Vincenzo's Lover

Forty Eight

-Mia-

I was nervous and I had no idea why.

There he was, standing right in front of me, a beautiful collection of vibrant flowers in his hands and a nervous look on his face too.

He was wearing causal, warm clothing. Not the regular suit that he'd wear and his hair wasn't as messy as it usually would be. He was a little pale, probably because of the weather but you could still see his natural tan colour.

"C-Can I come in?"

I bit my lip, still a little shocked. I nodded, moving to the side to let him in and closing the door behind him as he entered.

He glanced around as I nervously showed him to the living room. He turned to me, his beautiful hazel eyes looking into my eyes. "I know this isn't much but," he passed me the flowers and I quietly thanked him, saying that I was going get a vase.

I went into the kitchen alone with my palms sweaty and my head feeling like it was going to explode. I didn't have a vase, I mean, who has a vase laying around? I certainly didn't.

I placed the lovely flowers on the table and slowly walked back into the living room.

He stood, a small smile on his face. "How are you?" He asked, trying to make conversation. I shrugged a little, "I'm fine, you?"

"Much better than I was before you left." I licked my lips and scratched my neck awkwardly. "What are you doing here?" I asked, deciding to jump right in.

Damn, he has his lip ring in. .

"I know that you probably don't want to - sorry," he said, taking off his lip ring, "it's not helping me concentrate."

No, no, put that ring back on those kissable lips of yours. .

I nodded slowly as he put it away and continued. "I know that you probably don't want to see me, I mean, who would after all I've done to you. I just want to start by saying sorry for everything I have done to you that has hurt your feelings. I kept hurting you over and over and I really don't deserve you."

"You forgave me for April and even took her in as your own daughter - not many women can do that but you did because you loved me and I never really thought of that until recently. You forgave me for cheating on you, for hurting you when all you wanted was an apology - a genuine one. You always look for the best for me no matter the circumstance and you always forgive me no matter what I do and I threw it away like it was nothing. I'm sorry, Mia. Truly, I am. I'm sorry for being such a dick to you even when you were like an angel to me. I was selfish, rude and arrogant and didn't appreciate all that you had done for me. I'm sorry."

I licked my lips again, staring into his sad eyes. "W-What have you done? To change yourself?"

He took a breath in and said, "I've gone to rehab to help me with the drugs and alcohol and, I'm clean. Better than I was before. I haven't had a drop of alcohol or a sniff of drugs since. I went to those classes and they helped me understand what I had done wrong and how to fix it. I went to parenting classes and a therapist. .and I. ."

He hesitated a little before finally saying, "I've left the mafia."

My eyes widened in surprise. He left the mafia? For me? That was one of the things that he loved most in his life and could never let go. "You're serious?" I couldn't help but ask and he nodded, "it was never good for me or my family in the first place."

I couldn't help but feel guilty. He loved the mafia and yet gave it up for me.

I cleared my throat, "who owns it now?"