I push off the counter, shaking my head. “You should’ve told me.”
She exhales, looking away. “And you should have been honest with me about who you were, but instead, you went on a killing spree, assassinating my father and his men.”
My mouth fills with acid. “Those men raped and murdered my mother. You’re right. You were just part of the mission.” I spit out the words, wanting to hurt her like I’m hurting now. I never intended to fall for the mission, but I fell hard for the spina velenosa, much to mypoor judgement.
Her face hardens, erasing the girl I knew. “I know exactly what my part was, Dan. I don’t need you to confirm what I already know. But know that I’ve had my own mission these last thirteen years. And it involves keeping my son safe.” She pulls a knife from the block behind me. The cool tip of the blade digs under my chin. “If you or anyone threatens to hurt me or my son, I won’t hesitate to use whatever weapon I have at my disposal to protect what’s mine.”
I lower my voice so only she can hear. “He’s mine too.”
Her throat bobs, but she holds her ground. “I told you, he can never be yours. His life depends on it.” Her eyes snap to mine, sharp and furious, like the knife at my chin.
I step back, dragging a hand through my hair. “Your husband?” It all becomes clear now.
She places the knife back in the block and nods. “He would kill us both if he ever found out the truth.”
My chest tightens. “I’d never let that happen.” We stare at each other for a beat too long. All this time, she kept him a secret to keep him safe in her world. The woman before me is a fucking warrior and I don’t know if I want to spank her ass raw or make love to her all over again.
Needing to touch her, I close the distance between us and wrap her hair around my fingers.
She tilts her head, her mouth parting as if submitting to me, a tremble in her breath.
It takes every ounce of strength I have not to take what I need. My emotions warring in my head, part of me needing to devour her, the other wanting to destroy her. Our panting breaths mingle together. “We’ll figure this out another time. But I am staying for dinner.”
Her jaw tightens, and for a second, I think she’s going to tell me to leave.
But then Angelos’ voice drifts in from the next room. “Mum, do you want the salt and pepper chips you like?”
Rose closes her eyes for a beat, exhaling slowly. “Yes, love.”
Dinner feels like walking a tightrope.
Angelos chats easily at the table, unaware that we’re in the eye of the storm. I observe him, noting the way his nose scrunches when he laughs—same as mine. The way he shovels food onto his fork without looking—same as Dom used to. Every tiny detail is another punch to the gut, another reminder of how much I’ve missed.
Rose barely eats. She keeps glancing between us, like she’s waiting for the world to crack open and swallow the dinner table whole.
“So, Angelos,” I say, leaning back in my chair, playing it cool. “What do you do when you’re not picking out top-tier Chinese takeaways?”
He shrugs, slurping down a noodle. “Football. PlayStation. Hanging out with my mates.”
I raise my brow. “Football, huh? You any good?”
His eyes light up. “I play centre-mid for my school team. We made it to the cup finals.”
Pride flares in my chest, even though I have no damn right to feel it. That’s my kid.
“What team do you support?” I ask, already bracing myself.
“City.”
I choke on my drink. “City?”
His brow furrows. “What? You a United fan or something?”
“Course I am.” I shake my head in mock disappointment. This is devastating news.
Angelos grins, pointing a fork at me. “You realise City’sbetter, right?”
Rose groans, rubbing her temples. “Here we go…”
