Chapter 175 Talk
Galdino's P.O.V.
We go inside and up the back stairs to wash up. When I get back downstairs, Valentina is talking to Anushka, Dina, Courtney, and Corrine while Enzo is sitting on the floor with a few books. He looks up at me and his little eyes light up. I walk over and sit on the floor next to him.
"Can you read with me now?" he asks hopefully.
"Of course I can. What do you want to read first?" There's a part of me that regrets I never did this with Ari. I was a bastard back then. Enzo climbs onto my lap and holds up a book.
"This one." I open the book and start reading. As I turn the page, I see Valentina watching us. She really is a beautiful woman, but I shouldn't be thinking that about her. I'm old enough to be Enzo's grandfather. I look back down and begin reading again. However, I can still feel her eyes on me. What Dakota said must be getting to me.
After we read three books, Dakota comes back downstairs. Enzo runs over to her, and she lifts him and kisses his cheek. His little face turns red, and I smile. When I look at Valentina, she's smiling at them too.
"How about we eat some lunch? Are you hungry?" Dakota asks Enzo. He nods, but I think he would agree to anything she wants. The other women stand and follow them into the kitchen while Valentina picks up Enzo's books.
"Thank you for reading with him. We all tried while you were busy, but he said he was waiting for you and Dakota." I hand her the books next to me and stand up.
"I enjoyed it as much as he did." I look into her dark brown eyes, and she looks away.
"I still feel horrible about what happened earlier. You and Dakota have done so much for us these last few hours. I'm not used to anyone being so kind, and I don't feel like I did anything to deserve it. Quite the opposite, actually." My hands itch to touch her, but I stop myself.
"You were in a position that didn't give you many options. At least you made the right choice in the end. If this had happened a few years ago, I would have killed you without a second thought, but I've changed. I believe some people deserve a second chance. Not all of them, like Frank, but you definitely do." Valentina slowly looks up at me with tears running down her cheeks. She tries to wipe them away.
"I'm sorry. Sometimes, it's just hard to keep it all inside," she says.
"Do you want to talk? Enzo will be fine with Dakota and Anushka." I sit on the couch, and she sits on the other end.
"Thank you. They are both amazing women. Much stronger than me." Valentina wrings her hands nervously.
"Do I scare you?" I've been with many women, but I couldn’t even remember their names if anyone asked. Ari was like me until he met Dakota. What stopped me was going through my dad's things and seeing how he felt about Gloria. Sex with random women wasn't as enjoyable anymore. It's been over a year since I've been with anyone, and I honestly enjoyed the break. When I look at Valentina, I see her as a woman, not as an object, as I did with other women.