Page 20 of Fragile Union

I give her a glare. When it comes to my work, to the family she is the boss. But when it comes to my life. To my fucking wife, she has no say whatsoever.

I turn and make my way toward the library, when I reach the door, I push it open, fully expecting to get the cold shoulder once again, but instead I find my beautiful wife curled up in the chair fast asleep. Damn, she looks so fucking peaceful.

She doesn't know it, but she's dug herself deep inside of me. I'm not a man that shows emotions. But Holly, well she's come into my life and burrowed her way through my walls. I'll be fucking damned if I let anyone hurt her. I'm going to tear the world down to find out where those fucking Damini assholes are. They'll not get the chance to try and finish the job.

Seven

HOLLY

ONE MONTH LATER

"You okay?" Alex asks me as I push harder as we turn the corner, I'm almost there. Almost home. My legs are burning but I ignore the pain and keep going. "Hol, what's going on?" His breath coming out in pants.

I shrug. "I have no idea what you're talking about. There's nothing going on." What a fucking lie that is. I'm being kept in the dark about something, I can feel it. Every time I walk into a room where Romero, Makenna, and Dante are they all stop talking.

"Bullshit," he replies, and I roll my eyes. He's got something to say, Alex doesn't know when to keep his mouth closed. He hates Romero and I'm not sure why. I push harder, sprinting the last hundred meters.

"Holly, the past month you've been acting weird," he says as his fingers clamp around my wrist and he pulls me to a stop. "Every day you push yourself harder and harder. Talk to me," he pleads with me.

I swallow harshly, being around Alex used to be okay, he was fun to be around, and he'd make me laugh, but lately it's been weird. He's giving me lingering looks and always finds a reason to stand close to me. "I'm fine," I say through clenched teeth as I wrench my arm away from him. "What the hell?" I exclaim, wondering if he's lost his ever loving mind?

Each morning I go for a run and Alex is always the one to go with me. Whenever I'm in the house, he's there, hovering. It's really started to freak me out. Today will be the last day that I go running, I'll have to find another way to keep fit.

"What the hell?" he repeats. "Come on Holly, you can't be that naive? Romero doesn't love you. He used you to get his position."

I glare at him. "You don't think I know that?" I snap, pissed that we're even having this conversation.

I'm reminded of the fact that my husband doesn't love me each and every day. Nighttime comes around and he's the most attentive lover in the world. But as soon as morning rolls around, he's cold, distant, and acts as though I'm merely an inconvenience. It's gotten to the point now where I steer clear of him during the day.

When I left Ireland, I promised myself I'd never be the woman that my ma is or the woman she turned me into. The one that was treated as though I wasn't wanted. I've tried to steel my heart against the rejection that Romero heaps on me, I've tried to not let it get to me. I want to be better, be better than the woman I had as a role model.

"Why the hell are you with him?" Alex demands to know as he steps into my personal space. "Why, Hol? Why stick with it, you deserve better. You deserve more than a loveless marriage."

"Leave it alone Alex. My marriage has nothing to do with you." I turn, not wanting to discuss this any longer. Alex is out of line.

"You should have someone who will worship you, who'll show you what it's like to be loved," he says and my body tenses, he can't be fucking serious. I spin on my heel and see the truth written all over his face.

"Alex," I whisper. "No matter what, Romero is my husband. You are a soldier, if you continue this shit, you're going to lose your life. Do you want that?"

I'm not Ma, I've taken my vows; I'd never cheat on my husband. I know what it means, death. Ma's lucky that she hasn't eaten a bullet yet. But I suppose she knows that and why she keeps getting pregnant. Da wasn't sure about Chloe being his, but when Mary came along, there was no way he could deny the truth any longer. Da has six children, only two are biologically his.

"Fuck that," he bites out. "You deserve to be treated like the princess that you are." He reaches out to touch me and I dodge it, he's not touching me. Not now, not ever. "Holly?"

I glare at the man that I thought was my friend. "I can't believe you," I hiss. "How dare you? Romero is my husband, Alex. Mine. You don't like him, that's on you. But don't bring me into whatever fucking twisted game you're playing."

His jaw clenches, "I'm not playing a game. I want you. You shouldn't have to be treated as though you don't matter."

"I fucking matter." I don't give a shit if Romero doesn't love or care about me. I care about myself. I matter to so many people. To people that I love.

"You really want to stay here and be with that asshole?" he questions.

I stand taller, I square my shoulders and glare at him. "I'm only going to say this once more. So, listen to me." I snap at him, pissed that he's making me out to be some sort of weak woman when I'm not. "I knew what I was getting into when I agreed to marry Romero. I knew that it would be a loveless marriage and that Romero was doing it to cement his place within the higher ranks of not only the Irish Mafia but also the Italian. But he is my husband. You do not get to judge us." I give him one last glare. "Stay the fuck away from me."

I hear his deep sigh as I walk away. I'm not giving him any more of my time. I've told him what I want, and he'd better listen otherwise I'm going to say something to Makenna.

Of course, when I move toward the door, Romero, Dante, Alessio, and Makenna are standing there, the men with pissed off looks on their faces while Makenna's got a smirk on hers. "Enjoy eavesdropping?" I ask as I push past them and into the house.

"You've got a choice," I hear Makenna begin, "you either go and work for Finn, or you're done."

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