“It was a drunken mistake, Ray.” Zena neared me. “And I didn’t know how to tell you I was pregnant.”
“So, you make me believe you were dead?” I pivoted, levelling her with a deep scowl despite the tears I struggled to hold back glazing my vision. “Do you have any fucking idea what I went through? The pain of knowing that I could do nothing to save you from that accident. The agony of that last fucking call, knowing I couldn’t apologize for making you cry.” I blinked and a single tear escaped. I swiped at it in anger. “I fucking died inside, Zena. I couldn’t live, couldn’t breathe, torn from the knowledge that our last goodbye was me making an ass of myself. Do you know what it felt like?”
“It wasn’t her fault, Rayden.” Lorenzo reached out a hand to touch me and I shoved it away.
“Don’t.” I muttered through clenched teeth. “Don’t you dare touch me,” my eyes threw daggers at him, wishing they could rip through the core of him. “I’m leaving, you’re both welcome to each other.”
“You can’t,” Lorenzo’s soft words took me by surprise.
“Can’t?” My laugh was caustic. “I’m not a child you can order around, Lorenzo. I’m a man now. I’m older and less stupid for trusting the wrong people. I’m capable of making decisions. I want the fuck out of this place.”
“No!” His eyes met mine, hard and threatening. “You’re not going anywhere until you calm the fuck down.”
“Calm down! Are you fucking kidding me!You,” I spat out the word, “break my heart and I’m supposed to calm the fuck down.” I shoved at his chest and he staggered backward. “Youlied to me.” I pushed his chest again and he let me. His gaze holding mine, I wasn’t sure if it was pain I was seeing there but it sure as fuck didn’t match what I felt at that moment—every part of me ripping into tiny shreds. I wanted to tear him from limb to fucking limb just to let him feel that pain. “I hate you! Do you hear me. I fucking hate you. I thought you were a friend, I thought you—” I broke off, the burn of unshed tears singed my throat, stalling my words.
Annoyed by the weakness clinging to me like a second skin, I shoved him once more. Before I could anticipate his move, he grabbed my arms and pulled me into an embrace.
“What the fuck!” I fought against his hold.
But he was much bigger, much stronger and more resolute it seemed. He held me tight, squeezing until I sagged in his hold and my head fell to his chest. Pain over the happenings of the last few months draining my need to stay strong, to show them I could guard my heart again.
I failed.
The tears I was desperate to restrain, fell.
“I’m sorry, Rayden,” he whispered against the top of my head. “And you’re right, we should’ve told you, but I can’t let you go while you’re hurting.”
For just a moment, I let his soft words wash over me, allowing myself to be calmed, letting my aching heart find solace, peace. Then I remembered this was what he wanted. Lorenzo relished control and he wanted to control me like he did everything and everyone in his life. Irritation, once again, seeped its way into my pores and using all the strength I could muster, I shoved against his chest. Releasing me, he stood back and raked a slow gaze over me.
“I don’t care what you want, Lorenzo, I’m leaving. I have powerful friends now. He’ll get me out of here.” I scowled. “And I’m taking Zena with me.” I heard her gasp behind me, not sure when I decided I wanted her back.
My threat didn’t seem to faze him. “Zayne Morrone?”
Nothing prepared me for that shocker. I gaped at him. “You know him?” He merely shrugged. Then it hit me. “Wait. You knew I was coming here, didn’t you? Is that why it was so easy for me to get inside?”
A smiled creeped across his face. “I once told you, if you wanted to get into a place undetected. Don’t—”
“Don’t fucking patronize me. I don’t have time for your shit.” Zayne Morrone was going to meet my fist, if it was the last thing I did. All that covert operation shit. For what?
“Rayden, please.”
I heard the desperation in Zena’s voice, cautioning me to watch my tongue with this mafia man we both knew could kill me for my insolence. I knew better. Maybe I was cocky, maybe not but I was sick of people telling me what I could and couldn’t do, especially people intent on screwing with my heart.
“Did you know?” I asked Lorenzo, this time reining in my annoyance.
“I got the call a few minutes ago,” he replied. “And before you go off again, understand that I might’ve let you in but getting out won’t be that easy.” There was no missing the underlying threat in his words. He turned away to leave.
“Why?” I muttered. “Why would you want me here?”
He glanced at me over his shoulder. “You know why.” Then he was gone.
“Ray,” Zena neared me. “I’m so sorry.”
I turned to look at her, suddenly noticing just how different she looked to the woman I knew. Gone was the bubbly spiritedness, replaced by a mature, glowing woman—a mother and even if I hated to admit it, the look suited her, it added to her beauty in more ways than I could describe. Regardless and after all the pain my heart had suffered, I couldn’t give in. I no longer had it in me to feel anything for anyone except anger—one so profound, it messed with my ability to understand what just happened.
“I’m tired, annoyed and now I’m a fucking captive again, I need some time to digest this, Zena,” my words spewed out a little harsher than I intended. Strangely, I didn’t care. Maybe it was time I focused on my needs and not on what everyone else wanted me to do.
She sighed, palmed my cheek and nodded. “I’ll ask Nina to prepare the guest bedroom for you. It’s the one next to mine. I’ll also ask her to make you something to eat.”
