Page 72 of His Wild Seduction

“But I don’t,” I said, realizing I must’ve spoken aloud a moment before.

And I meant it. I didn’t blame Josef.

But I still loved him.

Oh fuck.

I did. I loved him.

There was no way I could deny it any longer. To hell with the consequences, my reckless heart didn’t seem to care.

I loved Josef, and I really wanted our marriage to work. And not just that. I wanted him to love me back.

In fact, I just might demand it.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

JOSEF

After listening to Meredith’s truth, I held her until her breathing evened out.

I did not let go of her. I just kept my arms around her, replaying her words in my head over and over again for the rest of the night.

The next day, I left early and waited for Mario to text me when she arrived at the Manhattan location for the shelter.

I’d already had the place refurbished with new doors, windows, locks, cameras, and everything else they needed to ensure my wife’s safety.

She didn’t know it yet, but I had Andres in talks with the non-profit who ran St. Elizabeth’s.

Sigma International Security was interested in taking over the whole thing, making Meredith Aziz its head.

“Josef, you’re coming tonight, right?” Marat asked from the doorway to my office.

I looked at him blankly. Marat’s perfectly symmetrical face stared back at me, a game we’d been playing for years.

Who could stare the longest?

Me.

Obviously.

Satisfaction filled me when he gave up and rolled his eyes.

“Not kidding about tonight,” he said again.

What the fuck was tonight?

“Bro, we’re celebrating Sofia and Destiny’s new audiobook release. The new house on Long Island. Eight o’clock.”

“Right. Yes,” I said, nodding.

Fuck.

“If you don’t show up, they’ll both kill you,” he added, and I waved him away.

He was telling the truth. I wasn’t dumb enough to think he was lying or exaggerating.

I knew Sofia and Destiny, and those two women were scary as hell. Especially when it came to family gatherings.

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