Page 57 of Merciless Oath

I pick the phone up again and study the photo intently. Her long, pale limbs, her fiery red hair, perfect breasts, tiny waist—she’s gorgeous.Too bad she’s fucking evil.

“Hey, she has a tattoo,” I say, zooming in on her hip. “We didn’t notice that when she sent me the lingerie photos.”

Enzo sneaks a one-eyed peek at the photo and nods his head. “That’s definitely her. I remember that butterfly tattoo.”

For a second, I’m consumed with jealousy.He remembers that tattoo?He probably kissed her there, whispered sweet words to her, made love to her.

“Did you love her?” I ask quietly, putting the phone away. His eyes pop open and he bursts into laughter. “It’s a serious question,” I huff.

“No, Lenny,” he says solemnly, trying to hide his laughter. When he sees my eyes watering, he instantly sobers up. “I never loved anyone except you, promise.”

“It’s okay if you did,” I whisper, trying to push the jealousy out. “She must have loved you.”

“I don’t think love has anything to do with this,” he says, serious now. “You don’t do this to someone you love. This is about obsession and control.”

“So, what next?”

“I think I might just call her up,” he muses. “Is that stupid? After all of this, to just… call her?”

“We have no other ideas,” I say, but my heart beats nervously inside my chest.

Up until now, The8 has been a nameless, faceless threat. Now, knowing who she is and seeing every single part of her makes me even more terrified.

That what? He’s going to leave you for her? After all this?

I shake my head, shoving my evil inner voice away. Pushing myself off Enzo’s chest, I slip out of the warm, inviting bed and throw on some clothes.

He sits up, resting against the headboard and watching me. I know I’m being weird, giving these baseless insecurities too much control, but I can’t help it.

“Lenny,” he calls me softly. “Come here.”

“No,” I huff, busying myself with my jacket. The zipper gets stuck, and I jerk it up and down, my frustration growing. Enzo comes up behind me, softly encircling my hands with his, and I let the jacket fall to the floor.

“Lenny, stop,” he whispers, pulling me into his chest. “What’s going on in your head right now?”

“It’s stupid,” I mutter into his naked chest. Hot, painful tears prickle against my eyelids, threatening to spill.

“Your feelings are never stupid,” he asserts, stroking my hair. “Talk to me.”

I suck in a deep breath, trying to ground myself and my silly emotions.

It’s like opening myself up to Enzo again opened the floodgate of tears I hoarded over the last few years. I didn’t allow myself to feel anything, so now I’m feeling everything.

“I’m worried you’re going to see her again,” I start, my voice shaky and muffled by his chest hair, “and you’ll decide she’s the better option.”

He’s quiet for a second, stroking my hair and swaying us slightly in the frosty air. I run my hands up his back, feeling goosebumps popping up under my touch.

Finally, he sighs deeply and kisses the top of my head. “You remember the day we met?”

“Of course.” I laugh, choking on my stuffy nose. “You spilled coffee all over my dad because you were checking me out.”

“Well, Lenny,” he whispers, pulling me in even tighter, “that was the moment I decided I’ll never be able to choose anyone over you. I was yours, forever, whether you wanted me or not.”

“Okay, okay.” I sniffle and sneak a peek at him. He looks so serious, and it feels very non-Enzo, so I decide to break the moment for once. “Stop being a cheeseball. I get it.”

An hour later, with our bellies full and the caffeine hitting us, we pile into Rafael’s office.

Lux has bundled the kids up and forced them outside. I hear peals of laughter coming from the snowy garden outside the window and smile at how carefree life is here.

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