Page 24 of Reckless Love

My brain struggled to comprehend what he was saying. “But this just happened an hour ago.”

“Technically, almost two,” he corrected with a scowl. “It took Saul nearly forty minutes to drive you home. Have you considered a work from home position? Or, you know, not working at all. I didn’t want to push the issue at first but?—”

A hysterical laugh bubbled out of me, and I scrambled off his lap so fast I almost face-planted on the floor. Wick tried to grab me, but I moved too fast.

Or, more than likely, he let me up because he knew I was about to freak out.

“What am I supposed to do? Stay home all day and just wait for you to be around?” I gesticulated wildly, a sure sign that I was close to losing it. The more worked up I got, the more emphatically I talked with my hands and the higher my voice went.

And right now, my voice was a decibel short of a condor’s screech.

Wick didn’t stand. He sat on the sofa and watched me with that never-ending calm. “Of course not. I’m just pointing out your options.”

“Options?” It felt like all the air was suddenly sucked out of the room.

His brows lowered. “Of course you have a choice, Sia.”

“I stopped having a choice the moment you entered the picture,” I hissed, jabbing a finger at him. “Do you realize how completely ridiculous it is that you bought the company I work for?”

“I won’t apologize for protecting you,” Wick stated, popping his neck.

“Do I even want to know how you bought the place where I work? Doesn’t stuff like that take weeks?”

He was silent, his gaze drifting to a spot behind me.

“Oh, my god,” I whispered, my hand flying up to cover my mouth. “You’ve been planning this for weeks?” That feeling of safety I’d felt when I’d been wrapped up in his arms moments earlier was suddenly gone.

I stumbled back, shaking my head. “Is my life just a game to you?”

Now he stood, quickly and fluidly. Like a panther going from sleepy to predatory in the span of a heartbeat. “Of course not. You’re my wife, Sia.”

“You keep saying that, but all it sounds like is I’m one more possession you’ve acquired. I mean, that's why you used Wife For Hire in the first place, isn’t it? A wife isn’t something you want; it’s just another box to check.” My chest heaved as I glared at him, the accusations turning the air between us toxic.

His face went hard. “You truly think so little of me?”

I threw my arms wide. “What else am I supposed to expect, Warwick?”

He drew in a sharp breath. “Think whatever you like, Alessia. I’ve done everything I can to show you that I’m here for you?—”

“More like I’m here for you,” I countered with a scoff as I wrapped my arms around myself.

“Then go,” he said coldly. “If I’m such a monster, leave.”

“What about our marriage?” My heart thundered as I wondered if he’d divorce me and what that meant.

“Your call,” he replied with an indifferent shrug while shoving his hands into the pockets of his sweats. “I’ve done everything I can think of to get you—You know what? It doesn’t matter. Do whatever you want, Alessia.” He spun on his heel and stalked from the room.

I watched him go until I was standing in the middle of the room, all alone.

It took a second for me to move, but when I did, I sprinted down the hall to my own room and slammed the door.

As fast as I could, I stripped out of my work clothes and put on a pair of leggings and an oversized hoodie. I shoved my feet into a pair of sneakers and grabbed an overnight bag from my stupidly large closet. Grabbing a few changes of clothes and necessary toiletries from my bathroom, I packed everything I would need to get away for a few days. I didn’t know where I’d go. Maybe a motel, or maybe I’d call Mr. Devane.

All that mattered was putting distance between myself and Wick.

As I practically jogged past the kitchen, I glanced at what would’ve been an amazing meal.

But now it was just as ruined as my sham of a marriage.

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