Mafia Kings: Massimo: Dark Mafia Romance Series #3

“…and… and that’s when I went to live with her,” Lucia sobbed.

Her body trembled as I held her in my arms.

She had cried non-stop for ten minutes. After that, she was barely able to get out the details of what had happened when she was six years old.

And as she told me…

My heart broke for her.

It shattered into a thousand pieces, and I knew I would never be able to put it back together.

I didn’t cry. I haven’t cried in years, not since I was a teenager and my mother died…

But the room was blurry as I rocked her in my arms.

“I’m sorry, Lucia,” I whispered, and I kissed her forehead. “I’m sorry.”

She pushed herself away from my chest. At first I thought it was because she didn’t want me to hold her any longer –

But instead it was so she could look me in the eye.

“D-don’t leave me,” she whispered in a shaky voice.

“I won’t,” I promised.

“P-please don’t ever leave me,” she begged –

Then she burst into tears again.

I pulled her in close to my chest and whispered in her ear, “I won’t. I’m here – I’ll always be here. I swear I won’t ever leave you.”

She finally cried herself out. When there were no more tears, she fell asleep in my arms…

Her face as innocent and angelic as a little girl.

A little girl who had lost so much.

I kept on rocking her, unwilling to let go.

I made an oath to myself at that moment.

I would never let my guard down again.

I would never fail her like I had today…

And I would keep her safe.

Forever.

No matter what.