Page 42 of Sweet Retribution

Her hands feel too good on me. I’m unable to resist and pull mine from my pockets, settling them on her hips. A shy smile escapes her lips.

“I’m sorry I’ve been...” She lowers her chin for a moment before lifting it to me. “I didn’t trust you even though you gave me no reason not to.”

I can’t help the confusion that crosses my face. “What the hell are you apologizing for?” I don’t mean for my words to come out so harsh, but I don’t like the direction she’s going, like she’s at fault for anything.

“I led you on, after the gala. I wanted to. I wanted... you. But I thought,” she worries her bottom lip with her teeth. “I thought you and Sebastiana...”

She thought I was fucking her because I wanted her to think that. It’s easy to keep my hands off her if she’s mad at me, if she thinks I broke our marriage contract and cheated on her. I want to fuck her so hard right now. My cock aches for her. Shit, it yearns for her, but I can’t have her believing in empty promises. When this is all said and done, I’ll still be me.

A crime lord, albeit a former one. I have blood on my hands, a line of nameless whores I’ve fucked, and not a single good bone in my body. All I know is anger, revenge, and death. All Gia wants is a peaceful life with her mother.

I can’t give her what she wants.

“As soon as Antonio leads us to where the rest of the girls are hidden, he’ll be taken care of and you can reunite with your mother.”

I read the disappointment in her face. I’ve never in my life turned down a willing woman, until Gia.

I move away from her and watch as her hands fall to her sides. With more willpower than I’ve ever experienced before, I go inside my study and close the door behind me.

***

The tears don’t waituntil I reach my room. They’re streaming down my cheeks before I even get to the front door of the house. Maria sees me but lets me be as I race up the stairs and lock myself away in my room.

I’m such a fool for believing there could be anything between Stone and I. I fell for the idea of a romance, of the idea that maybe this hardened man did have a soft spot, and it was for me.

I strip out of my running clothes and step into the cool shower. Not even the magnificent jets from the eight nozzles can relax me. I don’t bother washing my hair and stand there forever, it seems, crying before I suck it up and actually wash myself.

It’s nearly noon by the time the red blotches are gone, and I venture down to the kitchen and get lost in all things Italian while Maria teaches me how to make ravioli. I’m pressing the last square when Sebastiana takes a seat across from me at the kitchen island.

“Hey.” She even nods to Maria, including her in her informal,hey.“You look like shit.”

“Gee, thanks.” I press the edges of the pasta making sure the filling is sealed, and place it with the rest of the pile of ravioli.

“Late night with him or early morning?”

“Neither. Or at least, not in the way you’re thinking. I had a conversation with him this morning. It didn’t go well.” I pick up my glass of wine and finished the last two sips.

“He’s a stubborn ass, that’s for sure.”

Maria snorts her agreement from the sink.

“It’s not worth the emotional energy to try to make him believe none of this is his fault.”

“It’ll be worth the sexual energy though.”

Maria gasps and shakes her head, then leaves the kitchen so Sebastiana and I can talk in private.

“I don’t know. Getting rejected by a man who has sex with every woman he passes is kinda hard on the ego.”

“He’s actually not like that.” Sebastiana gets up from her stool and opens a bottle of wine, pouring us each a glass. Wine has been flowing too freely the past few weeks, but I don’t say no.

“I don’t know how I feel talking about his sex life with you. No offense. I don’t even want to talk about it with him.”

“Well, too bad.” She clinks her wine glass to mine. “Before you, I suppose you could say I knew him the best. I was a regular.Was,” she emphasizes, reading my uncomfortableness.

I take a sip of my wine and assemble another ravioli to avoid making eye contact with her.

“The other women weren’t randoms off the street or hookers he picked up in a bar. I don’t think Stone’s ever been to a club or ever had any fun. He’s boring, really.”

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