Page 52 of Bound and Blitzed

My reply makes the anger in Avery’s eyes multiply. “Give me a name, Lena.”

I sigh heavily. And then, on an exhale, “Dane. Dane Thomson.”

“Son of a bitch,” Avery mutters, standing up and walking around the living room.

“You know him?”

“Yeah, I know him,” he spits, shaking his head.

The waves of disgust rolling off Avery’s shoulders slam into me and drag me under. My shoulders cave inwards and for a moment, I regret telling him anything. “Are…are you mad at me?” I hate how small my voice sounds.

“What?” Avery turns. When he reads my expression, his falls and horror floods his eyes. “Sweetheart, no.” He drops to his knees in front of me and reaches for my hands. “Valentina, of course not. I just, I hate that any man, especially a dickwad like Thomson, took advantage of you. Hurt you. And made you question yourself.”

“I never said?—”

“You haven’t had sex with another man for a decade.”

I close my eyes. “I was scared.”

“I know. And I don’t want you to be.” His thumb brushes over the back of my hand.

I force my eyes open. “I’m not with you. I feel safe. But last night, I…I freaked out.”

“Of course you did,” he murmurs softly. “I’m glad you told me, Lena. There’s no rush here.” He gestures between us. “I just want to be with you, to see where this can go. And I want to shoulder your burdenswithyou.”

I nod. “You already are.”

He tilts his head, his eyes sad. “I hope so, babe.” He leans closer and presses a tender kiss to my forehead. “I’m sorry that happened to you.”

“It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not,” he disagrees, shifting to sit beside me on the couch. Avery wraps an arm around my shoulder, and I snuggle into his side.

We sit like that, wrapped up in each other and drinking our nearly afternoon coffees for a long time.

Until my phone rings.

I glance at the incoming video call and wince. “It’s my papá.”

Avery exhales. “Ready to talk to them? Or do you want to wait?”

“No.” I’m done putting things off. “I’m ready.”

“Then let’s tell your family we’re married.” Avery smiles but it doesn’t reach his eyes. I know my story about Dane weighs on his mind.

Still, he takes my hand, pulls me back to his side, and stares at my phone screen as I slide my finger across the bar and accept the call.

Chapter17

Avery

My heart is gallopingwhen Valentina’s father comes into view on the screen. The timing couldn’t be worse—I’m still trying to control my anger from the story Valentina shared about Dane fucking Thomson.

I hate that he took advantage of her. And he obviously did. Lena was a kid. A sweet, fifteen-year-old girl and Dane was a grown fucking man, playing soccer at the national level. By that time, he had unchecked female attention, had spent nights partying in clubs across Europe, and would have known better than to seduce his teammate’s little sister.

The reason he didn’t want Alejandro to find out is because he knew Valentina’s brother would have knocked him the fuck out.

And yet, my sweet wife has carried guilt and shame about that encounter for more than a decade. The thought alone makes my blood boil.

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