Page 39 of Entangled
“Soren, baby, it’s okay,” I said softly, and I felt her body go limp and her breathing begin to even out.
“Kade?” She muttered sleepily, her eyes opening and meeting mine. My own body sagged in relief, hating to hear her go through something I had no control over, and couldn’t protect her from. I couldn’t save her from her own mind.
“Are you okay?” I asked, pushing a piece of her hair behind her ear as she looked up at me. I had laid her head in my lap, not wanting to restrain her limbs. So now that she was peeking up at me, she was practically breaking her neck to do so. I gently lifted her head and moved down so we were laying on our sides and facing one another.
“I will be,” she replied, and I could see tears brimming her eyes. “I’m just so tired of this man having control over every aspect of my life. Especially the ones I have no control over.”
I didn’t have to ask who, because I knew without her even having to say anything. The monster she had married had scared her so deeply and traumatized her so profusely that she had nightmares about it. I knew I was no saint, but fuck, what kind of man hurt a woman he was meant to love?
“What can I do to help?” I asked, knowing there was a chance that there was nothing to make her feel better.
“Will you stay with me tonight?” She asked hesitantly, and I didn’t even have to twice before pulling her into my chest, and rubbing her back until her light snores filled the space.
The steadiness of her breathing lulled me to sleep with her warm body pressed against mine, and I slept good for the first time in decades.
Matthias
My house. 7 pm.
It wasthe only information I’d received from my father about this last-minute meeting he’d pulled on me. But it wasn’t new. I was his to control. Soren was controlled by her husband, and I my father. We were both prisoners in a never-ending loop of forced dependence.
I made my way from my office to the library, where I knew Soren would be holed up, just as she always was. I’d begun to learn she was a creature of habit, always striving for stability and a routine.
I’d snuck out this morning before she woke, too much of a coward to face the intimate moment we had shared.
I pushed open the double doors, already knowing she’d be curled up on the couch, a book in one hand, coffee in another. She was a simple woman, not hard to please. Give her caffeine and a book and she’d be content.
Give me a book, and Soren’s pussy, and I’m content.
I shook off my dirty thoughts and fought against my dick hardening in my dress pants, putting my hands in my pockets, and waiting for her to acknowledge my presence.
“Soren,” I said, trying to keep my tone calm, my annoyance at her lack of attention begging to seep through. She finally looked up; eyes dazed as she was caught in a world that wasn’t her own.
“Sorry, I’ve been sucked into this book,” she said, marking her place but not moving it from her lap. If she was upset about my abrupt departure this morning, she didn't show it.
“I have to go to my father’s tonight,” I announced, cutting to the chase of what I came to say.
Since Soren had been here, I’d been working these last several weeks from home the best I could, pushing all my other responsibilities outside of the house to Finn.
But my father’s text today left no room for argument. I had to be there. I had yet to see what happened when I disobeyed him. And I wasn’t going to let today be the day I found out.
“Okay,” she replied, already tilting her head back down towards her book.
That’s it?
I expected more of a fight, or more emotion from her about it since she hadn’t really been alone in the house since I had brought her here.
“The cook will be here until seven, and I have a few men around the perimeter to keep an eye on the place until I get back. Shouldn’t be too late,” I rambled, not sure why she would give a damn about when I came back.
“Have fun,” she said, taking a sip of her coffee. She must have realized I was still standing here perplexed, because she looked up at me again and laughed.
“Kade, I’m married to a Mafia boss’s son. I thrived and craved my time alone. He was always away doing business for his father, and I had no objections,” she explained, using air quotes over the wordbusiness.Because we all knew the Mafia had nothing to do with any paperwork or normal business tactics.
“Right, well, I’ll see you later,” I said awkwardly, not sure what else I could or should say at this moment.
“Be careful Ace, your attachment is showing,” Soren laughed and I threw a scowl back at her because damn her for being right.
I turned on my heel, my dress shoes clacking against the marble floor, and made my way out to my car to head to my father’s.
