Page 17 of Fragile Union

"Are you hurt anywhere else?"

"I don't think so," I whisper.

"The adrenaline," he says as he steps closer to me, his gaze going over my body. When he takes my hand into his, he turns it over and I see there's cuts on it. "Finish your shower, doll face, then I'll see to the cuts."

"What?" I whisper, wondering what happened between earlier and now. It's as though it's two different people, that or he has a split personality.

I'm speechless as he gently washes me, every inch of me, including my hair. He places kisses against my neck, mouth, and head as he does so. I'm so confused. I'm unable to think clearly with him being this close to me.

"Come on doll face," he whispers as he lifts me into his arms and out of the shower. He reaches for a towel and wraps me in it, the warmth finally starting to make its way into my body. "I've got you," he tells me and I'm once again, so close to tears. He reaches for another towel and I can't take it anymore; the tenderness is unlike anything I've ever experienced. I feel as though I'm wide open and he can see every single scar I've been left with. I hate it. I hate I don't know him, that I'm falling in love with a man who just wants me for sex and ownership.

I'm scared I'm going to turn bitter and twisted like my mother. She loved my dad, adored him, until she realized her feelings would never be reciprocated and in a sense she lost herself and who she really was. So, she became this woman I have no love or respect for. That's someone I don't want to become, so twisted with rage that she'll lash out at those closest to her because she feels the need to hurt someone so she's not alone.

He throws a towel onto the bed and sits me down onto it. My heart constricts with so much emotion. I know I'm not like my family. I'm unable to bury everything deep down below. Sometimes, my emotions bleed out of me, just as they are now.

Whatever he sees has him taking my face in his hands and kissing me so fucking softly. I hate he's got this power over me. I have no idea what the power is, but it's a force to be reckoned with. "Never again," he promises me. "No one will ever hurt you again."

I shake my head. "You can't promise me that," I tell him. There's no way he can. Not after today, not after his words. Remembering them is like a punch to my gut, all the anger from this morning is back in full force.

"I fucking can," he growls, his hands tightening around my face. The look in his eyes is determination and something else, one I haven't witnessed Romero have before.

"No, hon, you can't. Especially when you're the one who hurts me the most." I pull away from him and start to dry myself off, I need to get out of this frame of mind. The vulnerable, scared, wimpy girl. I know better than to be this girl. Better than to lean on anyone for support. Ma taught me that at a young age. She taught me so many lessons and yet, here I am, forgetting the golden one.

Men will always hurt you. Never let them in. Never give them the power to succeed.

"Holly," his voice is gruff, "about what I said this morning..."

I turn to face him. "Did you mean what you said?"

He's silent, and that's the only answer I need. He meant every fucking word. Each single letter was a slice to my heart.

Stupid, naive Holly. I should have known being with Romero would only lead to heartache. I mean, look at how we started off. A fucking trade off. He becomes the Underboss and gets a wife all in one go. What do I get? A broken heart and a husband who doesn't care.

I get dressed into some sweats, not once looking at Romero; I can't do it, I know if I turn and see that he has that fucking look on his face, the one that’s filled with such tenderness, I'll cave and let him hold me. That's stupid on my part. Having Romero touch me is dangerous. He makes me want things I can’t have, hope for things that aren’t possible.

I walk out of our bedroom, and I can hear voices downstairs. I sigh, not in the mood for company and I know Makenna will hover if I'm around her. I make my way into the library, and where each wall is covered in books from floor to ceiling. This is a room which I spend a lot of time in, no one else uses it. I move over to the oversized chair and climb into it, curling up into a ball. I reach for the blanket and pull it over me as my other hand reaches for my e-reader. There's nothing better after an emotional day than reading a book.

I need to escape, to find a void away from my life and right now the only way to do that is to read. I power up the e-reader and spend a few minutes browsing books before I settle upon one.

It's not long before my eyes start to droop. The events of today have taken their toll. I hope tomorrow brings a better day. Within minutes I'm fast asleep.

Six

ROMERO

I drove like a mad man to get home. I've never felt helpless before and that's exactly what I was feeling as I drove the two fucking hours to get to her. I walked into the house and the first thing I asked was, "Where is she?" Makenna didn't hesitate in telling me that Holly went for a shower. Walking into the bathroom and seeing my wife sobbing on the shower floor cracked yet another fucking piece of my heart.

Holly, although she's sweet and soft, she's fucking strong. She never shows weakness to anyone and yet I've seen her at her most vulnerable. Knowing I hurt her with my words from this morning stings, but I need her to realize that this marriage isn't based on love. I can see it when she looks at me, that she's starting to develop feelings and the more I let that continue the more she'll fall and as much as I'm a bastard, I'm not that type of fucking monster to break my wife.

"Is Holly okay?" Makenna asks as I walk into the kitchen.

I look at my sister-in-law. She's different in this house compared to how she is outside. Here she freely shows that she gives a fuck about those closest to her, whereas outside, she's the boss, she'll break every bone in your body if you piss her off. Right now, though, Makenna's pale and pacing. That doesn't bode well.

"Yeah," I lie knowing she'd hate for me to tell them she was crying. Makenna narrows her eyes as though she doesn't believe me. "What happened?" I demand, needing to know who the fuck to kill for even thinking about doing a drive by shooting anywhere near my wife.

Makenna and Dante share a look, one which has me bracing. Fuck. What the hell haven't they told me?

"What?" I ground out. "Fucking tell me." I snap, as Alessio strolls into the room.

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