Page 31 of The Sins of Saint (The Sins of Saint 3)

I let go of her hand and stood. “It doesn’t matter what the secret was. What matters is that it has made me question his intentions.”

Elena raised a brow. “Are you telling me that you are questioning the intentions of a man who kidnapped you, forced you to marry him, and took your family shares from you?”

“I know, right?” I started to pace. “I don’t know why I’m surprised anymore when it comes to him. There’s always something he does or says that pulls the rug from under me.”

“Then get rid of the rug.”

I balked and frowned at her. “What do you mean?”

“It’s simple, really. Get rid of the damn rug and make sure you are never caught off guard again.”

“How do I do that? It’s not like I have a key to his closet of secrets.”

“I know. What I’m saying is,” her brown-eyed gaze was pinned on me intently, “don’t be naïve when comes to a man like Marcello. Do not think he will change his ways for you, because he won’t. Being ruthless is in his blood.”

“Oh, believe me, I’m starting to realize that.” I sat down beside her again. “He keeps reminding me.”

“Good. It’s good that you’re reminded of that every day. Marcello is dark and mysterious, and if you’re honest with yourself, you’ll admit it’s part of the allure, part of why you are so attracted to him.”

I merely looked at her, unable to deny the truth in her words. It was the mystery that surrounded him that lured me in, his darkness that tempted me. It was his unpredictability, that constant standing-on-a-ledge feeling that had me addicted to him. Being with him was like one giant adrenaline rush that never ended.

“About this secret,” Elena started, “did you catch him in a lie, or was he the one who decided to come clean with you?”

I brushed a finger across my forehead. “He told me…after he said I’m free to leave if I wish.”

“He said you could leave?” Her brows drew together.. “As in…leave, with the baby?”

I nodded. “He told me it was my decision, and when I wouldn’t leave, he dropped this bomb of a secret on me.”

“Aah.” Elena leaned back, her eyes wide as if she just had an epiphany from God Himself. “He was self-sabotaging. His guilt was eating away at him, and he tried to push you away.”

“Yet,” I shrugged, “I’m still here.”

“Listen to me, Mila.” This time she took my hand and enclosed it between both her palms. “I have never seen my nephew be so protective and infatuated with a woman the way he is with you. And I can promise you he will never do anything with the intention to hurt you. Albeit your union was a bit…unorthodox.”

I scoffed. “Fucked-up is the word I’d use.”

“Mila,” she reprimanded. “Language.”

“Oh, come on.” I threw my hand in the air. “What is it with all of you and me dropping the occasional f-bomb?”

Elena chuckled then tightened her hold on my hand. “In all seriousness, Mila. Marcello loves you, and you need to trust that love. You need to make peace with the fact that he will never tell you everything, and accept the fact that he’s doing it to protect you. I’m not saying it’s right.” She smiled. “I’m saying it’s Marcello.”

“I know.”

“If you’re expecting a normal marriage and a normal life with Marcello, you are going to be incredibly disappointed. Your life will never be normal or mundane with white picket fences and bunnies running around in the back yard.”

I let out a laugh. “Bunnies?”

“Yes, bunnies.” She snickered, and her expression turned serious once again. “If this is what you want, Mila—a life with Marcello—you will have to be an extremely strong woman. Tough. Resilient. Otherwise, you’ll just wither away at his side. But I can promise you this. No man will take as good care of you and your child as my nephew.”

I merely nodded. There was nothing more to say on the issue. Elena was right. I couldn’t change Saint. I couldn’t turn him into the stereotypical family man who worked a nine-to-five job, then come home to fix the garbage disposal. That wasn’t him. And truth be told, that wasn’t the man I wanted. I wanted Saint. I loved him and wanted only him.

“Thank you, Elena.” I reached out and gave her hug. “You’ve been such a good friend to me through all this.”

She rubbed her palms across my shoulders. “You’ve become like a daughter to me, Milana. I will always help where and when I can.”

“I think I’m going to be knocking on your door regularly if I’m determined to stay sane throughout my marriage to your nephew.”

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