Page 50 of Under His Embrace

I knew Chloe had been keeping something from me.

But I hadn’t counted on something like finding out she’d hidden our son from me for years.

22

CHLOE

Iwas so close to telling Franco about Caleb. So close, but so far.

We distracted each other with lust, but that was no excuse.

Then Liam’s call about a lead on Wes came in, but that wasn’t something I could control.

As I left the gym and avoided my room, I felt antsy and unsure what to do. Until I could woman up and tell Franco my big secret, until I could finally tell him why I ran away all those years ago, this tense, prickling sense of shame and anxiety would continue to consume me.

“Chloe?” Tessa asked when I passed her in the kitchen. Again. I thought grabbing a water bottle would give me something to do, but I was still on edge. I ended up pacing back to put it back, not in the mood to eat or drink anything.

I faced her as Eva came into the room too.

“Are you all right?”

I shrugged, then hugged myself.

“For God’s sake, Tessa,” Eva drawled dryly. “Of course, she’s not all right. Look at her.”

I winced at Eva.

“What’s going on?”

I heaved in a deep breath. I still couldn’t tell them that I was the mother of Franco’s son. He had the right to learn that before them.

But I couldn’t blow them off and lie poorly that nothing was wrong. Like Eva pointed out, they saw on my face how something had to be terribly not right.

“I…” I heaved out a deep breath, latching on to the other thing bugging me. “Franco and Liam left to go after Wes.”

Eva nodded. “Yeah…”

“And I know that means they will kill him.” I swallowed hard. “I’ve never… I haven’t been involved in someone’s death before. That’s not something I ever wanted to be involved with.”

“Whoa. No. Hold on.” Tessa shook her head. “You arenotat fault here.”

“You’re a victim,” Eva said. “Wes brought this upon himself. And he will answer forhisactions.”

“But—”

Tessa took my hand. “Listen. Itisweird. I struggled with it a little bit myself. The whole concept of knowing someone is going to die, to be killed, by a man you trust. And love.” She raised her brows. “Right? You love Franco?”

“I’ve loved Franco my whole life. Before I left him ten years ago, during that time apart, and now.”

“Okay. So…” She winced a bit. “It takes some adjustment. Because this isn’t a normal way of processing justice. If you’re not born into the Mafia life”—she gestured at Eva—“there’s a learning curve. An adjustment.”

“But it feels so bizarre…” I winced, wishing I could get over it. “Back then, I didn’t see Franco as a killer. I saw him as my boyfriend. Now, Iknowhe’s a killer. I know he killed that man who chased me to the hotel after they shot up the deli. Liamtoo. I’m grateful they removed the dangerous men hunting me down.”

Eva shrugged. “It’s the same thing, Chloe. Franco will kill your stalker to protect you.”

“Well, that and because he had the deli shot up, a Constella business,” Tessa added.

Eva shook her head. “He’s going to avenge her. Because he loves her.”

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