Page 62 of Unleashed
I let out a mocking laugh. “You have no idea how badly I want to shove a knife into your face right now.”
“That’s right.” Anthony casually places both palms on the top of his cane, that cool swagger of his working on my last goddamn nerve. “Try killing me again. See if she’ll forgive you a second time.”
“Proves how much she really cares about you. I told her you were dead, and she still let me fuck her.”
That’s when his cold armor cracks, a surge of rage shattering his icy composure. At least now I can say today I’ve accomplished something great.
Visibly, he takes a breath, and it’s disappointing watching him slide on that mask of indifference again. “I don’t care what you think you know about the relationship I have with Everly. I know she loves me. Clearly not as much as she loves you—God knows why she does—but she’ll always love me, too. And that’s why I’m standing here, taking your bullshit, instead of letting you rot in this mausoleum you call a house.”
I laugh, the sound hollow. “You can’t stand the fact that she chose me. Me. Every time. Even after you swept in like a motherfucking knight, thinking you were doing her a favor by taking her from me. That’s why you’re choking on your own goddamn jealousy.”
“And look where that’s gotten her, choosing you. Pregnant. Alone. Some fucking husband you turned out to be.”
My vision tunnels. “Careful. I’ve gutted motherfuckers for less.”
“You’ve also abandoned the woman you swore to protect. So forgive me if I’m not impressed by your resume.”
“Watch your fucking mouth.”
Maximo slides between us, expression bored, voice dry as dust. “You two sound like high school girls fighting over who wore it better.”
“Stay out of this,” we snap in unison, both glaring at him.
“See? You already agree on something. Adorable.”
Anthony’s jaw ticks as he looks back at me. “I don’t give a shit if you hate me. I don’t care if you dream about killing me every night. But she deserves better than the ghost of a man drinking himself to death in his daddy’s library.”
“You think I don’t know that?” I gulp down more bourbon, wipe my mouth. “If it were that easy, don’t you think I’d be with her right fucking now instead of wasting breath on you?”
“Then what’s stopping you? What excuse is big enough to leave her in pieces while you rot in here? Because all I see is a coward who can’t handle his responsibilities.”
The insult detonates in my chest, and I lunge forward, fury snapping the last tether of control, but Maximo’s arm slams across me, shoving me back.
“Stop your shit,” he growls. “Or I’ll kill both of you myself and save us all the headache.”
Anthony doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t even blink. He leans heavily on that cane, chin tipped up, eyes locked on mine like he’s daring me to end him. “I saw her today.”
My pulse spikes, blood roaring in my ears. “Like I need another fucking reason to cut your throat.”
“And I realized something,” he says, every word dragged like it costs him blood. “As much as it kills me to admit—she loves you. After everything, she still does.”
“Tastes bitter, doesn’t it?” My lip curls. “The truth.”
“More than you’ll ever know.”
Silence stretches, our glares locked like blades crossed in the air.
Finally, he exhales. “I did things I’m not proud of. I hurt her. Because I was so hellbent on proving you’re not good enough for her—which you aren’t—I turned myself into a man who doesn’t deserve her either.”
My fists tighten, but my stance loosens just enough that Maximo eases back, still watching me like I’m a ticking bomb.
Anthony shifts, shoulders stiff, discomfort bleeding into something heavier. “I listened to the messages she left you.”
Rage explodes white-hot. “You motherf?—”
“I know,” he cuts in, quick, firm. “And now I know she’ll never love me the way she loves you.”
That makes me pause, suspicion slicing through my fury. “What the fuck are you playing at, Paladino?”
