“I suppose you think that’s you?”
“It could be.” She glanced up at the staircase. “I’ve been there for him on numerous occasions. He knows he can rely on me for anything.”
“I’ll bet.”
“My advice to you is once you walk out of here, you keep going.”
“I didn’t ask for your advice,” I replied.
“Milo once fucked me, and mid-climax—mine, not his—two of his associates walked into the room, and he casually held a conversation while I was in his lap and he was still inside me.”
What the hell is wrong with you?“And you’re proud of that?”
“The look on your face says it all. He would never do that with you. Do you know why?” she asked.
“Because he respects me.”
“No, because you don’t belong in his world and he knows that.”
“You don’t know anything about us.”
“I know that it’s over for you, because if it wasn’t, you wouldn’t be back in those atrocious clothes, looking like you haven’t slept in three days. It’s better you found out now before you got in too deep. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go and do what I do best for Milo.”
“What’s that?”
“Ease his stress. Make him forget. Whatever he needs.” She started up the staircase but then turned around and looked me over. “I do hope he lets you keep all the clothes, because you could use them.”
Just like that, the witch flew up the steps without a broom, making her way to Milo as fast as she could. There wasn’t anything I could do to stop her.
As much as I hated to admit it, Camila was right. I didn’t understand who he was, because if I did, I would be the one standing by his side.
Instead, I had to learn to navigate a life that didn’t include him. Easier said than done.
THREE
Milo
Opening my palm,I stared at the bracelet. My link to Sable was gone within minutes. The immense rage that plunged into me over how this all went down somehow dissipated into a bizarre sense of relief.
Letting her go was the only option. My family was protected now that her brother wasn’t in our lives, and she was safer without me. The war with Medina was about to escalate and I had to be at the top of my game. Now that the other prominent cities in the organization were on board with his plan, we had a bigger fight than we anticipated.
I couldn’t guarantee Sable’s safety. As long as she was with me, she would be a target. Like my mother had been for my father and like Lissia was for Marchello. I didn’t need that kind of distraction. My family depended on me, and now I had to prove I could handle whatever came our way.
The goodbye kiss was selfish. The false hope in her expression gutted me. I never meant to make her cry. I only wanted to feel her lips on mine one last time.
A soft knock on the door drew me from my thoughts.Could Sable be back?
“Come in,” I said as I dropped the bracelet into my inside pocket.
When Camila came through the door, a wave of disappointment seeped into my chest. It wasn’t Sable and that realization rattled me more than it should. How was I going to let go?
Would it ever be Sable again?
“Hey.” Camila came in and shut the door behind her. “Are you ignoring my calls?”
“Not at all.” I had to put Sable out of my head and get back to business. “I’ve been busy.”
“Too busy for me?” She kissed my cheek, resting her hand on my shoulder. “Is it because you’re brooding?”
