Chapter 30 An End to Our Past
 
 
 
 
 
 
“Then are your wounds better now?” Rose asked with genuine concern.
“They’re improving,” Antonio replied, smiling warmly, his heart swelling at her attention.
“If you’re better, does that mean I can move back to my old room soon?” She continued her question causing Antonio’s brows to knit together.
Her words irritated him. He’d intentionally moved her to the adjacent room so they could be closer, though he hadn’t asked for her help much. Whether in the hospital or the mansion, he managed fine on his own. He didn’t want her far from him, even though he promised himself to respect her boundaries.
“Do you want to move back?” he asked, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
“It depends on when you’re fully recovered,” she replied honestly.
Antonio leaned closer, his piercing gaze fixed on hers. “If I recover completely, would you consider staying here—next to me?” he asked hopefully. Though he could demand it, Antonio wanted her consent more than anything else.
Rose looked at him but then cast her gaze downward, avoiding his intense eyes. The silence between them lingered until Antonio broke it.
“By the way, your aunt’s health has improved significantly. Once the auction is over, I’ll take you to visit her in Vegas,” he said, changing the subject to ease the tension.
“Really? I haven’t contacted her since I got here. I feel awful,” Rose admitted, her voice tinged with guilt.
“I’ll make sure you see her. I also have business to attend to there,” Antonio said, his tone gentle. He’d been keeping tabs on her aunt’s condition through William, his cousin, and wanted to reassure Rose that all was well.
“Thank you,” Rose replied gratefully.
Antonio smirked mischievously. “Can I get something else in return for taking you there? Like this...” he teased, puffing his cheek and leaning toward her. Rose quickly stepped aside, pressing her palms against his chest to keep him at bay.
Just then, the door to the room creaked open. Herina froze in shock, her gaze fixed on Rose, who was perched on Antonio’s lap. This was a side of the mafia boss she had never seen—openly affectionate and unreserved.
Rose immediately tried to wriggle free, but Antonio held her firmly, seemingly unconcerned by Herina’s presence.
“If you’re going to be this sweet and obvious about it, then...” Herina began, stepping into the room and sitting down on a nearby sofa.
“This is normal for me,” Antonio said coolly, his tone and demeanor unbothered, even as Rose flushed deeply with embarrassment.
“I brought the new collection photos with Rose as the model,” Herina said, sliding a portfolio toward Antonio. He flipped through it briefly before setting it down.
“I’ve arranged the hotel for the auction,” Antonio said. “If you need to rehearse there, let me know. I’ll also need to inspect the venue one last time. Rose will need to train at the studio in the meantime. I trust you’ll take care of her while I’m occupied.”
Herina nodded, acknowledging his words. “The venue practice can wait until we’re closer to the event. For now, I’d prefer she focus on honing her walk here. If you’d like to watch her rehearse, you’re welcome to join anytime.
“If I have the time, I’ll definitely come,” Antonio said, his lips curving into a faint smile.
“After the auction, it’ll be awhile before our next major event. Have you considered letting Rose join the agency as a full-time model?” Herina asked, testing the water.
“No,” Antonio replied curtly.
“Is that because you won’t let her, or because she doesn’t want to?” Herina teased with a sly smile.
“Rose, what about you? Would you want to work as a model with me after this?” Herina asked directly.
Antonio’s expression darkened, his patience visibly waning as he awaited Rose’s response.
“I don’t think so,” Rose said politely. “It’s not really something I enjoy doing.”
Antonio exhaled in relief, though he knew he couldn’t—and wouldn’t—dictate her choices.
“That’s a pity. You’re naturally talented and have such a striking look,” Herina said with a genuine compliment. Rose shook her head, a smile gracing her lips.
Herina nodded in understanding, changing the topic to lighter matters. Meanwhile, Antonio observed their interaction, his trust in Herina growing. He knew she would ensure Rose was well cared for.
Moments later, Antonio’s phone buzzed, cutting through the relaxed conversation. He excused himself, stepping outside to take the call.
“Speak,” he said curtly.
[Sir, Lorenzo’s people have been unusually quiet. There’s no visible movement, but they’ve significantly increased weapons trafficking and drug distribution,] Rossi reported.
“Impossible,” Antonio replied immediately, his voice tense.
[I think Lorenzo might be intentionally suppressing news to keep us in the dark,] Rossi suggested.
Antonio paused before replying, “Keep digging. No one can conceal everything. Find one of his men and extract the information.”
[You mean...?] Rossi hesitated.
“Yes. We’ll need to employ unconventional methods if we want answers,” Antonio said firmly. If Lorenzo was playing dirty, he wouldn’t hesitate to respond in kind.
[Understood,] Rossi replied before the call ended.
Antonio sighed heavily. The less he knew about Lorenzo’s activities, the more anxious he became about the potential threat.
Re-entering the room, Antonio composed himself, his face betraying none of the turmoil inside. As he sat back down, his gaze shifted to Rose, and despite his worries, a sense of calm washed over him. For her, he would face anything—even Lorenzo.