Page 202 of Breaking Rosalind

“You’ve already apologized.”

“But it’s not enough,” he growls. “I have to make things right.”

“Cesare,” I say with an exasperated sigh. “You’re doing enough.”

“Then why can’t you look me in the eye?”

My gaze snaps up to his face, which is a mask of pain and frustration. He breathes hard, running his fingers through his hair. I’ve never seen Cesare look so agitated. Not even when I refused to crack under interrogation.

Maybe my past has skewed my instincts. Maybe there’s something beautiful seeing the monster before the man. At least this way, the personality switch isn’t so jarring.

“You can’t undo what happened, and nothing I say will erase the memory of what you did,” I say, my voice measured. “I know you’re sorry, but the person who needs to do the forgiveness is you.”

His brows pull together and draws me closer. “What do you mean?”

“You’re punishing yourself, Cesare,” I murmur, reaching up to touch his cheek. He leans into the contact, closing his eyes. “This guilt you’re feeling isn’t about me. This is about you.”

“How do you cope as an assassin?” he says.

“I haven’t killed as many men as you think,” I say with a smile. “And everyone who died at my hands was a terrible human being.”

His shoulders sag. “I’ve never felt bad about hurting anyone who was a threat to the family.”

“When did you realize I was different?”

“I should have known it the moment you sacrificed yourself to save Miranda. It didn’t register because I’d do the same for my brothers. When I found out you were her mother, it all clicked into place.”

“You don’t like hurting mothers?” I ask.

“Any woman who brings life into the world and would sacrifice everything to save their child deserves my respect,” he says, his voice hoarse.

I pull him down on the mattress beside me, threading my fingers through his hair. He stiffens at first, then he relaxes enough to rest his head on my shoulder. “Thank you.”

“For what?” he rasps.

“For saving me from a painful and humiliating death,” I reply. “For leaving Dr. Daniel alive enough to be interrogated. For everything you’ve done to help Miranda and me.”

He exhales, his breath warm and ragged.

“This is the part where you say you’re welcome,” I say.

He chuckles, but the sound carries no mirth. “I should have done more.”

“Would it help if I told you I wasn’t sorry?”

“What do you mean?” he asks.

“Teaming up with you is the best thing that’s happened to me in years.” I massage his scalp. His eyes remain shut, but his features finally relax. I add, “You accomplished everything I struggled to do for Miranda without even trying.”

“Let me erase that man’s touch,” he says.

“You don’t have to do that,” I murmur.

His fingertips brush my thighs, a featherlight touch that sends shivers down my spine. “If any man’s touch is going to linger on your skin, it should be mine.”

EIGHTY-ONE

ROSALIND