“Gemma?” He stepped closer, his brows drawn down in concern.
Something inside me broke, and I realized that the idea of never seeing him again scared me more than anything my father might do to me.
“Baby, what’s wrong?”
My hand wasn’t quick enough to cover the sob that bubbled up from my chest.
Sasha closed the gap between us, nudging Cannoli to the side to pull me into his arms where he held me tight, whispering, “Let me calm your storm.”
And that’s when I lost it completely.
Chapter 28
Goose
Seeing Gemma cry guttedme like a hot knife to my insides, the pain sharp enough to steal my breath away. And she wasn’t just crying; heavy sobs wracked her chest as she shook violently in my arms.
Gasping between broken breaths, she kept repeating, “I can’t do it. I can’t do it.”
I only held her tighter, the act of burying my face in her hair the only thing calming me enough to keep it together. I needed to be strong for her, but it was breaking my heart to hear the anguish in her voice as she uttered that phrase over and over.
“Can’t do what?” I croaked, emotion clogging my throat.
Gemma clutched at my shoulders, and I could feel the desperation leaking through her fingertips. “I can’t lose you.”
Easing back so I could view her tear-streaked face, I vowed, “You won’t. Not ever. I promise.”
The haunted look in her hazel eyes ripped my chest wide open.
What the hell happened after I left her yesterday morning before the quick overnight trip to Detroit? Everything was going great; we were making progress—at least, I felt like we were—and now she was having a complete meltdown, worried she was going to lose me? Hadn’t I made myself clear from day one? That I was hers and she was mine? End of story. Nothing would ever change that.
“Come on,” I coaxed, easing her over my lap so I could wrap her legs around my waist. “Let’s get you upstairs.”
Shifting to the edge of the couch, I lifted her when I stood. Gemma’s face buried in the crook of my neck, her grip tightening, almost as if she were afraid I would disappear if she let go.
Her tears soaked through the collar of my shirt, the stream of them never slowing as I carried her to the bedroom. Her sobs tapered off, becoming muted, but her chest still jolted as hiccups took their place.
Never letting her go, I sat on the bed, positioning myself so my back was against the headboard.
I was smart enough to know that outright asking what had made her so upset would likely set her off again, so I decided to try for a diversion.
More than once, she’d mentioned her nieces—her cousin’s daughters—and when she did, I could tell she missed them fiercely. Talking about them made her happy, even though she was sad she couldn’t be with them.
“You know what I was thinking earlier?” I ran a hand over her long black hair.
“Mmm?” Gemma kept her face buried against my chest.
“You’ve never shown me a picture of Matteo’s girls. Think you might be able to help me put faces to the names?”
Sniffling, she peeked up at me, her eyes red-rimmed and puffy. “You want to see pics of the girls?”
Using my thumb, I wiped away some of the moisture along her cheeks. “Yeah, I know how much you love them. And if they’re anything like their aunt Gemma, I’m gonna fall for them at first sight.”
Her lashes fluttered to her cheeks. “I’m trouble, Sasha.”
“Of course you are.” Those hazel eyes snapped open at my chuckle. “I knew that the minute you opened your mouth at the DMV.”
“I’m serious. You’re better off without me.”
