Page 120 of Filthy Savage

“Then don’t kill anyone else for me.” She breathes out harshly. “When you’re being all sweet…” Her voice drops. “I almost forget who you are for just a moment, and that’s when I breathe a little easier.”

Releasing a sigh, I flip onto my back, staring up at the ceiling, while she keeps a small distance between us.

“I’m sorry, but this is who I am.” My eyes flip to hers. “Your husband. And this is for life, baby, and that’s all there is to it.”

Even though I know keeping you is the most selfish thing I’ve ever done. But sometimes a man has to be selfish to get what he wants.

Without waiting for a reply, I turn off the lights and catch her heavy inhales, both of us awake for a while before she falls asleep.

I lie there after, watching her, fingers gently drifting down her hip. Hoping that, with time, she accepts me for who I am.

CHAPTER 29

FIONN

“More tea, Daddy?”Fia lifts her small pink teakettle in the air, pigtails swinging as she comes over to my side, where I’m seated in a tiny child-sized chair that barely fits my frame.

But there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

“Please, ma’am. This tea is the best I’ve ever had.”

“Really?” she asks, eyes as bright as her mother’s, this gorgeous hazel hue.

“Really.” With a smile, I glance at Amara, who’s fighting her own grin as she observes us from her spot on the sofa, directly in our line of vision, stroking Max’s fur.

She hasn’t let him out of her sight, constantly touching him like she’s afraid he’ll disappear.

Fia pours more tea, which is nothing but water, but I still lift up that tiny pink cup and pretend to drink it.

“Mm, so good.”

She giggles, returning to her spot across from me in the den and sipping on her own brew.

“Are you looking forward to going to Tynan’s for dinner?” I ask Amara.

She’s barely said much to me today. I need to fix this, but fuck me, I don’t know how. I don’t expect her to be okay with mekilling that piece of shit. Unlike for me, this is hard for her. I’m willing to give her time to come to terms with her new life, but ending our marriage is non-negotiable.

“I am.” She hugs her knees, pressing them to her chest. “It’ll be nice for Fia to have someone to play with.”

“Yeah.” I grab a plastic biscuit and place it on my plate. “Family is important, and my family is now yours.”

Her mouth pinches and she stares down at her lap for a moment. “Do the rest of them know?”

“Know what?”

“How I got here and why?”

“No. But you’re more than welcome to tell them.”

“No.” She tucks her knees closer. “I have no plans to say anything.”

“Whatever you want, babe. Tea?”

A smirk slips on my face as she shakes her head, while I’m just glad she’s talking to me.

“You’re good with her.”

“Is that a compliment?” A half-grin appears just as Fia grabs a piece of “cake” and pretends to take a big bite.

---