Page 46 of Rectify

“What happened?”

His gaze was cold, detached, and she wondered what emotions he was hiding from her. “She thought it was all a game. That our life would be like one of those Mafia movies. She wanted me to intimidate and bully people, so she could get what she wanted.”

“Wow, she sounds like a real catch. You seriously loved her?”

He shrugged. “Maybe love’s too strong a word. I really enjoyed fucking her, though.”

Natalya gaped at him for a long moment. Then he winked, and she grinned, rolling her eyes.

She hoped that one day he’d find a woman he could truly love, and she’d love him just as much. Rogan was a man who tried to take care of everyone around him, even though he’d deny that he cared. The woman he fell in love with would be the most protected in the city, but she would also have to teach him that there was a fine line between protective and smothering.

“Diego’s an asshole,” she blurted out.

“I have no doubt. What did he want?”

Natalya told him everything. “I can’t believe that he really doesn’t care about Mateo. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, but how can you not love your own son?”

“I don’t know, but plenty of parents seem to manage it.”

Had Rogan’s father been distant? She realized she didn’t know much about his life. When she’d been with Aedan before, she hadn’t cared. All she’d seen was what Rogan did, not who he was.

She took another small sip of whiskey. She felt light-headed. Drinking on a nearly empty stomach was probably not the best idea, but the warmth that filled her was welcome. It felt like she’d been freezing since Mateo had been taken.

I wasn’t cold in Aedan’s arms.

“Where’s Aedan?” she asked, yawning.

“I’ll find him. Why don’t you lie back and go to sleep?”

“Can’t. I’ve got to tell Tanner what Diego said.” But the sofa looked awfully inviting. Maybe she’d just rest her eyes for a minute.

“Sleep,” Rogan told her. “I’ll talk to Tanner.”

Aedan knockedon Rogan’s door, entering as the other man called out.

“Hey, have you seen Natalya?”

Rogan nodded over at his sofa. “Keep your voice down. Although I doubt a locomotive would wake her right now.”

Aedan spotted Natalya sleeping on the wide leather sofa. A navy blue wool blanket covered her.

“Is she all right?” he asked.

“Shattered. Stressed. She was asking for you. Where did you go?”

“I needed some fresh air. To clear my head.”

“Yeah?” Rogan asked. “Are things clearer now?”

“Yes, I just needed some space.” He couldn’t expect that issues from the past wouldn’t raise their head now and then, but he needed to make his position clear to her. Make her understand where he stood. “Can I have a moment?”

“Take all the time you need. I’ll leave you guys alone.” Rogan stood and left the room.

Her lush lashes were inky against her pale skin as she slept. Her full breasts rose and fell with each breath.

Aedan couldn’t bear to wake her, so instead he sat in an armchair across from her and just watched her sleep.

Twenty minutes later, she stirred and rubbed her eyes. Blinking rapidly, she stared at him for a long moment.

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