Page 80 of Seeking Vengeance

No. But my husband would be alive and my daughter would live without nightmares if I’d been more hesitant when offering my faith.

“My family is different.” I slide my hand to meet his, our fingertips kissing on top of the table. “We usually function in our own little utopia, so it’s hard when things go wrong.”

“I’m sure they’ll forgive you.”

I scoff a laugh. “It’s been two years.”

“Damn.” His eyes narrow. “Well, I’m glad you’re here with me instead. Did you tell them where you are?”

“No. And I’ve been using cash so they can’t track my whereabouts through the bank, but my brother will find another way eventually.”

He pulls his arm back, sitting straighter. “He’s trying to track you?”

Shit.I’ve said too much. “It’s not that extreme.”

His chin raises, his posture growing tense. “I should speak to him.”

“No.” God, no. I press my lips tight to suppress a delirious laugh. Cole would kill him on sight. “It’s not as bad as it seems. We have joint accounts. Any purchase I made through a credit card would announce my location.”

“You don’t need to worry about money while you’re here. I’ll take care of it.”

This time I’m the one to reach farther across the table, my fingers seeking his. “I appreciate the offer, but I withdrew enough before I left to tide me over until I return home. I can look after myself.”

“Believe me, you’ve demonstrated that without fault.” His hand finds mine again, the calloused palm skating over my knuckles. “The thought of taking care of you brings me pleasure.”

I blush, my mind sliding into the gutter. “You’re doing that just fine without any financial contribution.”

He laughs, the utterly brilliant sound tickling every sensitive part of me. “Why don’t we get our dinner to go and take this conversation back to the penthouse?”

My pulse increases, the fluttering wings of arrhythmia swooping through my limbs. “Will we be merely conversing, Mr. Langston?”

He grins, smooth and flawlessly seductive. “No,amore mio, but a lot of my plans involve what I can do with my mouth.”

21

Layla

One night swoons into another,each romantic evening meal distracting me from the reason why we met.

Sometimes Matthew is gone when I wake. At other times he remains in bed, his arm wrapped possessively around my waist like I’m a priceless treasure. And no matter how much he’s at work, he always makes me his priority.

His out-of-town trips never last overnight. We either spend hours together in the morning or the evening, and it’s never enough. Not with the way he listens intently whenever I speak, or how he continues to offer exaggerated, outlandish promises for our future that make me ponder if they could actually become reality.

Could we forge a life together even though we’re still yet to talk about the common goal that made our paths cross in the first place?

The days have passed with the Costas not being more than a passing word. Neither of us seem ready to fizzle the sparks between us by bringing up the elephant in the room, even though it needs to be discussed sooner rather than later.

We’ve kept our truce in place regarding personal information. He gives me space when I call Stella. He doesn’t ask questions. Doesn’t demand insight I’m not willing to give. But every day my walls grow fragile, tiny fissures forming to allow slips of my life to spill free.

“Get dressed,amore mio.” Matthew walks into the bedroom from his private bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist, his muscles glistening from the shower. “You’re coming to work with me today.”

I sit taller in his bed, the tray loaded with my empty breakfast plate rattling on my lap. “I am?”

“Yes. My commitments won’t take long.” He discards the towel and pulls on a fresh pair of boxer briefs from the chest of drawers. “Then we can do whatever you like afterward. I’ll arrange a hotel room for the night. You just need to pack a change of clothes and your toothbrush.”

I pull back the covers and glide to my feet, not showing a hint of curiosity at learning more about his life while trying to hide my fear of what he wants from me in return. “When are we leaving?”

“As soon as you’re dressed.”

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