And you might see a text you weren’t supposed to see.
From your wife’s ex-boyfriend.
Enzo: You looked beautiful tonight.
“What the fuck?”I whisper while Sophia’s humming continues in the next room.
Why the fuck is Enzo texting her, and how would he know what she looked like tonight?
He answers my question with a follow-up message.
Enzo:I was supposed to attend, but I decided I can’t trust myself to be a good boy around you.I was watching from the corner when you walked into the hotel, and you took my breath away.
The world is going red.Soon, the humming and splashing from the shower fade, thanks to the pounding in my ears.I don’t know who I want to tear into first.The fuckface sending these messages, or the woman who has clearly been entertaining them.This doesn’t read like a first text after years of silence.She has his fucking contact programmed into her phone.
Careful.Control.
Here I am again, clinging to sanity by my fingertips.
All of the old impulses bubble under the surface.
Wouldn’t it be nice to let go?Give in to the rage licking the edges of my consciousness like flames.I could say to hell with the consequences and indulge all of my worst, darkest desires.
“Earth to Dante.”
It’s her voice that cuts through the storm that’s started to rage, though it doesn’t calm anything.A hurricane is tearing through me by the time I turn toward Sophia with her phone in my hand.She’s standing in the doorway, wrapped in my robe, wearing a confused smile.
“I got worried.What’s taking so long?”
That’s when she notices what I’m holding.“Why do you have my phone?Are you trying to go through it?Dante?—”
“One question…” I’m almost shaking from the strain of holding myself back, choosing every word carefully for fear of what will happen otherwise as I cross the floor.“Did you send the first text to your ex, or did he reach out first?”
She’s still gaping in shock when I thrust the phone her way.“Unlock it.I want to seeeverymessage.Don’t think about refusing.”
“You’re out of your fucking mind.”She snatches the phone from me, closing her hand around it, pressing it to her chest.“You’re sick.You don’t even have the first idea.”
“I would if my wife would stop hiding shit from me.He was watching us tonight,” I tell her, making her eyes go wide.Her surprise seems sincere.“He can’t trust himself to be a good boy around you, so he steered clear.What else has he sent you, and what have you said back?”
And why do you need him when you have me?
No.I’m not asking that question.I’m not stooping that low.
“You know what the saddest part about this is?”she whispers, flat and low.“There really is an innocent explanation.And I might have given it to you if you didn’t come at me the way you did.”
“Don’t give me that bullshit,” I snarl, taking her by the wrist and squeezing until she winces.“Unlock the phone.Show me why he thinks it’s okay to send you what he just did.”
Her eyes dart over my face, a flush creeping up her neck and staining her cheeks, while her chin starts to tremble.Pain?Disappointment?Do I give a fuck?
“You would have to ask him why he thinks it’s okay,” she whispers.“I’ve never encouraged it.I’ve been trying to get Alessandro’s number from him ever since he first reached out.Especially after we got the package, I thought I could help.”
“Bullshit,” I snap.“That’s very convenient.”
Her lip lifts in a sneer.“You can decide whether you want to believe me or you want to make a raging jackass out of yourself.I honestly don’t care,” she concludes.“But Iamsorry for you.”
It’s almost too sad to be funny.Barking out a laugh, I shake my head.“Sure, turn this all around on me.Straight out of the cheater’s playbook.”
“Cheater?”Her mouth falls open.“You’re pathetic.Now I see why your Papa had to arrange a marriage for you, since I can’t imagine why anyone would want to subject themselves to you willingly.”
