Page 12 of Primal God

“My day?” She lets out a maniacal laugh. “My day was terrible, not that you care! You come in like you’re the king of the world, expecting me to wait on you hand and foot! Well, guess what? I’m done.”

I wait a beat to answer, knowing anything I say is going to start a fight.

“Honey, what’s this about?”

Her eyes flash. “Are you not listening to me? I’m done. I want a divorce!”

There was a time when that threat would send a rush a fear through me. I’d beg her to give me another chance and ask what I could do to change her mind.

Now, I say, “If that’s what you want.”

“If that’s what I want? How dare you! I’ll take everything you own, Dimitri Santos! The house. The cars. The property in Oklahoma. All of it will be mine.”

I nod. “If that’s what you want. As long as the kids stay with me.”

“No judge will ever give you custody of our children! How dare you even suggest trying to steal my babies from me?” She bursts into tears, wailing loudly. “You’ve tried to turn João against me, and now you threaten to take my babies. What is wrong with you?”

She moves quickly, striking me across the cheek. When she goes to hit me again, I grab her wrist, halting her.

“Serafina, you need to calm down.”

“Let go! You’re hurting me.” She wails louder. “João! Help me! Your father is hurting me!”

João appears, taking in the scene before him. Fuck. I know this looks bad, so I let go of her wrist. She strikes me again before rushing across the floor, throwing herself into João’s arms.

“Your father is a monster!”

“I heard everything,Mãe.”

He’s looking at her, truth in his gaze. Relief fills me. He knows I didn’t hit her. He sees through her shit. Thank fucking god.

Her eyes widen. “Of course you take his side. You always have!”

“Mãe, you need help?—”

“Help?” Her voice raises. “You think I need help? My god, you’re just like him!”

She rushes past him, her shoes pounding on the hardwood as she goes to the second floor. A moment later, the door to our bedroom slams. I wince, knowing she likely woke the twins. A soft wail fills the air that has me moving. João follows as we go to the nursery.

Little Clara is the one who’s crying while Diego blinks up at me as if he’s trying to figure out what’s happening. I lift Clara, cradling her. João lifts his brother, doing the same.

“Pai, I’m worried about her.”

I nod as I rock Clara. “I am, too.”

Her outbursts have become more frequent. More unpredictable. Nothing I suggest seems to help and I’m at my wit’s end trying to figure out what to do.

I say, “You’re a good boy, João. You shouldn’t worry about this.”

“I worry about her for the same reason I worry about you. You’re my parents.”

I smile just as little Clara settles in my arms. She yawns, snuggling closer to the heat of my body.

“Did you want more kids?”

The question has me looking up at João, who’s putting a now sleeping Diego in his crib. I do the same with Clara and motion for João to follow.

In the hallway, I say, “It’s complicated, but, yes, I always wanted a large family.”

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