ABSOLUTE INSANITY: A forbidden bond

Chapter 280: Choice

Chapter 279

KATYA POV

"Let’s talk inside." Nonna turned her chair first, guiding it smoothly toward the entrance as if nothing unusual had just happened.

As if her grandson hadn’t arrived unannounced with a convoy and a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

Romeo fell into step beside us without a word. I didn’t look at him. I didn’t trust myself to.

But I felt him.

The awareness of him moved with us, quiet and constant, like a shift in the air pressure before a storm.

Every step toward the house tightened something in my chest.

The door closed behind us with a soft click.

Warm light. Familiar walls. The scent of lavender and old wood.

Home.

It should have felt safe. It didn’t. Because Romeo was inside now. And somehow, the moment he crossed the threshold, the house didn’t feel like a place I was staying anymore.

It felt like territory he had just walked back into. We moved toward the living room. And then it hit me.

Why am I even following them? This wasn’t my conversation. This wasn’t my place. Whatever was about to be said between Nonna and Romeo had nothing to do with me.

At least, that’s what I told myself. The living room lights were already on, casting a soft glow across the space.

Nonna wheeled herself toward her usual spot, stopping beside the side table. Without ceremony, she placed the gift bag Romeo had brought onto it, as if it were just another item, nothing special, nothing worth acknowledging.

Then she turned slightly and gestured toward the seat beside her.

"Sit." It wasn’t an invitation. It was instruction. Romeo didn’t argue. He removed his jacket with controlled ease, draping it over the arm of the chair before sitting where she indicated—close enough to speak quietly, close enough to be watched.

I lingered near the entrance for half a second too long. Nonna noticed. Her eyes flicked to me briefly and that was enough. "I’ll... excuse myself," I said quickly, already stepping back.

She didn’t stop me. But I felt her gaze follow me as I turned and walked away, my heels quieter now against the floor as I headed toward the hallway that curved toward the staircase.

Don’t look back. Don’t listen. Don’t get involved. I had just reached the corner when a hand grabbed my arm.

I barely managed to swallow the scream that shot up my throat as I was pulled sideways, my back hitting the wall.

My heart slammed violently against my ribs.

"What the—"

"Shhh!"

I blinked.

Chiara.

She was pressed against the wall beside the corner, half-hidden in the shadow like a very badly trained spy, one finger already lifted dramatically to her lips.

I stared at her, my voice dropping into a furious whisper. "What the hell are you doing?!"

She leaned forward slightly, peeking around the edge of the wall toward the living room, eyes wide with excitement.

"Listening."

"Chiara—"

"Shhh!" she hissed again, grabbing my wrist this time and pulling me closer to the corner. "Do you have any idea what just walked into this house?"

"Yes," I snapped quietly. "I was there."

"Don Romeo had never visited this household since he left. Ever!," she whispered, scandalized and thrilled at the same time. "And Nonna didn’t even smile."

"This is not a show," I muttered, trying to pull my hand back. She tightened her grip.

"Oh, it absolutely is," she said under her breath. "And you are not leaving me alone for it." I groaned softly, pressing my head back against the wall.

From where we stood, the living room wasn’t visible—but the voices would carry if they got louder.

Which, knowing Nonna... They probably would. I exhaled slowly, already regretting the fact that I hadn’t just gone upstairs. Chiara leaned forward again, listening harder.

Then she glanced back at me, eyes shining with mischief.

"Also," she whispered, "He’s so hot! "

I rolled my eyes.

Chiara was being Chiara.

Yes, Romeo was... objectively attractive. That had never been the problem.

The problem was that he was dangerous.

Controlled. Ruthless. The kind of man who could ruin a life without raising his voice.

Hot didn’t cancel out the fact that he was a walking disaster.

"Hot and psychotic," I muttered under my breath.

Chiara looked entirely unconcerned by that distinction.

We both leaned closer to the corner as the voices from the living room finally carried down the hallway.

Nonna spoke first. "Why are you here, Romeo?" No greeting. No softness. Just the question.

A pause. Then Romeo’s voice—calm, even, almost casual.

"Can’t I visit my home anymore?" The words were smooth. Reasonable. Nonna didn’t sound convinced.

"You and I both know what I mean," she replied sharply. "We let you go so you could build your life away from here. You come back unannounced, with security, with a convoy... why?"

Silence stretched for a moment. Then Romeo again. "I missed home."

Another pause. "And I haven’t been here in years. Why can’t I come back?" Nonna’s chair shifted slightly—the soft sound of the wheels scraping against the floor.

When she spoke again, her voice was louder. Because she was angry. "You know why." The words hit the air like a strike.

My stomach tightened. "Katya is just starting a new life," Nonna continued, her tone firm. "She doesn’t want you in it. So tell me, Romeo—why are you here?"

A beat. Then, nonna spoke quieter. "Did you know she was here?" The silence that followed felt endless until Nonna exhaled, a bitter sound.

"Who am I kidding," she said. "Of course you knew." Chiara went very still beside me. I realized I had stopped breathing.

Romeo spoke again. Calm. Controlled. No defensiveness. "If Katya doesn’t want me in her life," he said, "then I won’t be in it."

My heart slammed hard against my ribs. "I didn’t come here for her, Nonna," he continued. "I came because I missed home."

Romeo’s voice went lower. "Do you want me out of your life too?" The words settled into the house like something heavy. For the first time since we started listening, Chiara didn’t move.

Didn’t whisper. Didn’t react. My heartbeat was so loud I was sure they could hear it from the living room.

My thoughts started racing. Nonna wouldn’t actually....Would she?

Would she choose me over him? Over her grandson? The idea twisted something deep in my chest.

I hadn’t come here to break a family. I hadn’t come here to take someone’s place. Romeo had said he wouldn’t be in my life if I didn’t want him to be.

Fine. But that didn’t mean he shouldn’t be in hers. Nonna had already lost so much. She couldn’t lose him too.

Because of me. Because I was afraid. Because my past was complicated. Because my presence had turned everything into a choice.

The realization hit hard. Nonna might actually send him away. For me.

And that....That wasn’t right. I pushed away from the wall.

Chiara grabbed my arm immediately but I shook her off. "Where are you going?" she whispered urgently. "They’ll see you!"

"I know," I said, already moving. I stepped out from the corner and walked back toward the living room, my pulse loud, my thoughts still tangled but my decision clear.

I wasn’t letting Nonna choose between us.