Rory
Icouldn’tbreathe.Itwas like my lungs were frozen, refusing to expand, as what Dario implied sank in, along with the realization of how truly fucked I was.
When I remained silent, Gio’s uncle dropped the bomb that had the power to blow up my entire world. “Hiding Rory has been a pet project of mine for nearly a decade.”
“Tell me he’s lying,” my husband commanded.
Tears burned behind my eyes as I whispered, “I can’t.” But only because, until this moment, I had no idea he’d been the one behind those anonymous envelopes.
With the full force of Gio’s anger shifting in my direction, he roared, “Have you been working with him this whole time?”
“No.” I shook my head violently. “I didn’t know it was him. I swear.”
“Get this traitorous bitch out of my sight.” No one moved a muscle, staring at him with wide eyes, so he snapped his fingers, booming, “NOW!”
Matteo gripped my elbow. “Rory, it’s time to go.”
“No!” I wrenched out of his hold, reaching out for Gio and catching nothing but air when he stepped back. “Gio, please. You have to believe me.”
His dark eyes had gone so cold that I shivered. “You’ve made it exceedingly clear how you feel about me. Makes perfect sense that you’d have teamed up with the man working to undermine my authority and steal my position. And yet I’m the fool who couldn’t see the truth until he was slapped in the face with it in front of every man I command.” Surging forward, his hand found my throat and squeezed as he seethed, “Do you haveanyidea how weak you’ve made me look? It’ll be a miracle if half the goddamn room doesn’t defect to Dario’s side after witnessing that I’ve lost the loyalty of my own fucking wife!”
With my windpipe being crushed, I could barely manage a squeak in reply.
“You fucking disgust me,” Gio spat before releasing me suddenly.
Stumbling back, I fell against a solid chest, and two hands locked down on my biceps.
“We’re leaving.” This time, when Matteo spoke, there was no room for argument as he practically dragged me away, but not before I heard Gio scream in frustration that Dario had gotten away.
If I weren’t carrying his baby, I had no doubt Gio would have killed me on the spot. Traitors didn’t get to live, not in this world, anyway. And in his mind, that’s what I was.
He’d gotten his revenge for my running without giving him an heir first, but now my life was truly in danger.
The minute I delivered his heir might be my last one on this earth.
Gio didn’t come to bed the night of the party. Or the next night. Or the one after that.
Sleep eluded me, and while I could have easily chalked it up to the pregnancy and needing to pee at all hours, I knew it was because I didn’t have my husband lying beside me. And try as I might, I couldn’t imagine a single scenario in which he might be open and receptive to hearing me plead my case. He’d made up his mind about me the minute Dario uncovered the depth of my betrayal. There was no coming back from this.
On the fourth day, there came a knock on my bedroom door. Rushing across the room, I flung it open, only to sag in disappointment when Summer stood on the other side.
“Hey,” my sister-in-law said softly. “I came over to check on you.”
I stepped back to allow her entry, muttering wryly, “Not much point in checking in on a dead woman walking.”
Summer sighed. “I know right now it feels like the world is ending, but it’ll get better.”
Humorless laughter burst free of my chest. “You don’t know Gio like I do. What I’ve done is unforgivable.” Throat closing up as the gravity of it crashed down on me, I barely managed to stifle a sob. “I’m not going to get to watch my son grow up.”
“Oh, Rory.” She pulled me into a hug, murmuring words of comfort while letting me cry on her shoulder.
Sniffling, I withdrew, wiping at the tears staining my cheeks. “Sorry. I’m a mess.”
Like the mother inside her couldn’t help herself, she tucked a strand of tangled red hair behind my ear. “I think you’re just tired. When’s the last time you slept?”
I shrugged. “Before the party.”
Summer nodded. “Figured as much with the dark circles under your eyes. You’re growing a person, which, I know from experience, is enough to zap you of all your energy. You need to rest.”
