Page 136 of Coerced Queen

It will kill me to walk away, but sometimes, the path to happiness is painful.Sometimes, doing the right thing hurts.Letting go hurts the deepest.That’s why it’s so hard to admit that I’m clinging to my husband for selfish reasons.I’m staying for me, not for him.It’s time to do what’s best for both of us.It’s time to be brave enough to give Saverio what he asked for.

It will take me a long time to get over us.Maybe forever.My chest caves in with the knowledge of what I have to do.The pain is already tearing me apart, making a mushy mess of my heart.Cutting myself out of Saverio’s life will be like ripping my soul from my body, but it’s the only way we’ll finally be free to move on.

ChapterForty-One

Saverio

Idie a hundred deaths while Nicole extracts the bullet and stitches Anya up.My treasure bears it without complaining, even refusing the brandy I offer to numb the pain because our baby is hungry and my injured wife—who got shot and could’ve fucking died—has to breastfeed her.

I soothe Claire while Nicole disinfects Anya’s cuts and scrapes.Livy already gave Claire the bottle with expressed breastmilk Anya had left in the fridge, but judging by my baby’s angry red face, she’s starving, stressed, and wound up from the aftereffect of the drug Morelli gave her.Nicole took a blood sample to run tests.We have to be sure there are no adverse effects to worry about.

Dante brings everyone up to speed as Nicole works.When Nicole has bandaged Anya’s cut-up palms and feet, I put Claire in my wife’s arms and push them in my wheelchair to our room where I make Anya get into bed.While she feeds Claire, I go downstairs to see Nicole off.After what happened, I’m sure Logan is anxious to leave.Plus, it’s already three in the morning.

The Wades wait with Dante and Livy in the study.

I place a hand on Livy’s shoulder.“How are you doing?”

Her smile is brave.“Good.”

“Can I get you anything?A stiff drink?”

“I won’t say no.Brandy, please.”

I go to the wet bar to pour her a glass.“Anyone else?”

“No thanks,” Nicole says.“We’re heading home.Before we go, what’s the story?”

I thought about that on the way here.“Mary Brennan was angry when Anya refused to give her money.Being the gold digger she was, she saw an opportunity to get her hands on that money.Her plan involved drugging Claire’s babysitter and kidnapping her own granddaughter for ransom.”I cross the floor, using the cane, and hand Livy her drink.“She told us to bring the money to the motel.We dropped off all the cash we could get our hands on, everything we had at home and at the club.We left with Claire.That’s all we know.”

Always catching on fast, Nicole says, “Someone, maybe an accomplice, must’ve gotten greedy.They most probably went in after you, killed Mary, and left with all the money.”

“Exactly,” I say.

“We didn’t call the police because Anya didn’t want to get her mother into trouble,” Livy elaborates.“Mary was always up to no good, but she’d never hurt her own granddaughter.”

My smile is flat.“Very good.”

It’s believable.Anya never did have her mother arrested for all the shit she caused.

Nicole continues, “After we sent the guests home, you came back with Claire, and we’ve been hanging out here with you guys until now.”

A single nod communicates my gratitude.“That’s pretty much it.”

“Makes sense,” Livy says.

Dante doesn’t look like someone who spent half the night chasing after my daughter’s kidnappers.His tux is as pristine as when he arrived at the party, and not a hair is out of place.“Then we’re all on the same page.”

Logan throws at thumb at the door.“If you guys don’t mind, I’d like to take my wife home.This whole situation has been taxing on her.”

“I’m okay, baby, but that’s sweet of you,” Nicole says, smacking a kiss on his lips.

“By all means.”I go ahead to the door.“I appreciate what you did for us tonight.”

I owe them all big time, and I’m not quite sure what to do with that.I’m never in anyone’s debt.I’m used to working alone, but I have to admit that I wouldn’t have been able to pull off tonight—not the party and neither what happened after—without these people.I guess that’s what you call friends.

Nicole gives a tired sigh.“Don’t mention it.”

I follow them down the hallway with Dante and Livy in tow.

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