Page 23 of Bound

He immediately handed over his phone.

“Is this the only thing that has the video on it?”

“Yes. I swear.”

I took the phone and put it in the pocket of my suit jacket and stood up. “I don’t think I can let you live.” I lifted my gun and shot Bennett dead.

“Call the cleaner,” I told Matteo. “Pay him double.”

I had a guy that cleaned up the messes I made. And Matteo and I needed to get back home to our women.

With the money in tow, I headed back to the SUV and waited for Matteo as he made the necessary phone call.

***

I tossed the briefcase to Kara as she lay in bed. “You can put this back in your bank.”

She immediately sat up. “What happened?”

“Did you know you had a step-brother? His name is Bennett.”

“What?” She blinked.

I paced the bedroom floor. “Yeah. Your step brother was the one blackmailing you.”

“Where is he now?”

“He’s fucking dead, Kara. I killed him.”

She was speechless.

“Why don’t you come lie down?” she suggested.

“I have half a mind to punish you for not telling me in the first place.”

“Punish me?”

“Yes. I want to punish you. I told you I was a madman, Kara. I couldn’t promise to control the urges when they arose.”

“So, what? You want to fucking hit me?”

“I don’t know what I want to do.” I fisted my own hair.

Now she stood toe to toe with me. “I fucking dare you, Damon. Cause it’ll be the last time you lay a hand on me.”

Staring into my eyes, she gripped my face in her hands. “You need to calm the fuck down. Take a few deep breaths. I know you don’t want to hurt me.” She undressed me and guided me toward the shower to get the blood off me. A moment later, she slipped off her nightgown and joined me.

“I’m sorry,” I cried. Tears were streaming down my face. “I’m so fucking sorry.”

She took me in her arms. “It’s okay. It’s okay,” she reassured me.

My heart was shattered at how much I wanted to inflict pain on Kara. I knew it was because the adrenaline was sky high. But the hot water of the shower was calming me. And Kara… her love was calming me as well.

“I don’t know what I would do without you,” I told her.

“Lucky for you, you don’t have to find out.”

“Have I told you how much I love you?”

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