Page 91 of Filthy Little Games

“He once mentioned that Oriana’s mother was a drug addicted w-h-o-r-e.”

“That’s not true. I failed one drug test, the first one when I went to the doctor after I realized I was pregnant. Pills I got from Emilio. I haven’t touched any since then. And I’ve never taken money for s-e-x.”

“What are you to Mr. Ferraro?” she asks.

“It’s complicated.”

“He said he’s your husband,” Bethany chimes in. “Before he even told us his name.”

“Like I said, it’s complicated. Creed’s just trying to help me out. Despite all the rumors about him, he’s a good man.”

“A man who probably just put four men in the ground tonight,” Paige remarks.

“Were they good men? The guards who worked for Rovina?”

Paige shrugs. “I don’t know. But it isn’t up to Creed Ferraro to judge them.”

“I hate that. I do. I never wanted anyone to get hurt. But there was no other way for me to get Oriana back. I couldn’t fight Emilio in court, not with all the money he has. Please, just stay here, and don’t try to tell him what happened. That’s all you both need to do to be safe. Creed won’t hurt you. I promise.”

Paige’s lips purse. “We should put Ori to bed before she wakes up and starts running laps around this whole place.”

“We should...it might be best if Paige and I stay in here with her tonight,” Bethany suggests. “We can sleep on either side of her, andif she wakes up, we’ll make sure she knows she’s safe before she worries about where she’s at.”

“Okay,” I agree, even if I wanted to be the one to sleep beside her tonight.

“Tomorrow, after she spends the day with you, you can take one of our spots,” Bethany offers.

“That sounds like a good plan. I don’t want her to wake up and get upset. As you already know, we haven’t spent much time together. And the things I had to do for that time...well, I would do anything for her, just so you know. Despite what Emilio may have told you about me, I wouldneverlet anything happen to her. I love her so much and have missed her every second.”

Blinking back the tears, I kiss the side of her head and lower her to the mattress. I pull the sheets around her, tucking them in tight, so she feels safe, like someone is holding her. Then, I leave her with the two nannies.

It’s easier this time because I know they’re not urging me to leave out of spite, but because it’s really what’s best for Oriana, letting her sleep with the women she’s spent every second of the day with for months.

29

Creed

I’m lying flat on my back alone in bed, staring up at the ceiling in the darkness and straining my ears to hear what’s going on down the hallway. Thankfully, I don’t hear any screaming, so I assume that means that Oriana is still sound asleep.

Now that Oriana is with Zara, I need to make travel arrangements to send them as far away from New York City as possible.

And I fucking hate it.

As soon as we got home, I received a message from Dre and Tristan, saying they’d question the guards in one of our empty warehouses and save me the trouble. Then I sent Gideon Marino and Weston Bertelli a message, asking if they could meet with me tomorrow. Both have already responded with times that work for them.

I’m dreading saying goodbye to Zara and never seeing her again. The thought of losing her hurts almost as much losing mybrother because I love her. It’s a different type of love, but just as strong. Zara feels like a part of me that’s been missing my entire life. I want to wake up every day and see her and come home to her every night. I’ve never thought about having kids before I met Zara, but since I have, I’d give anything to be a father and for her to be the mother of our children.

And I know that happy little family I’m suddenly craving is nothing but a pipe dream.

My bedroom door opens quietly, spilling the light from the living room in, before it shuts again. I sit up in surprise and reach over to turn on the bedside lamp before she hurts herself wandering around in the dark. “Is everything okay?”

“I just tucked Oriana into bed.” Zara moves to her side of the bed and starts undressing. Removing everything, even her bra and panties.

“You’re not going to stay in her room tonight?” I ask when she climbs up on the mattress next to me — completely naked.

“No.” I can hear the disappointment in her voice from just that one word. Even worse, I can see it on her beautiful face, the sadness in her eyes.

“Why not?”

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