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Boo, motherfucker. You called me The Prince. I’m back to rule your world as King.
Loyalty was even more powerful than love in this life. It was imperative to know your enemies better than your friends. But I had learned early on that no one was truly your friend. Loyalty all depended on how much they depended on you, and you on them.
If only we all could be so lucky to find our beauty, our peace, our purpose before we left this earth.
Jocelyn once told me that a woman should never want to be treated as a man’s equal. She should demand to be treated better. Our doors should be held, along with receiving the same pay and opportunities, that sort of thing. And she also said that if a man truly loved you, he’d treat you as though he didn’t deserve you, but hell if another man could do better.
She was my innocence, la mia farfalla, but she had matured. Became a woman in the span of years that felt like centuries to me. Seeing her brought back a rush of memories. I was a dead man reliving a life he had left behind.
Blue was once Marietta Palermo’s favorite color—the same little girl who loved butterflies and coloring books. I’d know if Mariposa Flores’s favorite color was still blue by the time I was done.
The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, for she was taken out of man.’ I’d be honored to call you bone of my bones; flesh of my flesh. My woman.”
What if the only reason you’re sitting here with me is because I want to hear my name coming out of that pillow-soft mouth of yours, and for the rest of my life, I refuse to allow another man to have the same honor?”
“There is no before me. There is no after me. You. You’re all me.”
If love touched me, I’d never, ever sell it out. If love drove my life, I’d be its main chick. Ride or die, Capo. Would I sell my body to live? We both know the answer to that. Would I sell out love for the sake of this arrangement? Never! I’d die first! So, no, I do not love him in that way!”
If your mouth can’t respect me, then your hands have no place on my body.”
Scars on skin meant living. Blood on knuckles meant living. Dirt on white clothes meant living. Living meant taking chances, even if we got soiled up in the process.
“There is nothing lonelier than waking up to someone you’ve given your all to, only to realize they only gave half in the night. It’ll happen, and it’ll hurt, but you’ll survive.”
“I have taken responsibility for this beautiful girl; you will take responsibility for this beautiful woman for the rest of your life.”
Tutto suo. Tutto mio. Per sempre. All his. All mine. Forever.
“I’ll never get the taste of you off of my tongue, and I’m fucking starving, not hungry. I crave you, being inside of you, like I’ve never craved anything in my life.”
Mariposa, The smallest creature can make the biggest impact. You have been seen and you are valued. Share this with the great-grandchildren I will not meet. This is for them as much as it is for you. You have put down roots in my heart and taken shelter there for always. Nonno
I see you, my husband. I see you, my capo. I see you, my heart. I see you, my everything.
Marry for loyalty, not for love. Love kills the soul quicker than a sharp dagger to the heart.
“Except for you, Mariposa. You can bend me. You can break me. You are the only woman who has the power to bring me to my knees. I need your mercy.”
Ossa delle mie ossa; carne della mia carne; la mia bella donna; mia moglie.” Bone of my bone; flesh of my flesh; my beautiful woman; my wife.
“Nel mio mondo l'amore ti farà solo uccidere. Sono un uomo morto dalla notte in cui ti ho lasciato alle spalle.”
In my world love will only get you killed. I have been a dead man since the night I left you behind.
“If they’re hunting you, they’re going after me. They already took my voice. I’ll meet them in hell before they take my heart.”
