering what could have been.

Her words came back to me.I just wish we could all just keep doing this forever. I never want it to change.

Why did it have to end? Why couldn't Levi and Ryder and I keep living with her and loving her and being like this forever? Why did it have to change—just because Italian tradition said so?

I'd rather live like that with her than to marry someone else.