CHAPTER 31 - A LONELY HEART

Alina POV:

I push Romeo away as best I can, and he doesn't resist, he looks as if I have slapped him. I cry and he reaches for me but I get off the bed and limp to the bathroom and lock it. I stay sitting on the cold tiled floor holding myself and sobbing, my nose aching because it's still not healed, I feel like an absolute mess. After what feel like hours, I unlock the door and Romeo is nowhere to be seen. I pick up my phone. "Mari?" I say shakily, "please come get me."

"On my way," she says and the line goes dead. I call Clara and pack some things, two huge bags of clothing, I don't know when I will be back. I call my brother Dimitri.

"Dimitri?" I say when he answers.

"Lina? Is everything ok?"

"I need some money, I have some saved but I need to be sure I'm financially stable, I am gong to stay with Mari for a while," I say softly.

"Well dad was an asshole but he left us all our trust funds and inheritance, so you are pretty loaded sis, I will check with the lawyer and have him send the papers and I will bring them to you tomorrow," Dimitri says.

"Ok how much?" I ask hesitantly.

"Close to a billion each sis, we never have to work again, don't worry I will sort it all out for you," Dimitri says.

"Thank you big brother, I appreciate it," I answer in barely a whisper and put the phone off. Before I know it I'm on my way to Mari's place, I never saw Romeo before I left, so I wrote a note. It was the least I could do.

I just need space, and I remember it all, being with him it's just all too familiar. We arrive at Leo and Mari's apartment, and she shows me to the guest room. "Lina, if you need anything at all just call me. I'm going to make some dinner, Leo probably won't be home for a while but he said to make yourself at home," Mari says and I just nod, I need some time alone. She gives me a kiss on forehead and leaves me to get settled in. I kick off my shoes and curl up in a ball under the fluffy white duvet. I stare at my phone on the night stand, and pick it up, no messages, no phone calls. I guess Romeo needs space too.

I stare out into the sunset, I don't know how long I have been here, but the sun has now set and the moon is out brighter than ever. I hear a knock and I see Leo at the door, "Hi, I was just wondering if I could get you anything? Some water, food? You haven't eaten anything yet," Leo says sweetly. These hard-core Italian men each one with God like features and they are the sweetest at times.

"Hey Leo, maybe some water, I'm not really hungry," I answer staring out the window again. He leaves and returns with water.

"Mari had something to do at the hotel, so she won't be back until later. I know you don't remember anything but I want you to know you are safe here, you're like a sister to me. You can stay as long as you need too, Romeo asked me to look out for you too," Leo says probably wanting to get a rise out of me.

"Ok," I answer.

Romeo POV:

I left the room and went to my study to give Alina some space, I have no idea what made her freak out that much but I assume it's a memory or at the very least a flashback. I light up a cigarette, just anything to get my mind off of the way she looked at me, like I was him. It kills me.

All I can think of is why? Why did this have to happen to her, to us, we were so happy, I feel like we're strangers now. I have been down here a while, two drinks and four cigarettes later, time to go look for her. I make my way up to the room, and I don't see her, I check the bathroom she's not there. "Clara!" I call out. "Where is Alina?" I bark at her.

"Don't take that tone with me young man, I practically raised you along with your mother!" Clara hits back at me.

"Sorry, but where is she?" I ask more calmly, but on the inside I'm a mess.

"She left about an hour ago, left you a note, and asked me not to say anything, until you ask," Clara says and I sigh in agreement and walk further into the room.

I see the letter on the bed, pick it up and begin to read.

Romeo,

I know you will be disappointed in me but I had to leave. I need some space, I had a dream but it was more a memory, and you weren't there. Rationally I know it's not your fault, but that's why I need time.

I need to regain my memories and come out of this stronger. I'm staying at Mari and Leo's for a while, I don't know what this means for us, but I need to fix myself right now, as I'm sure you do too. I know you were out drinking and I'm sorry about Angel, I know he was your cousin and most importantly family.

I have been in the Mafia world all my life and had to run from it, be in hiding, but most importantly I need to not be around this for a while. This is probably selfish of me, but I really do hope you understand.

Mari, will hopefully take over the Hotel for a while since you said I work there. The house is beautiful and it was such a beautiful gesture, but I can't be around anything right now.

Lina

I read and reread the letter, it's some kind of weird goodbye. I throw the glass I'm holding against the wall shattering it to pieces. I have lost the only woman who ever meant anything to me. "Fuck!" I shout mindlessly and drop to my knees. I get up compose myself, I'm not meant to happy, have what my parents have. The one time I give in to love and this happens. I pull myself up off the floor, have another shower and now it's time to get back to business, show everyone what being the king of New York and the Mafia means. Fuck anyone who crosses me, starting with Mancini.

I pick up my cell and dial. "Dario, get my family on the first plane back to Italy, I will get someone to cover imports there. Alina's family is on their own, their stay will be comped, but they need to leave back to Chicago as soon as they can. Find out what you can about Mancini and his whereabouts, it's time we wrap this shit up," I order.

"Rome, shouldn't you be helping Alina?" Dario asks and I clutch my phone hard enough to break it.

"Dario do as your fucking told, who the fuck are you to question me?" I growl.

"Ok boss, on it, I will call Leo and Vince," He says and hangs up. I get ready and slip on a charcoal grey suit black shirt and black tie, with black shoes. It's time to throw myself into my work.

We arrive at the casino and head to my office, Leo, Dario, Vince, Luc and myself. Its been a long hard day, "tell me what you have on Mancini," I say coldly.

Luc speaks up. "Well we have spoken to all our men even in Italy, everyone has confirmed that he has not left New York despite prior claims he fled. We think he's hiding in New Jersey, he has some old associates there and seems to have connections to a small gang a out there. Francesca his daughter seems to be helping somehow, but we need something more solid. It seems they are planning on some kind of attack, we just need to find out where. Our sources think he's waiting for the right moment and that he may be going after Alina, with the help of Francesca."

I stiffen at her name. "Well we need protection on her at all times. Find out when and where they plan this attack, we need to stop anything and everything they are planning and now, get some men undercover," I say firmly. "Vince, thank you for sticking with us through to the end of this Mancini business." I say in gratitude and he nods.

"Romeo, he's scum and I don't need to tell you twice what I think about men who sell little girls," he answers.

We all have a drink and check on various shipments and the numbers, all my legit businesses. "Dario, how sure are you we can still trust Toscano?" I ask.

"Well I'm not, but he's been quiet, keeping to himself, running his end of things. We have eyes on him," Dario says and it makes me uneasy that he's quiet but it's good there's no threat at the moment.

Leo pipes up, "boss if that's all, it's quite late and I would like to get back to the girls," he says and I have to admit it stings and I down a glass of bourbon.

"Well I think we are done for the night, Dario, Luc, Vince, care to join me at The Underground?" I say almost in desperation, hoping its not showing. They all agree and we head out.

It's a long boring night, I can't focus on the girls, but I keep up the image, and have one or two dance on me for appearances. Dario, Luc and Vince are just having drinks and a smoke, although Vince is flirting with Donna quite a bit.

Luc comes to join me after I send the last girl away, it's disgusting. "Bro, what happened? You have been a cold bastard all day," Luc asks.

"Well when you get left after the love of your life gets attacked by a sick family member speak to me again. Nothing I have done made a difference, not even the new fucking house, or trying to be there for her, even at the hospital day and fucking night, then killing your family. Until that happens don't fucking question me," I get up and head outside. "Tino! Fucking take me home," I spit at him in anger, I can't deal with this shit.

It's been a few weeks, who am I kidding nearly five months actually since that night and I haven't call her once, not even a text. Leo, even though I told him I don't want to hear it, told me Alina got an apartment, in a secure complex in the city, she's been living there for over a two months now, and she's been speaking about moving away according to Mari, her dad left her money, the only thing he was good for. All I do is turn a deaf ear to it all, she left me, I never hurt her, I'm not Angel.

I walk to the lounge area and I hear Leo on the phone. "He's been a nightmare to work with since Alina left. He's closed off, heartless and cold, even worse than before he met her..... Si, its been hard, people fear him even more now, that's a plus but fanculo, it's hard." I turn to go to our bedroom, I haven't been in there since she left. I see all her things, walking into her closet, I still smell her perfume LaPerla, it clings to the fabric, haunting me and taunting me to no end. I walk out and lock the door. Nothing I do will help the situation, if she wanted to be with me she would have come back, she never called or texted either. I miss her more than life itself.

Tonight I have the benefit for the children's hospital at the hotel, its another boring gala, I need a date. I call the one person I haven't spoken to in nearly two years, someone who I nearly had a relationship with, she was my constant fuck buddy, Julietta. Tall, huge tits, long fawn hair, green eyes and legs for days, a total knock out. I pull out my phone and make the call, I don't want too, but I can't look like a fool out there, I feel like I'm selling my soul to the devil, that woman is as much a snake as Hillary.

She agreed, a little too quickly, now to go through the night with the fucking woman, kill me now, or I might shoot myself in the head.

She will never be my Alina.