Page 55 of Sacrifice

"Aribella, I'm sorry," that's all he says before he runs his left thumb along my lower lip. "Sofucking sorry."

Is he being real right now? My mind can't comprehend the change in him. His eyes tell a story of shame and regret. But he's so aggressive and demanding. Could he be acting tough because he doesn’t want me to know how much he cares?

I can't tell and my mind is struggling to keep up. It's too much to try to fully grasp as my emotions run rampant inside of me. Closing my eyes, I let him hold on to my face and enjoy thesoftness. I've dreamed of him wanting me and treating me with care. It's the only thing that's kept me going.

"Will you go to the picnic with me?" his voice is barely above a whisper and I smile. I can't believe he's asking me instead of telling me what I'm going to do.

Opening my eyes, I see tears in his eyes, and I'm floored. "Yes."

A gentle kiss lands on my lips, and he waits for me to deepen it this time. His tongue playfully dances with mine as he moves one of his hands through my hair. Vincent gently pulls me a bit closer, well as close as I can be, since the seatbelt keeps me in place.

When he pulls back, he holds my hand and stares straight ahead. I wonder if he's as messed up as I am. Or if maybe I've only won this round, and there's more to come. I can never tell with Vincent, which puts me back on edge.

The car ride is silent, but it's not awkward. We make our way through the countryside and when Vincent's home comes into view; I get antsy. He asked me to go to a picnic, but now we are back home.

"What..." I turn to him and he puts a finger to my lips.

"Just wait," Vincent whispers as the car pulls into the garage.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Mother fucker, I can’t seem to do anything right. As the car pulls into the garage and Mossimo gets out and turns the lights on, I take a deep breath. Every time I get near Aribella I becomethis beast,a beastthat has to have her ultimate submission. And when she doesn’t do as I say, I lose my cool. Fuck, I have got to get it together.

Getting out of the vehicle, I come around the front and open the door formi reina. “Welcome home,” I murmur, and she peers up at me with her beautiful blue eyes. Eyes that I have missed seeing on a daily basis. Sure, the Powers let me tap into their camera system to watch over her, but it wasn’t the same. Her presence in my life, daily,scratch that, hourly, is required.

Without thinking about it, I take her hand in mine and lead her through the back door, into the kitchen. “I want you to know that Miss Terrington didn’t make it.”

At her sharp intake, I pull her to me. “She died protecting us and that’s something that will never be forgotten, Aribella.” Her shoulders shake and I rub her back as gently as I can, trying not to hurt her wounds.

“I promise you, the people that did this were taken care of, and we can live quietly and peacefully now.”

When Aribella finally raises her head, I see the unshed tears and I know thatmi reinawill want to pay homage to my beloved housekeeper. Hell, she was like a mother to me and I don’t even know where to begin to fix the damage that’s been done. But I know deep down, Aribella will find a way to help us grieve and celebrate Miss Terrington’s life.

“There are no words to tell you how sorry I am to hear that. She was one of the best people I knew,” Aribella says softly and lays her head down on my shoulder.

“I know,mi reina, but she would want us to continue on. I have a new housekeeper. It’s a man.” At my words, Aribella’s head pops up and looks at me.

“You replaced her?” There’s anger in her words, and I look at her.

“Yes, why wouldn’t I?” Shit, even I can hear the cold, callous tone in my voice. It’s business. I have to have someone here to take care of the house.

“I don’t care who he is, get rid of him,” she grits out with a glare. “Miss Terrington shouldn’t be replaced just because you don’t want to deal with the house.”

Sighing, I try not to get angry. Aribella doesn’t understand that Miss Terrington was not only a housekeeper, she guarded far more than just a bunch of recipes in the kitchen. “Mi reina, we will discuss this, but please, don’t be upset. We will work it out,I promise.” Pushing my hand through her hair, I massage her scalp, wanting her to know I’m not dismissing her feelings about the subject.

Leading her through the kitchen, I don’t stop until we get to the front door. I open it, feeling like this is the first time I’m stepping outside the house in front, and seeing it in a whole new light. After all the fighting was over, I had a special garden built out front that has a small pond, a bridge and a gazebo area. This is for Aribella and hopefully she will enjoy it.

“I didn’t… I didn’t know this was here before.” Her awe is worth it. She lets go of my hand and walks over to the flowers that are blooming along the pond’s outer banks. “It’s beautiful.”

For a moment, I stand there and watch her flitter about the area, and silence meets me. There’s no rush of emotions. No anger swirling about with the need to get revenge. Just peace. A peace I have fought for and, hopefully, can maintain. But my girl is feisty and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

When she gets to the bridge, Aribella looks back at me. “This is all new, isn’t it?” Her smile lights up the whole damn yard. Fuck, she makes me weak at the knees and I’m not sure how to feel about it. But I don’t want to over analyze the situation right now. Hell no.

Moving to the bridge, I pick up Aribella, and she laughs. “Yes,mi reina. It’s all for you.” Once I’m at the gazebo, I sit her down on the bench. Aribella doesn’t let go of me and I sit down with her.

“Thank you.” Her lips touch mine in the world’s gentlest and shyest kiss, but I savor the taste of her mouth on mine. I let her lead us and she touches my face with a trembling hand. “You…” her words fail her as she looks into my eyes and I smile. “You did something for me while I was healing.”

Sometimes I forget she doesn’t fully understand my obsession with her and that I would do anything for her. Well, except lether go. That’s never going to happen. “Yes. Every breath I’ve taken since we found you and Mossimo has beenfor you.”

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