“I’m so sorry,” I whisper as I stand at the edge of the bed, taking one last look at the man who has quickly become my everything. “I love you.” I blow him a kiss and creep out of the room before I break down.
Padlocking my emotions as best I can, I sneak out of the house and dart into the woods, staying close to the trees and trying to stay hidden. I don’t know how many men Fiero has keeping watch at night, but I’m hoping I’ll have enough time to get away before they can rouse their boss.
Racing out of the trees, closest to the dock, I push my legs as fast as they will go, running across the grass and onto the wooden walkway. Panels creak underneath my pounding feet, and adrenaline courses through my veins as I sprint toward the two crafts moored at the end. Loosening the rope from the cleat on the bigger vessel, I toss it onto the deck before jumping on board, dropping my bag, and moving to the helm.
My fingers are trembling as I punch the code into the touchpad on the console, panicking when nothing happens. Fiero explained there is no key with this model, only a code, but it’s not fucking working, and I’m close to hyperventilating. None of Fiero’s men has approached me, which can only mean one thing.
“Come on,” I snap, punching the code over and over, crying out of sheer frustration when the boat doesn’t start.
My breath hitches when the boat sways as something heavy lands on board. All the fine hairs lift on the back of my neck, and I know he’s here. Leaning over the console, I give into the pain and release a flurry of tears. I can’t even do this right. Wracking sobs burst from the very depths of my soul as I realize the inevitable.
Fiero says nothing at first as he straightens me up and pulls me into his arms. His large palm rubs up and down my back as I sob and hiccup and fall apart again. “I changed the code,” he calmly explains, continuing to soothe me with his touch. “After our excursion because I suspected you might run, but I thought we were beyond that now.” Pain flares in his eyes as he tips my head up. “I hoped you wouldn’t run from me now, but you scared me earlier. I woke when some instinct forced my eyes to open. When I found you gone, I just knew, and then Dino called me.” His thumbs brush the tears from under my eyes. “You’remy wife, Valentina. If you hurt, I hurt.”
“I’m sorry.” My voice is scratchy, my throat raw from too much crying. “You’re going to wish I wasn’t.”
He shakes his head, peering deep into my eyes. “Never.”
“You don’t know. You can’t say that.” More sobs burst from my chest. “It hurts, Fiero.” I clutch my sore chest. “It hurts, and I don’t want you to know this pain.”
“I’m already in pain, my love. Seeing you like this is killing me.” He kisses me softly. “Running away is not the answer.” He hugs me close. “We’re a team, kitten. We don’t run from our problems. We tackle them head-on.”
“I’m scared to tell you this.”
“I’m scared to hear it, but you need to tell me because imagining what it might be is probably worse.” He eases back, taking my hand and squeezing it. “Nothing you say will take me from you.Nothing, Valentina. I am going nowhere.” He thumps his free hand over his chest. “You own me, body, heart, and soul. I couldn’t live without you now even if I tried.” His eyes glimmer with unshed tears. “You’re my person, and it’s going to be okay. Whatever it is, we’ll handle it together. You won’t lose me. I promise.” His eyes radiate with resolve and blatant honesty, and something settles inside me. “I already know this is about Cruz, and I have theories, but I’d rather hear the truth from you.”
36
FIERO
My wife is shaking and shivering all over as I carry her back to the house, wearing only sweats and sneakers. I went into full panic mode when I woke to an empty bed, but I knew she couldn’t have gotten far.
Knots twist in my gut at the thought of what she has to tell me. I’m not going to like it. My calls with Cristian and Cat confirmed my suspicions, but they are as in the dark as me. Seeing Cristian triggered Valentina, and that isn’t anything good.
There was talk of Cruz traveling regularly to Miami because of a woman, but I didn’t pay much heed to it at the time. None of us did because it was his usual MO. Which is why I never considered that woman could be Valentina, but it’s looking like it probably was. Although Cruz was married, he had women stashed everywhere. He was a serial cheater. Apparently, his wife was aware, and it’s not like she was faithful either.
The thought of that bastard Cruz putting his hands anywhere near Valentina sends me into a murderous rage. But it’s nothing on the dark anger coursing through my veins at the thought of him hurting my kitten. It’s almost more than I can bear. But this isn’t about me. I need to bury my feelings and put my needs aside to be here for Valentina.
What I feel doesn’t matter. She’s the one who went through it, and it’s my job as her husband to understand, support, and help her overcome this.
Dino opens the front door for me, looking at Valentina with concerned eyes. I nod my thanks as I step into our house, and he pulls the door shut behind us.
I walk into the living room and set my kitten down on the couch, removing her jacket and sneakers and covering her in a blanket before propping her up with a bunch of cushions. “Don’t move. I’ll be back.”
I snag a clean top from the basket in the laundry room, slipping it over my head as I make us some hot chocolate. If she hadn’t drank so much earlier, I’d make her a hot whiskey for the shock, but I’m not sure her system could handle it.
Valentina is sitting up, with her back against the arm of the couch, wrapped under the blanket, looking pale and tired when I return. “Drink this.” I hand her a mug of hot chocolatey goodness. “And tell me in your own time. There is no rush.” I sit at the other end of the couch, kicking off my sneakers and lifting my bare feet to the leather. I want to pull her into my lap and hold her while she unburdens herself, but I’m sensing she needs a little space, and I don’t want to crowd her.
She sips her drink in silence for a few minutes before repositioning the cushions around her as she sits cross-legged. “This is good, thank you.”
I squeeze her knee over the blanket as I drink my drink, trying to brace myself for this.
“I love you,” she whispers with fresh tears in her eyes. “I love you so much, and I’m so sorry.”
“I know, baby, and it’s okay.”
“I just didn’t know how I could tell you. I’ve wanted to, but I’m so scared you’ll look at me differently. It seemed less painful to live without you than to be rejected and pushed away.”
I open my mouth to protest, but she shakes her head.
