He grabbed me roughly and dragged me back to him, gripping me around my waist.
“Wait Catalina, please. I know I shouldn’t have let last night happen.”
Well, at least the asshole can admit it.
“But I’ve missed you.”
I started to pull away, but his grip tightened on my waist.
“Just hear me out please, then I’ll let you go.”
I stiffened, but finally nodded. He breathed out in a whoosh.
“I was falling in love with my wife,” I felt my body lock up, “and didn’t know how to deal with it. This isn’t normal in our world, and you know that.”
I listened quietly, not planning to give him anything.
“I felt like I would lose control if I admitted I loved you. My feelings for you. So, I did the most stupid thing a man could do.”
I took a breath, but needed to ask the question. “But that wasn’t the first time you had been with her, was it?” My voice was hard.
I felt his grip on me tighten, possibly causing a bruise. His voice came out in a hard whisper. “No. It was the fourth time. But it was the only time I initiated it.”
Like that was an excuse. Like that explained anything.
“You were with her, not telling me about it, while supposedly having feelings for me. Is that what you’re saying?”
“It's complicated, Catalina.”
No, it's really not. You didn’t see me chasing after exes. I was loyal to you. But you couldn’t respect me enough to do the same. Or at least tell me in the beginning that you planned to have a mistress.”
“I wasn’t planning anything.” He gritted out.
“Accept that last time, for me to walk in on you with that goddamned whore.” My voice was lethal. I tried to pull away again, but he flipped me over on my back to face him as he leaned over me.
I could see the pain in his face. “We men do dumb shit all the time.” I rolled my eyes, and started to push his chest. He held me tightly in his arms. “That doesn’t mean I love you any less. You may not believe me, and that’s my fault. But I do love you, Catalina.”
Then he let me go and rolled away. I left the room as quickly as I could, even though I was sore as hell. We fell into a routine of neutral territory after that, but I stayed in the guest room. I figured we could at least live together without the chaos. I had enough of that in my own childhood home. I didn’t want that here either.
And now here I was pacing our damned living room, waiting for the asshole to get home, because I was scared shitless. I heard some of his men talking in the house earlier, when they didn’t think I was around, and now I knew he had gone after Nico Cattaneo with Dom Gutierrez and Maximo Ruiz. Anything could happen. As much as I was angry with my husband, even disgusted with him, I did not want him dead. That thought made my stomach clench, and I had to hold down the bile rising up.I heard noise at the front door, waiting impatiently, wringing my hands together. I could feel myself sweating with dread until Carlo came around the corner, looking agitated, until he saw me standing there. He stopped in his steps, staring at me intently.
Without thinking twice about what I was doing, I moved toward him swiftly, and as I got closer he clenched his fists to his side. I almost hesitated, but threw my arms around his neck and pushed myself into his chest.
“What the hell were you thinking, going after Nico?”
His body softened against mine, and his arms came around me, engulfing me in a hug. I missed his hugs, damn him. I used to feel safe in them. Until he betrayed me, and I couldn’t stand to be near him. I could feel him bury his face in my hair, making me feel all sorts of warmth and relief.
“I had Dom and Maximo with me. Or more of I was with them, just as backup if needed. Maximo took care of Nico himself. The Fire Dragons MC ran like little bitches when they realized that Dom had both Maximo and my men to help. Stupid fucks!”
My face was still pressed to his chest, not wanting to move, loving this space in his arms.
“Does that mean Nico is dead?”
“Yes.” He paused, then added, “Dom’s wife Sophie is almost about to have her baby, so we think that’s why Nico tried to attack now. He probably figured he had Dom and Maximo at a disadvantage. And he didn’t know they asked me to be involved.”
I pulled back slightly, my arms still around his neck, looking up at him. He was so handsome right now. His hands were on my waist.
What happened to Eliana?”
