Page 99 of Say You're Mine

This wasn't part of the plan.

June was supposed to stay hidden, stay safe while we dismantled Elaine's empire piece by piece. His presence here, now, throws everything into disarray. Jeopardizes everything we've worked for.

So why is he here? What's gone wrong?

As the world spins around me, as June's eyes lock onto mine with an intensity that steals my breath, I feel a chill run down my spine.

Something's not right. And I have a sinking feeling that this is only the beginning.

The last thing I see before darkness claims me is June, pushing through the crowd, his face a mask of desperation and love and something else. Something that looks terrifyingly like goodbye.

Then, nothing.

I wake to the steady beep of a heart monitor and the antiseptic smell of a hospital room. For a moment, I'm disoriented, unsure of where I am or how I got here. Then it all comes rushing back – the funeral, the eulogy, June...

June.

I bolt upright, ignoring the wave of dizziness that washes over me. "Where is he?" I demand, my voice hoarse and scratchy.

Dante is there, his face drawn and tired. "Cara, you need to rest. The doctor said-"

"I don't give a damn what the doctor said," I snarl, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. "Where's June?"

Dante's hand on my shoulder is gentle but firm. "He's gone, Cara. We couldn't risk-"

"Risk what?" I cut him off, fury rising like bile in my throat. "The truth coming out? That this whole thing has been one big lie?"

Dante's eyes dart to the door, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Keep your voice down. We don't know who might be listening."

I laugh, the sound bitter and sharp. "Right. Because we're all so deep in this web of lies, we can't trust anyone anymore. Not even each other."

The look on Dante's face is one of pity mixed with frustration. "Cara, please. You knew the risks when we started this. We all did."

"Risks?" I repeat, my voice rising despite Dante's warning. "You mean like my husband showing up at his own funeral? Throwing our entire plan into chaos? Was that one of the risks we discussed, Dante?"

He runs a hand through his hair, exhaustion etched into every line of his face. "No," he admits. "That... that wasn't part of the plan."

"Then what happened?" I demand. "Why was he there?"

Dante hesitates, and I can see the war playing out behind his eyes. How much to tell me? How much can I handle in my "delicate" state?

"We don't know," he says finally. "He went off-grid yesterday. Missed his check-in. We thought..." He trails off, swallowing hard. "We thought Elaine might have found him."

The room spins, and for a moment, I think I might be sick. "And you didn't tell me?" I whisper, horror and betrayal warring in my chest.

"We couldn't risk it," Dante says, his voice pleading. "If Elaine was watching you, if she suspected anything-"

"So you let me think-" I choke on the words, tears burning in my eyes. "You let me stand up there and eulogize him, only for this to ha-"

I can't finish the sentence. Can't give voice to the terror that's been gnawing at me since this whole charade began. The fear that one day, the lie might become truth…and it will when Elaine finds out he's alive.

Dante reaches for me, but I jerk away, unable to bear his touch. "I'm sorry," he says, and I can hear the genuine regret in his voice. "We were trying to protect you. Both of you."

His eyes flick to my belly, and I curl my arms around myself protectively. Our child. The innocent caught in the crossfire of this war we're waging.

"I want to go home," I say, forcing my voice to steady. "Now."

Dante sighs, but doesn't argue. "I'll get the paperwork started."

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