Page 44 of Heart of a Villain

Eons after the water turned cold, and he was no longer sporting a painful erection, he got out. He half-expected to find clothing on the bed, but the guest bedroom was empty.

Downstairs, there were appetizers set up on the island countertop. Sayeda and Tayler moved around each other in the kitchen, and the aromas that wafted from whatever they were cooking tempted him to join them, but he held off. If he did, he would get in the way. If he got in the way, the food would be delayed. So, he found a spot in the living room where the usually quiet Josiah was animatedly telling a story, and the way Josiah told the story reminded him of Joel. Even Ares and Ginger were in attendance, Ares relaxing next to Gage’s foot while Ginger tugged on his floppy ear.

“I almost passed out,” Josiah said, collapsing onto a sofa cushion. “I didn’t see the net! I knew there had to be some sort of backup plan because it was Uncle Dez’s obstacle course and everything, but I was so close to passing out.”

“I screamed,” Thandie added, slapping a palm against her chest. “Daddy? Uncles? Never ever do that, okay? Adrían, never ever do that again. I almost peed my pants!”

Grey and Monroe giggled in Gage’s arms. Larke reached across to pat them both on the back.

Adrían bowed his head, his hands clasped. “I promise to refrain from making you pee your pants, gracinha.”

“What does that one mean?” Josiah asked.

“Cutie.”

“Taking notes for Malia, ‘Siah?” Joel teased.

Josiah’s face flushed. “No! I just wanted to know!”

When the food was done, everyone cheered. Tonight, they would splurge, so Tayler and Sayeda brought out a macaroni and cheese dish so pretty, it could have graced a runway in Paris. Meatloaf, baked ribs, and baked barbecued drumsticks followed the mac and cheese, roasted broccoli, sauteed spinach, glazed carrots, and a Caesar salad. A simple yet flawless chocolate cake for dessert rounded out the meal.

Not a crumb was left behind.

Food comas set in shortly after, but everyone helped with clean up. Once the kitchen was clean and the living room situated, they cleared out. Wren went upstairs, which meant Thanasis went upstairs, but Adrían doubted there would be any tying up tonight if Thanasis was as tired as he was.

“Adrían, can I talk to you before me and Joel head out?” Ayesha asked.

He nodded. “Of course.”

They went to the kitchen.

Ayesha hopped up onto the island while he leaned against the counter across from her. When she didn’t say anything, he folded his arms.

“What should I say?” he asked.

This, he hated. It was like a magic trick; all she had to do was stare at him, saying nothing, until he felt compelled to fall to his knees and confess his sins.

“I’m sorry I lied to you,” he offered. “But if I’d mentioned Sayeda, you would have wanted to talk about her, and I was never ready to talk about her. You know how it feels to not be ready to talk about someone you have lost.”

She folded her arms and angled her head.

“I think you’re wrong, though,” he babbled on. “Well, partly. Yes, Sayeda’s the reason I fell for you so fast, but I think it’s more complicated than that.”

She squinted.

“Okay, yes, I did check Josiah’s DNA although I knew it wasn’t possible for me to be his father, but what did you expect? Querida…Ayesha, you look exactly like her.”

She shifted on the countertop.

“Do I still love her?” He dragged a hand down his face. “I don’t fully understand myself what is happening, what I feel. Not even one month ago, my heart ached because I lost you. I still love you, but it feels different, and it started to feel different even before Sayeda arrived. Now, Sayeda’s here, and I,” he slowly shook his head, “want her. She says that she’s no longer the woman she used to be, but I don’t care. I’ll take her then, now, and later. I’ll take her whole and broken. If I’m honest, I don’t think…”

He trailed off.

“You don’t think you ever stopped loving her,” Ayesha finished.

He neither nodded nor shook his head.

“But?” she prodded.

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