Page 87 of Merciful Lies

“Anna—”

He moves like he’s going to touch me. But bile fills my throat at the thought of his hands on me after he’s touched her and I flinch, stopping him in his tracks.

I want to shout at him. To tell him to fuck off and drop dead. But I can’t speak, so I pivot on my heels, turning my back on him.

I bump into some man, and the idiot thinks it’s an invitation. He puts his hands on me, and I push against his chest.

“Where you going, Baby?” the stranger says right against my face, and the stink of alcohol makes me gag.

“Get the fuck off my wife!”

I hear Nico’s voice boom right behind me right before the asshole is pulled off me. This man must not know my husband, because he’s smiling at him with a smart ass reply.

Nico doesn’t hesitate. He just reacts. With one punch, he sends the man flying across the room.

My stomach twists. It’s some sort of sicko reaction to violence, I guess, because even though I am mad at him, it turns me on to see Nico defend me.

I’m so fucked up.

Chaos erupts. People start shoving and fighting. I know Nico is the boss. He shouldn’t be doing this so publicly.

I watch for a moment and see him pummel that guy’s face, his blue eyes blazing with vengeance.

Someone is yelling. Then Nico’s guys are there. I watch Angel pull my husband off the man. Then I turn around.

They can handle it. I just need to get away.

“Anna!” I hear him call my name again, but I am too lost in my own hurt to slow down.

“Anna, are you okay?” Maria shouts as I push past her and Angel.

I ignore her, too. I can’t look at her. I’ve been such a goddamn fool. Hot, angry tears roll down my face, but I don’t bother wiping them. I jog down the stairs, to the hallway I’m so fucking familiar with.

I need to get to the alley. To the car. Back to the condo. To our son. And once I get there, I have to pack.

I’m not stupid enough to think I can get away from Nico with his baby, but I won’t sleep in his bed.

Not now.

Not anymore.

Never again.

A sob wracks my body, and I stomp my feet and let out a short scream before grabbing the handle to the door leading to the alley.

That’s when a body slams into me from behind, and the air whooshes out of my lungs.

“Where do you think you’re going, Wife?”

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE-NICO

I’m just closing the deal I made with the young O’Doyle when my world turns to shit.

I can’t pinpoint how or why I didn’t know it was about to happen.

Maybe my senses have dulled.

Maybe that’s what being happy did to you.

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