Page 4 of Traitor

I charged her and wrapped my hand around her throat. I roared as I barreled her against the wall, knocking the wind out of her. I watched her struggle as her eyes widened. I listened to her gasp for air as tears rushed to her eyes. I squeezed harder, watching a fear I’d never seen in her before rise up behind a pair of eyes that haunted me every night I closed my own.

“Mr. Emiliano!” my bodyguard exclaimed.

And before I knew it, I was wrestled away from my wife.

I watched as she fell to her knees, wheezing and coughing for air. I shrugged my guard off and whipped around, only to find Lyle standing behind me. He shot me a glare before I heaved a heavy sigh and I patted his shoulder.

“Thanks,” I said breathlessly.

He cocked his head. “You made me promise I’d keep you from killing her. Just doing my job, Mr. Emiliano.”

I dismissed him with a wave of my hand and turned back to my wife, watching as she picked herself up off the floor. Her hand massaged her throat as her eyes shot daggers in my direction, and I forced my hands into my pockets.

I needed to keep them to myself for this conversation.

“You’re going to pay for that,” she growled.

I drew in a sobering breath. “Don’t forget who feeds you, Rosana. Because the minute you married me, you gave up your right to your father’s money.”

Her eyes met mine. “And?”

I shrugged. “Don’t think for one second I won’t strip you of everything you’re used to. Your credit card. My checkbook. That loyal bodyguard who follows you everywhere.”

Her nostrils flared. “My father would shoot you dead if you ever dared.”

“I died the moment I married you, Rosana. You and I both know that. He’d be doing me a favor at that point.”

She pointed her finger at me. “You hold nothing over me. No power, no leeway, nothing.”

I made my way to the double doors. “If that’s what you need to tell yourself in order to sleep at night next to your flavor of the week, then that’s fine. But, don’t forget your reality, Rosana. Because at the end of the day, you’ll always be a slave to the man who owns your bank accounts.”

“You get back here and talk to me!” she roared.

I strolled out of my painting room as the easel collapsed to the floor. I went to turn around before Lyle caught my shoulder, forcing me to continue looking ahead. He shook his head curtly at me and I stuffed my feelings down for Char long enough to continue walking away.

Long enough to get far enough away so that I couldn’t hear my wife’s little temper tantrum.

While my guards hauled her off my property.

I made my way out the back patio doors and found myself staring at the ocean. I toed out of my patent leather shoes and walked all the way out to the shoreline, allowing the sound of the waves to drown out the sound of my wife shrieking in anger. I closed my eyes and let the soothing salty breeze wash over me.

Like Char’s breath did every morning when I woke up.

My brain turned a thousand miles a second, and with every thought that rolled through my mind, I felt my emotional disposition finally falling into place. And when I opened my eyes, a thought occurred to me.

I love her more than all of this.

Rosana was right. I couldn’t keep my playthings forever. But, Char wasn’t just a plaything anymore. She was mine. My woman. My love. The person who brought joy and peace into everything about my life. And without her, I felt lost at sea. For all I cared, my empire could burn to the ground behind me while I walked away from it.

So long as I had Char at my side.

“You’re stronger than this,” I murmured to myself.

I need a fucking drink.

I turned on my bare feet and marched back into the beach house. I tried to ignore how quiet it was without Char’s voice as I changed my suit. I tried to ignore the lack of her perfume that filled the hallways as I slipped into another pair of shoes. I tried to focus on what needed to happen next as I slid my arm into my suit coat. I knew exactly where I was going and exactly who I needed to see in order to set the wheels in motion for my future plans.

Plans to get Char back, no matter the cost.

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