“I loved once, and it buried my heart in torment and my soul in hell. Now I live there permanently.”
She neared me and gripped my arm, her fingers digging into my jacket sleeve. “Then why did you come for me?” Anger laced her words.
I looked at her, slowly shaking my head. “Because I’d rather fuck a woman and know she craves me for me than lies about her love for me,” my voice tightened.
“I never lied about loving you,” she hissed.
“Why change your mind now, Zayne?” Salvatore came up behind me. “Yesterday, you crashed into my house demanding to take back your wife.” Steel lined his voice. “We had something good last night and she loves you.”
“Because I’m not sure this is for me,” I threw back, agitation ripping at my tendons. This was Ash and Trent all over again. Only, this time I wanted in, I wanted Ria and I didn’t care if she came with Salvatore, I fucking wanted this woman. “She was mine before she became yours,” I growled.
“Are you trying to break her heart on purpose?” Salvatore barked. “We’ve all been through fucking hell over the last couple of years, Zayne, not just you. Wake the fuck up?” he gritted. “Before I make you.”
I gripped the front of his shirt when Maddox dropped the glass in his hand and made a beeline for Julian, grabbed his pants legs, and snuck behind the man.
“Seriously you two?” Ria reproached. “You both just scared him.”
Before I could move, Salvatore walked over to Julian and dropped to his haunches. Maddox peeped around Julian’s thigh. “Hey, little guy.” Salvatore held out his hand. His eyes filled with fear, the child ducked his head behind Julian “I’m not going to hurt you, Maddox.” His voice was so soft, I didn’t think he had it in him to be that gentle with anyone. Then again, I’d seen him with Ria just now, he really loved her, hard fucking aside. He was gentle with her, he’d always be gentle with her.
I inched closer. “Give him your watch, Salvatore.”
He glanced at me over his shoulder, a confused look on his and I tipped my chin at his watch. “He’s drawn to anything on the wrist.”
Salvatore blinked, then nodding, he removed his watch and held it out. Immediately, Maddox reached out a hand without stepping from behind Julian.
He shook his head at Maddox. “If you want it, you need to come get it.” He pointed to a spot between his spread thighs. “Come on. I know you can do it, you want this, don’t you?” He waved the watch.
With his top lip rolled over his teeth, Maddox inched out from behind a smiling Julian. He took hesitant steps toward Salvatore. I glanced over at Ria, her smile gentle, Rowan’s one hand tucked in hers, the other with his thumb in his mouth, biting on his thumbnail, reminding me of Ria when she used to be nervous. She was no longer that girl. Now, she’d kick ass, now she was a mom and I think with her experiences she was now what I’d call. Indestructible. No one would break her or take from her. Not me and definitely not Salvatore. She was his weakness and ultimately mine. I had to walk away. This was their lives, their future not mine. Maybe somewhere out there someone existed, just for me and I’d get the love I deserved. I loved twice in my life.
I loved Ashrika but I loved Ria more.
Pulling in a deep breath, I turned to walk away as Maddox stood in front of Salvatore now, his eyes on the watch.
“Are you afraid, little guy?” Salvatore asked, when Maddox didn’t answer, he continued. “You know, I had a little brother once,” I heard his sharp intake of breath, “and I taught him something to do when he was afraid...”
My steps heavy, I walked toward the door.
“I taught him to place his hands over his ears, cover them tight, close his eyes and listen to the ocean until...”
My steps froze every inch of skin in quick goosebumps, every vein trickling with ice-cold blood, the hairs at the back of my neck on end. Slowly, I turned. “...everything else goes away and his breathing sounded like a magical sleeping dinosaur.” I finished for him as Salvatore, with his eyes on me, slowly rose to his feet, the watch slipping silently into Maddox’s hand.
