Page 35 of Gangster's Empire: Leeza & Havel

She watched him warily as he kicked off his shoes and headed for the washroom, closing the door behind him.

She lowered her fists and waited until she heard the shower start. Blowing out a breath, she climbed off the bed and stood indecisively in the middle of the room.

What now? Should she grab Kris and run?

No, not that. She’d already decided she was ready to face the fallout of Jozef’s takeover, whatever it may be. And as much as she wasn’t ready for Havel or his plans for her, it didn’t even come close to the worst scenario she’d been imagining.

For months, she’d believed her cousin was gunning for her and that the only way to survive was to stay two steps ahead of him. Never once had she thought a marriage to Havel was what would be in store for her if she returned.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. Eight years ago, it had been exactly what she’d wanted.

A shudder rippled down her spine and she slumped to the floor, leaning her head back against the mattress. Closing her eyes, she allowed herself to feel the bone deep exhaustion that had been creeping up on her for the past several weeks.

She couldn’t do it. She simply couldn’t get re-married.

It was her, not Havel and he couldn’t see that. He was perfect. Well, almost perfect. But she? Well, she was irreparably flawed. Broken. Because of Adam and now she was no good for anyone else.

She squeezed her eyes shut tighter so the sting of tears would go away.

Don’t shed a tear, she’d told herself through the beatings, through the rapes, through the lonely years.

“Leeza.”

Startled, her eyes flew open and her heart thundered with fear.

Havel was crouched in front of her. “You fell asleep.”

“Oh.” It came out a whisper.

She was unprepared for the emotion that hit her as they stared at each other, their earlier hostility gone. His face was so dear to her it hurt. Every feature, every line, every tattoo, had a place in her heart. She raised her hand and gently cupped the side of his face.

“I’m sorry I hurt you when I broke my promise.” She’d never intended to apologize to him. To survive Adam, she’d forced herself to look forward, to let go of the past, let go of hope.

But she had hurt Havel and it was clear the pain had festered over the years. He hadn’t forgotten nor had he let his feelings for her go.

She waited, awash in vulnerability. He could do what she’d done to him. He could crush her with his rejection.

He didn’t. “Thank you,” he said simply, then lifted her and set her on the mattress. “Time for bed.”

“I won’t…” She stopped, then corrected herself. “I can’t have sex with you.”

He gave her a lopsided smile. “Let’s start with sleep.”

She wanted to tell him that she would never be okay with sex, but figured since he was giving her a pass, she’d take it and keep her silence on the subject. If they truly were getting married, he’d eventually find out how broken she was.

“Okay,” she said softly.

“Your things are in the closet.”

He stepped away from the bed.

Leeza stood and walked past him, closing herself in the walk-in closet. She turned on the light and was shocked to discover a fully stocked closet of clothes, none of which were purchased on their shopping trip. In fact, the shopping bags with her new clothes were sitting untouched in the back of the closet.

Everything in this place – the clothes, the furniture, the kitchen appliances – suggested that Havel had planned on moving Leeza and Kris in here all along. It didn't make sense. Why hadn't he said anything?

Because he wanted to torture both of us by spending a night in my ex-husband’s bed, she thought, shivering with revulsion.

She wandered through the closet, looking at the clothes someone had painstakingly chosen for her. They were her style, but brighter, bolder. Things she probably wouldn’t have chosen for herself, but that she loved anyway.

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