Page 106 of Sinful Lies

He tightens his arms around me, and I start to relax as he holds me close. My body’s heavy with exhaustion, but the thought of closing my eyes again makes my breathing race.

Dimitri kisses the top of my head. “It’s okay, Zara. You can sleep. I’m not letting you go.”

25

DIMITRI

Giovanni motherfuckingSaccone is going to regret the day he decided to lay a hand on my wife.

If Zara wasn’t currently asleep in my arms, I would have punched a hole through the wall from the level of rage that is currently pumping its way through my veins.

That fucker touched my girl without her consent, and I let him walk away with nothing more than a broken hand. I should have slit his throat when I had the chance.

I won’t make that mistake again.

I should have known he was the reason behind her nightmares.

Alarm bells should have been going off in my mind the moment she started getting sick. The stress has been taking its toll on her body, and yet, I did nothing.

I was dumb enough to let her go into that office every day where Giovanni’s been waiting for her, lusting after her like a starving animal, and she downplayed the reality of what was going on. Of what had happened between them.

How could I have been so blind? Was I not trustworthy enough for her to tell me the truth in the beginning?

My chest tightens at the thought.

I’ll prove to her that confiding in me was the best choice she could have made. This woman has become my life, and it’s time I start showing her that without leaving any room for doubt.

“Zara…” I press a kiss to her hair.

She snuggles tighter against me, her hand resting on my chest as she sleeps peacefully.

The moment I met her, I knew she was tough, a fighter to the core, but hearing the truth of her past makes me see her in a completely new light. A stronger light. It makes me appreciate her even more.

I’ve known darkness, but nothing like this. I’ve never once felt so helpless, so out of control of my own body.

To have gone through what she did and still be able to look that fucker in the eye day after day, to show up and still do an incredible job while her trauma is staring her straight in the face…

I squeeze Zara tighter, completely awestruck by her strength.

I swallow the lump in my throat as I glance down at her, finally at peace in my arms, and know that I’m completely and utterly in love with her, and I have been for a while. Maybe even from the start.

This was definitely not part of the plan, but getting to know Zara over the past few months has been the greatest gift of my life.

Falling in love was something I didn’t think would ever happen for me, and even less so when I heard of my father’s infidelity. I’ve been compared to him my whole life, so why should I be any different when it comes to relationships?

Zara deserves the world, and I hope she’ll let me give that to her.

But I also have to consider the fact that once Giovanni is dealt with, she’ll no longer need me as a husband. Our deal will be over, and the thought makes my stomach sink.

I’m not ready to let her go, but I can’t force her to stay. That choice is up to her.

My arms tighten around her body, cherishing the feel of her body against mine for a little while longer.

I wish I could take away all of her pain and fill her dreams with nothing but happy thoughts, but while Giovanni is still breathing, she won’t rest easy.

I need to take care of him once and for all.

I just hope I don’t lose her in the process.

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