The Emma Series Book 2

[POV: Book Two: Journey to Joy c1065e88-2a78-4725-b99e-2372ec0678c5]

Being in a relationship is never a walk in the park. It's even more challenging when you're a woman who happens to be the most powerful mafia boss in the country. Emma is at the pinnacle of her career in both the business and underworld, but she can't help but wonder if she'll ever find a man who's willing to stay. She's got beauty, brains, and a ruthless streak that attracts plenty of men, but will she ever find her happily ever after?

Three months have passed since I took Diablo's life. Three months of relentless torment. Every day brings a fresh challenge or crisis.

There's not a single day when I don't think about him, what I did, or what might have been.

He was the love of my life.

The most heartbreaking part is that I don’t feel any guilt for killing him.

I need to come to terms with what I've done and live with the consequences.

Word about his death spread like wildfire among the Mafia bosses: who killed him, and why.

Instead, I was revered and respected even more.

All the businesses are thriving even more than before because I've been pouring more time into work and training over the past few months, trying to distract myself from my sorrow.

I was called to Diablo’s attorney’s office for the reading of Diablo’s last will and testament. To say I was taken aback by what I heard would be an understatement.

I was even more surprised when I saw that Lauren was also present.

Seeing her there confirmed that my decision to end his life was the right one—especially when I saw her at the reading of the will.

Levi came with me to the office, but only Lauren and I were allowed inside.

Diablo left me all his money and the apartment.

Lauren inherited a 40 percent stake in one of the clubs in California; I owned the remaining 60 percent. For the other clubs that Diablo and I co-owned, ownership transferred immediately to me.

We also each received a personal letter from Diablo.

When I asked the attorney when Diablo changed his will, he said it was about two weeks before I left on the mission with Dean.

That was during the happiest time we ever spent together.

I wanted nothing to do with Lauren, so I sold my 60 percent stake to her for a single dollar—a move that's considered disrespectful in our world.

But no one really cared, especially considering how they reacted to his death. The attorney was shocked, but I didn’t care.

My heart still feels numb.

The paperwork was completed and signed, and she became the owner of the club in California. The money he left me, I donated to various charities. I kept the apartment and the other clubs.

I worked hard to acquire the clubs for him, and I have plans for the apartment.

I haven’t returned to the apartment since his body was removed, but I know I need to go back soon. I need to shake off this funk I'm in. Constant work and training isn't healthy.

My body is in the best shape it's ever been. It's not common for a woman to have an eight-pack. Business is booming—but I've cut off all human contact.

I’ve been conducting all business remotely. I haven’t set foot in Bijoux since his death. Major changes need to be made.

I've cried until I ran out of tears, mourned the loss of my baby and its father, but now it's time to start living again. I know I'm stronger than this.

Levi, Alex, and Blaine have basically been on paid leave for three months. I had no need for them; I never left the building.

The only time I left was with Levi to attend the reading of Diablo’s will. Other than that, I stayed in the building, hiding.

My daily routine consisted of training from three in the morning until around ten. Then I'd shower, get dressed, have breakfast, work until late into the night, eat dinner if I was hungry, sleep, and repeat.

Dean tried to reach out to me a few times, but eventually he stopped. He knows I'll talk to him when I'm ready, not a moment sooner.

Lauren was a mess that day at the attorney’s office. She was upset because I disrespected Diablo’s memory, partly by selling my share in the club for a dollar, but more so for showing no remorse for killing him.

Her father had to physically remove her. The last I heard, he had moved her to California to keep her away from me.

I also heard he was worried I would kill her because of what happened between her and Diablo the night I was almost raped.

I'll have my revenge on her when the time is right.

I’m not planning anything for now. I just hope for her sake she doesn’t provoke me any further and stays away from me.

I'm not one to shy away from torture—and believe me, she definitely deserves to be tortured. But for now, I'm letting her be.

I've been unsure about whether or not to read Diablo’s letter to me. The fact that he wrote one to Lauren too is always in the back of my mind.

Especially since he professed his undying love for me time and time again.

I've decided to finally read Diablo’s letter. I hope it will bring closure to the chapter titled “Diablo and Emma.”

I pour myself a stiff whiskey, sit on the couch, and start to read.

The times we’re apart feel like a never-ending winter, and I can’t wait for the next time I get to see you or hear your voice.

I never said this to you in person, and now I wish I had, but you’re incredible.

When you enter a room, I don’t need to turn my head to know you’re there. I can feel you; that’s how connected we are, how in sync my body is with yours.

I know I’ve messed up, more times than I can count, but somehow, you always found it in your heart to forgive me. Your heart is a beautiful thing.

I consider myself lucky to be the man you love without conditions. I hope you still love me, even after I’m gone. Your heart is so big, so full of love.

I just hope that if my death was the result of me being the usual jerk I am, you’ll find someone who loves you as much as I do. But remember this: no one will ever love you more than I do right now.

Sometimes, the longing and excitement I feel when I think of you is so intense, it feels like my heart might explode, even when you’re right beside me.

You’re the only one who can make my heart skip a beat with just a glance, a smile, or a touch.

When I look into your eyes, I lose track of time. Sometimes, I even lose track of myself. I get lost in your grace, your beauty, and your love for me.

I read the letter again and again, tears streaming down my face until there are no more left. I know that now I can start to forgive him for what he did.

If I don’t, I might become even more hardened than I already am. I’ve always been my own person.

Maybe one day, I’ll fully forgive him. I still love him. I didn’t stop loving him the moment I killed him. I know he’ll always have a piece of my heart; that’s a given.

I’ll never forget what we had, but it’s time to move on with my life.

Starting tomorrow, on my birthday.