Page 140 of Syndicate of Sin Bundle

“They won’t hate you for putting your foot down, for demanding respect.”

“Y-yes, they will,” Laila whimpered.

My chest tightened as tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. I desperately tried to stay still, to act like I was fast asleep, but I couldn’t stop myself from aching to hear every single word they spoke, from eavesdropping on this intimate conversation.

“You put your foot down with Sage tonight,” Constantino said. “She doesn’t hate you.”

“I didn’t put my foot down,” Laila said, shifting closer to me so her body was snuggled up against mine. “I … tried to show her why she shouldn’t leave.” She stiffened even more. “She-she said she wanted someone else. And I wanted to show her”—sniffle—“that I’m enough for her.”

Fuck. Laila is way more insecure than I thought.

But why? Why the hell was she this way? Constantino didn’t put her down or flirt with other girls in front of her. All I had witnessed from him was a loving and supportive husband who thought his wife was incredible.

Damn Bethany.

It had to be that bitch and her other friends.

Still, what if she refused to leave them, to leave her because … Laila liked, liked Bethany? What if she was using me to ease her way into life with another woman and her husband? Constantino would never go for that, but …

It hurt me to think about it.

I stiffened underneath Laila, and she definitely noticed because she stilled too. Then, she sucked in a sharp breath. “Are you … are you awake, Sage?” she whispered, her words soft but guarded.

Deciding that Laila wasn’t in the best mindset to know that I had been listening in this entire time, I shifted in the bed the same way anyone would do whenever they were fast asleep and wanting to get more comfortable and turned onto my side.

Laila paused. “Sage?”

I didn’t respond.

The room stayed quiet for a few moments until Constantino said, “She’s asleep, doll.”

Another short pause.

“Do you think I was good enough for her this time?” Laila asked, taking an unsteady breath. “We had done stuff this morning together, but I … don’t think I made her feel good enough since she met with Poppy and then asked to see other people.”

“You did amazing, doll,” Constantino said. “And I’m sure you had done great this morning too.”

“I’m so new at this, Constantino,” she whispered.

I raised my brows, careful not to draw their attention, but she had surprised me. This is new to her? She hasn’t been with another woman before me? She touched me so skillfully that I could’ve sworn that she had done it many times over.

“What if I’m not touching her right?” Laila said. “Can you teach me?”

“You made her come twice tonight without my help,” Constantino said. “Right?”

“But what if she just acted like that to save my feelings?”

“Laila,” Constantino said, the bed shifting as he crawled off it. It sounded like he wanted to stay to convince her that she was good enough, but it was hard, trying to convince someone of something when they were dead set on ignoring it. “You need this vacation. You’re way too stressed out around here with Bethany and the FBI always pestering us. Give me a kiss.” After I heard them kiss, footsteps padded away from the bed. “Try to get some sleep. I’ll wake you when the jet is ready.”

36

constantino

After blowing out a low breath, I walked out to Sage’s living room and gazed out at the New York City skyline. I loved Laila, but she had no confidence in herself ever. We both desperately needed this vacation to relax.

But stress wasn’t the only reason I could sense Laila needed to leave. Poppy, Sage’s new friend, was the other reason. Sage had been bold as hell, asking if she could have a significant other right after the way Laila reacted.

I glanced over my shoulder at the bedroom door. No way that I’d let Sage be with someone else. My hands tightened into tight fists. No fucking way would another woman or man lay their hands on her. Not while she was ours.

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