Page 40 of Objection

“Aww come on, lover. Don’t be like that. I was hoping this truce between your uncle and Mason would be the key to us getting back together. I’ve been missing you and—”

His hand lifted and silenced her as he laughed. “Like I told him, what we had is over. Even if I wasn’t with the best woman I’ve ever met in my life,” he winked at me, and dammit if it didn’t make me smile, “there’s absolutely no place in my heartor life for a woman like you.” He stood. “Now, spare yourself the embarrassment and leave on your own before I have to make you.”

Her nostrils flared as she swallowed and blinked rapidly. Looking down at me, her jaw clenched.

“There’s really no chance we can try again?”

“None. At all.”

Fedora’s head bobbed once before she took a small step backward. “I think you just want me to work for you to prove I regret the way things ended. I can do that.”

“That’s not what this is,” Kaos roared, slamming his fist on the table. “You need to go, Fedora,” he seethed. “Now.”

All eyes were on us as she quickly walked away. Kaos motioned for the waitress and our check as he sat back down. Silence swirled around us as we waited. The moment she set it on the table, Kaos tossed a few bills on it and stood.

“Let’s go,” he commanded, and I stood, cupping my hands in front of me instead of accepting his waiting hand. Chuckling, he wrapped his arm around my waist as we walked out, keeping me from putting space between us.

Kaos waited until we were in the car to speak. “It’s clear you’re upset. Can you share why?”

“What was that about, Kaos? I feel completely blindsided. Who was she, and why does she think she has a chance to get back with you?”

He sighed and ran his hands over his fade. “That was my ex Fedora. We dated years ago. Before I left the mafia. We broke up because when I told her I was leaving, she cheated and got with one of our enemies—Mason Henry. Fast forward to a few days ago, and my uncle summons me to tell me he wants to start a partnership with Mason. Mason isn’t completely on board, but Fedora assured him that she could change his mind in exchangefor me. Apparently, she planned to leave him after the deal was done if she had a second chance with me.”

“And you said no?”

He frowned as he stared at me. “OfcourseI said no.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because it wasn’t something I felt was worth mentioning. I didn’t expect for us to run into her. I realize now the error I made. Had I told you, you would have been prepared. For that, I apologize.”

Nodding, I looked out of the window. I felt like I had a right to be upset, but I also didn’t want to overreact, so I chose to remain silent. For a while, I allowed myself to believe there were no other women in Kaos’s orbit, which was naïve. He was one of the most sought after bachelors in The Hills. I was sure there were plenty of women before me, and there’d be plenty of women after me if I left.

“Do you accept my apology?”

“Yes,” I whispered.

“Do you need time to process what just happened?” Nodding, I swallowed back my tears . . . afraid if I spoke my voice would crack. “I can give you that, but I meant what I said back there, princess. There’s nothing between me and Fedora.” When his hand rested on my thigh, I closed my eyes. “The only woman I want, for the rest of my life, is you.”

Thankfully, the conversation ended there.

When we got home, I felt better. I knew in my heart that he was telling the truth. More than anything, I felt insecure over the thought of him leaving me for someone else, regardless of the reason. This was the best relationship I’d ever had. He was the best man I’d ever had. I didn’t want to eventhinkabout it ending. I didn’t want to be healthy and mature and say I’d appreciate the good memories and let him go easily.

Fuck that. He was mine, now and forever, and I’d bedamnedif I let him leave me after giving me the best loving of my life. I believed Kaos was a man of integrity. A man of principle. A man of his word. If he told me this was nothing for me to worry about, I believed him.

“Hey,” he called softly when I tried to walk toward the kitchen for a bottle of wine. As his arms wrapped around my waist, chills covered my arms. “I’m sorry for the way our date ended.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“Yeah, but still. I take accountability for her behavior. I’m sorry, princess.”

“You make it very hard to be upset, Mr. Montgomery.”

He smiled, then kissed the corner of my mouth. My hands slid up his arms, then I wrapped my arms around his neck. Kaos accepted the signal and kissed my lips.

“Good, because I don’t want you to be upset about anything if I can help it. I’m so happy with you, Serenity. I hope today won’t make you question that.”

“Just promise me that if you decide to leave for any reason, just leave. Don’t switch up on me. Don’t change the way you treat me. Just . . . give me a kind goodbye and leave.”

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