Chapter 12

Leonardo

It's been over a month since Kaitlin and I started dating, and I can't remember a time when I was this happy. Her presence has become a constant in my life, peace in the chaos that once filled my life.

"How are things at work?" I ask as she snuggles next to me. We're watching a movie, but I prefer to watch her instead. Last week, I had one of my contacts get her an internship at a publishing house after she told me she'd like to pursue a career as an editor.

"Very well," she responds, her eyes lighting up. "I'm beginning to enjoy it there. Alex, my boss is really nice…"

I grunt in response.

She laughs, swatting my chest. "Is someone jealous?"

"No, I'm not," I lie, but the possessiveness in my tone betrays me.

She pulls my head down to hers, kissing me. "You're so cute when you get jealous," she murmurs against my lips.

I deepen the kiss, savoring the taste of her, the warmth of her body pressed against mine. When we finally pull apart, we're both breathless, our foreheads resting together.

"Alex isn't my type, and besides, I have eyes for only one man," she says, her eyes sparkling with affection. I don't doubt that she means what she's saying.

"I have eyes for only you, Cleopatra ," I say, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face.

We settle back into the movie. "Mama invited you for dinner on Sunday," she says suddenly, breaking the silence.

I raise an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Yes," she replies, her smile widening. "She thinks you're wonderful, and Andrew won't stop talking about how cool you are. They've both gotten quite fond of you."

Her words warm my heart. Meeting her family had been a step I initially hesitated to take, but now, I can't imagine not knowing them. Andrew, her brother, is a good kid with a bright future ahead of him, and her mama is a kind, strong woman who clearly loves her children fiercely.

"I'd be honored to join you all for dinner," I say sincerely.

She beams at me, then returns her focus to the movie. "Great. I told Mama you would."

We fall back into the film, but Kaitlin soon asks a question that immediately causes me to tense. "What about your family, Leonardo? You've met mine, but I know nothing about yours."

I stiffen, my hand pausing where it rests on her shoulder. "There's not much to tell," I say, trying to keep my tone light and dismissive.

She looks at me, her expression softening with concern. "You never talk about them. Are things okay between you and your family?"

I force a smile, hoping to deflect. "Yeah, of course it is."

"Then why don't you talk about them? I've never heard you talk to them on the phone. Where do they live?"

My forced smile falters. "It's complicated, Kaitlin."

She pulls back slightly, searching my eyes. "You never tell me about your family anytime I ask. Now I'm beginning to suspect you're hiding something. I can't be with someone who can't be truthful with me."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. "Kaitlin, it's not that simple..."

"It doesn't have to be complicated, Leonardo. I just want honesty," she says, her voice trembling with frustration and hurt.

I try to reach for her hand, but she pulls away. "When you're ready to talk, you know where to find me." Before I can respond, she stands up, grabs her things, and walks out the door.

The sound of the door closing echoes through the now silent room, and I'm left alone, staring at the space where she stood just moments ago. I sink back onto the couch, running a hand through my hair. The truth is, my relationship with my family is a minefield I've been avoiding.

***

Two days pass, and each one is harder than the last. The ache of Kaitlin's absence gnaws at me. Keeping my family a secret has always been second nature, but the thought of losing her is unbearable. I have to tell her everything.

My nerves fray with each minute as I lean against my car in the parking lot of the publishing house where she works, waiting for her to come out. It's already closing time.

It's been a while since I've driven myself, but I don't want my driver to know what's happening between Kaitlin and me, so I had to drive myself here.

When she finally walks out, her face is filled with surprise when she sees me. "Leonardo? What are you doing here?" she asks.

"I need to talk to you, Kaitlin," I say, my voice steady but my heart racing. "Please, let me explain everything."

She studies me for a moment, then nods. "Fine, I'm listening."

I hold the passenger's door open, and she gets in. Once we're both seated in the car, I inhale deeply before speaking. "If you Google my name, Leonardo Sinclair," I begin, my voice low. "You'll see…"

"I already googled you. Last night. It was all Bianca's idea. I had no idea I could have done that all this time."

I'm shocked she already knows, yet she still agrees to talk to me. "And yet, you're still here," I say, my voice filled with wonder and a hint of disbelief.

She nods, her gaze steady and unwavering. "I'm not concerned about what I read, Leonardo. I want to hear it from you."

I take a deep breath, preparing to go into the painful memories I've kept buried for so long. "When I was young, my younger sister Lucia—she's two years younger than me—and I was always left home alone with our nanny. Our parents never really wanted children. My late grandfather had insisted they have an heir, so they had me. Lucia came as a mistake."

Kaitlin's eyes widen slightly, but she stays silent, letting me continue.

"Our parents were always away on trips, leaving us behind. One day, while we were playing, our nanny was on the phone, and we wandered into our father's study. We found his gun. It was just lying there like a toy waiting for us to find it."

I pause, my throat tightening as the memory resurfaces with brutal clarity. "We didn't know any better. I was six, and Lucia was four.

"We were just kids, curious and unaware of the danger. While we were playing with it, the gun went off. It was loaded. The bullet hit Lucia in the spine."

Kaitlin gasps softly, her hand flying to her mouth. I see the horror and sympathy in her eyes, but she still listens intently, not interrupting.

"The doctors said she'd never walk again," I continue, my voice breaking. "My parents blamed me. They said I should have known better, should have protected her. And they're right."

Tears well up in Kaitlin's eyes, and she reaches out, taking my hand in hers. "How could you? You were only a child."

"Our relationship with our parents wasn't so good, but after that day, it became unbearable. They grew colder, more distant. My father focused solely on the family business, and my mother barely acknowledged my existence."

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "I've carried that guilt with me all my life, Kaitlin. That's why I've kept you at arm's length and been so afraid to let you in. Because I'm scared I'd lose you after you get to know this side of me."

She squeezes my hand, her expression filled with determination and love. "Thank you for telling me, Leonardo. I can't imagine how hard that was for you. But I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere. You're not losing me."

I feel a wave of relief wash over me, and for the first time in years, I feel like I can breathe again. "I don't deserve you, Kaitlin."

She shakes her head, smiling through her tears. "We all have our pasts, Leonardo. You're not alone anymore."

I hug her tightly, holding her close because she's the anchor that keeps me from drifting away.