Page 54 of Straight, No Chaser
Isavorthe last sip of my whiskey. Celebrating Creed’s downfall and my angel’s return home. I'm going to fucking love showing her how much I missed her.
Especially knowing all the threats are finally over. Catching that motherfucker by complete surprise, he barely mounted a defense. Nick’s penchant for blowing up what's most precious to his enemy, ensured absolute and complete devastation. Leaving only Creed’s brother, Sebastian, as a problem. Who I was able to convince, surprisingly easy, to submit to me, expanding my territory to include all of the mid-west. Another success to keep my family safe.
The garage door lifting rattles from the front of the house. Thank fucking god they’re finally home. Pushing off my leather chair, I force myself not to run like a pussy ass who still hasn't found his balls. But I don’t get the welcome I expect.
Eli’s sprawled on Ty’s shoulder, almost completely out. But it’s the expression on Molly’s face that makes fire shoot through my veins. So blank and empty. Devoid of any emotion. For me. All her feelings gone.
Keeping her head down, she follows my brothers. Mistakenly thinking I'll fucking let her pass without speaking. “What’s wrong?”
She jerks away from my grip on her arm, and I let her go. Terrified to push her too far. That she won't be able to come back from.
“I know.”
God damn son of a bitch. The thread holding my sanity starting to unravel. “What?”
“Everything. The secrets you’ve been hiding.”
Which ones? I keep up the façade. Shoving down the panic threatening to explode inside me. Forcing a confused expression on my face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sean…”
Motherfucker.
A huge sob escapes her mouth, gutting me right in the stomach. My world crumbling right in front of me, and I can’t fucking catch the pieces before they slam to the ground.
“They investigated you. He said that you bought them off about attacking Hunter so no one could prove it was you. That you bribed the loan officer and took my Dad’s money. You're some kind of mafia boss.”
She cries so hard I can’t make out the words any more. But it doesn’t fucking matter what she says. All that fucking matters is how she looks. Disgusted. Disappointed. Done.
Her delicate hand tugs at the rock on her finger.
"I can't marry you."
The dynamite finally ignites. A fast flame to detonation in my body. I lunge toward her, trying to stop the platinum from sliding over her knuckle. "Don't you fucking dare take it off."
“You tricked me and manipulated me. This was all just a game.”
Her accusation rips through me like daggers. So fucking wrong. But the words don't matter. Only now matters. Only us being together. With Eli. As a family. That's what fucking matters. “No it wasn’t. I love you.”
“Oh my God, Luciano. This isn’t love! This isn't how marriage is supposed to be. You’ve lied to me the whole time, and I’ve been so stupid to believe you."
“No.” I have her pinned against the wall. Like a fucking crazy man. Like a man sucking in his last breaths because his life is slowly ending with each tear that falls from her gorgeous blue eyes. Dim now. All the light I wanted to redeem myself in gone. Because of me. “This is not over. We are not over.”
She can only turn her head. Long hair brushes across the blazing skin on my arm before hiding her face. Unwilling to look at mine. "Please angel."
The only time I've ever fucking begged. For anything or anyone. But this time I can't get what I want. I'd drop on my knees if I thought it would help. It's too late. She's already gone.
"You're scaring me."
“You’ve got to let her go, Luc.”
I ignore Ty’s sympathetic tone behind me. Almost as if he feels sorry for me because of how badly I fucked this up. Well, fuck him. Fuck everyone who doesn’t think she belongs with me.
“Both of you need to calm down and then you can talk.”
When the fuck did he become the voice of reason? I don’t want to fucking talk. I don't want to fucking do anything but hear her say she forgives me. To say she understands everything I did was for her, and she’ll never doubt me again.
His words have the opposite effect. She cries harder, twisting away from me. Giving up on me. On us. If I touch her, I’m afraid I’ll hurt her. Fucking squeeze her too tight, trying to keep her. So I force myself to step back. To let her go.
