I decided something else that morning too. I took the keys to my SUV and walked out the door, calling my attorney, Mr. Marino, the executor of my father’s will, on the way. I gave him instruction to not only put this house on the market but Salvatore’s as well. I also instructed him to find me a place in New York City. One that had never belonged to anyone before me. One that would be mine from the start. It would be the first step in my truly taking over the Benedetti crime family.

I didn’t do this in anger. I didn’t do it to retaliate. I simply did it because I needed to. I did it because I didn’t want this anymore, not alone. I didn’t want this empty house. This empty life. I wanted her. I wanted Gia.

A king needed a fucking queen. And I’d been a fool to let her think she could walk away.

I drove into the city, arriving at lunchtime. I knew where Gia worked. She waitressed over the weekends while attending law school during the week. I walked into the restaurant, The Grand Café, and looked around the busy place, spotting her instantly.

“I want a table in her section,” I told the host.

“Do you have a reservation, Sir?” he asked.

I glanced down at the stocky little man and took out my wallet. “Here’s my reservation,” I said, handing him some bills.

He cleared his throat, and I followed him to a table. She didn’t see me when I was seated, and I opened my menu to wait for her. My heart beat frantically. Although I knew she had no boyfriend and hardly any friends, I wasn’t sure how I’d be received. She kept to herself, and I imagined her existence to be as lonely as mine.

She came over, writing something in her tablet as she introduced herself. Then she looked up.

Our gazes locked, and she stopped midsentence. No, midword.

She had her hair pulled back into a messy bun, and she’d let her bangs grow out and had pinned the thick, glossy dark fringe to one side. She wore a white button-down shirt and black pants and the ugliest shoes I’d ever seen, and she couldn’t have looked more beautiful to me.

“Wh…” Her voice caught in her throat.

“It’s been a long time.”

She broke our gaze and glanced around. “I…Dominic…”

“Sit down.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to see you.” I needed to see you.

She looked around the café. “I…You… I can’t do this.”

She quickly walked away, untied her apron, and disappeared through a doorway.

I got up to follow her, not caring that I almost knocked a trayful of drinks out of a waitress’s hands as the door swung open and I entered the bustling kitchen.