Page 8 of Unleashed
I right myself in my seat. “Of what?”
“Losing her.”
Those two words slither down my insides, settling heavily in my gut.
“Pffft.” Caelian leans back in his chair. “That ship’s sailed. Paladino took her, which means he already lost her.”
“You know where she is. You know who she’s with. Yet you decided to come home first.” It’s the way Nicoli slants his head, like he sees straight through every wall I’ve built.
“Alexius’ orders,” I state simply, trying not to let him get to me.
“Since when do you give a fuck about my orders?” Alexius places his elbows on the table. “You’ve never listened to me before when it came to her, which is why I didn’t expect you actually to show up.”
I tap my fingers on the glass tumbler. “Decorum…and all that.”
“Bullshit,” Cealian utters. “Nicoli’s right. You’re fucking terrified.”
“That’s not?—”
“She knows you lied to her,” Alexius starts calmly. “She knows you kept the truth from her, and you’re afraid she won’t forgive you for it.”
“And even if she does,” Nicoli chimes in, “you know you’re going to kill the fucker—for real this time—when you see his face again, and if you do…you’ll lose her. For good.”
Caelian scowls. “You’re stalling, little brother. And here I thought you came home ’cause you missed us.”
“Am I being tag-teamed?” I raise a brow in warning. “Get off my ass and out of my personal life.”
I lean forward slowly, elbows braced on my knees, glass dangling from my fingers. The liquor swirls once, catching the light, before I down it in one hard gulp, then realize they’re all staring at me with that we-ain’t-buying-your-bullshit look.
I sigh, slamming my glass down on the table. “Okay, yes! Of course, I’m scared.” My voice is rough. Low. “I’m fucking terrified. It’s like I’m being peeled open, and my heart’s about to be ripped out.”
They go quiet.
“Every breath feels like it might be my last, like I can’t even get the oxygen deep enough for me to feel like I’m not choking.” I glower at Caelian, then Nicoli. “I lied to her. About something—” I grimace “—some…onewho was…isreally fucking important to her. Knowing my wife, I’m pretty goddamn sure that lie broke something in her. And I don’t know if I can fix it without breaking the rest of her in the process.”
Caelian exhales a long breath, eyes narrowing. “So, what now?”
“Now?” I look up, cold steel in my gut. “I dunno.”
Alexius brushes his fingers along his jaw, eyes calculating. Always calculating. “Everly’s a strong woman, Isaia. I doubt she’d run without confronting you, demanding answers. Explanations.”
“Don’t I know it.” I huff, dragging my fingers through my hair.
Caelian snuffs out the cigarette in the crystal ashtray. “And you’re here in Chicago, totally fine that the woman you love is currently with another man.”
“I’m not fine with it, asshole. Alexius wanted me home for a briefing, so I came home.”
“While she’s in New York withhim.” His eyes turn into slits. “Alone. With him.”
My jaw clenches, teeth grinding.
“Are you fucking insane? Alexius locked Leandra up to make sure he doesn’t lose her. Nicoli sabotaged Mira’s career to protect her, and I carried Giana down the fucking aisle. Are you about to prove me right, little brother?”
I scowl at Caelian. “Right about what?”
He leans back, arms outstretched like he owns the world. “That you do, after all, have the smallest set of balls in this room.”
“Caelian,” Alexius warns. “Cut the shit.”
