Page 116 of Savage Vow (Mafia Marriages 3)

“You’re lucky I have a soft spot for my wife. Anyone else tries to steal my son, and they’d be dead.”

She gulps. Her tongue darts out and swipes across her lips. Karina appears nervous.

Good. She ought to be uncomfortable. The girl brought me to my knees with dread, worried sick about my son.

“I’m sorry,” her voice is soft, barely audible.

“Don’t say things you don’t mean.” I fluff the pillow behind me.

Words mean nothing if there’s no intention behind them.

Karina patters across the room to the dresser and retrieves a pair of pajamas. On her way to the bathroom, she glances over her shoulder at me. “I just want what’s best for my son.”

“We both do,” I say. Doesn’t she realize that? I’m fighting to protect him. “The Bianchi’s are still out there. You can’t just wander off. They’ll find you. Torture you. Kill you.”

Her bottom lip trembles, and she hurries the rest of the way into the bathroom, slamming the door shut.

I hear the bathroom fan buzz before she starts the water in the shower.

Did I upset her?

Probably. But she needs to hear the truth. She needs to know what she’s up against. It’s not just me being overly protective and overbearing. I’m trying to keep her safe. I’m trying desperately to keep my son safe.

Karina doesn’t make that easy for me.

I shut off the lights and wait for her to ease out of the bathroom before I fall asleep. I’m not the least bit tired, and I want to talk to her. It doesn’t surprise me that she rushed out of the room at the first chance of a conversation.

I’m bitter.

I can’t help it. She snatched my son!

I toss the covers off. The bedroom is stuffy. Maybe it’s me.

Sitting up in bed, I stare at the bathroom door, waiting for her to emerge. The shower shuts off. Any minute she’ll be dried off and dressed. She’s probably hoping I’m asleep.

She’s dead wrong.

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