Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Corey growled. “That’s fucking stupid.”
The room went dead silent. Corey glared at me while Val and Vito stared at him in awe. “Corey, it’s my job to protect you. I am the one who determines how to do that.”
“No. You can’t risk yourself like that. You need someone with you. You don’t have to do this alone, and you don’t have to make yourself a target.”
“I can handle this.”
“And X agrees?” Val asked.
“X has accepted my plan.”
“We’re going with you,” Vito said.
“No.” I’d had enough. It had been a mistake to touch Corey. I’d known that, but now, I couldn’t think straight about protecting him. I didn’t want to disappoint him, but I had to end this the fastest way possible, and confronting Lisa would bring her out in the open. She was so fucking arrogant. She’d think I would hold back like I had before. She still thought she had power over me, but she was wrong.
“You’re not coming with me. I don’t need you watching over me. I don’t need your help or anyone else’s.”
Obviously, that wasn’t true, but I wouldn’t correct myself. I was in control here. I was the one who got to call the shots, and I wasn’t going to forget that again.
Even if it means you end up alone?
That was how it was always going to end.
“We’re worried about you,” Vito said.
“That’s not necessary.”
Corey huffed.
“What if seeing her triggers another migraine?” Vito asked. His eyes went wide as if he knew he shouldn’t have asked. Val glared at him.
“How do you know about that?” I cut my gaze to Corey. His face was red, and he looked terrified.
“Pops, don’t—”
“You told them, didn’t you? You promised me you wouldn’t, but you went behind my back and called them.”
“He’s worried about you too,” Val said. “He knows you need help. What’s going to happen once he’s not here?”
“I’ll be on my own like I’ve always been,” I yelled, my words echoing in the large room.
Corey shook his head. “Dom, they needed to know.”
“That wasn’t your decision to make.” Tears stung my eyes, and I could barely breathe. Corey didn’t actually trust me to take care of him, and he was right, and it was more than I could deal with. His betrayal was too much. I was seconds from breaking down.
I pointed to the door. “Get out.”
Vito stood. “Pops, please. Let us—”
Val must have sensed how on the edge I was. He grabbed Vito’s arm and started pulling him toward the door. “We’ll talk to him later.”
“You too,” I said, scowling at Corey.
“I did it to help you.”
I shook my head. I couldn’t listen to him now. I was too angry, too hurt. I picked up a vase and hurled it across the room. It shattered against the wall, making Corey jump.
“Get out.”
“You want me to leave?”
“I want you to go to your room. I need to be alone. I told you I like my privacy. You’ve invaded it enough.”
Corey’s mouth dropped open. Then he clapped his hand over it and ran.
I’d told him I was a monster. Why the hell hadn’t he listened?
27
COREY
Iran to my room and slammed the door behind me, then sank to the floor as tears poured down my cheeks. I’d let myself fall for Dom, and now he was going off to get himself killed, hating me because I broke a promise just to prevent him from doing something stupid like he was already planning. Why should I even care? He didn’t care enough to tell me about his plan.
Maybe he would have.
No, he would have kissed me goodbye, and I might never have seen him again.
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
Maybe it’s Dom.
My breath caught, then I shook my head, angry at myself for the way my pulse had accelerated. I didn’t want to talk to him. Even if he wanted to apologize, what difference would it make? He didn’t want any help, didn’t want to be vulnerable with anyone.
What about last night? He was as vulnerable with you as anyone could be.
And he went right back to being a cold bastard as soon as we were no longer in private.
I can’t live like that. He doesn’t want more than sex with me. I thought I was okay with that, but I’m not. I need to get away from here.
Tears began to pour again as sobs racked my body. I was so fucking angry, but I didn’t want him to die. I didn’t want Lisa to win.
My phone started buzzing again, and I’d ignored it, but as soon as it stopped ringing, I felt a series of text notifications. I gave in and pulled it out to see who it was. Valentino.
Call me. We need to talk.
I didn’t want to talk to Valentino or anyone else. Vito had fucked everything up. I should be mad at him, but he also shouldn’t have to hide his concern for his father. Dom was the one I was truly angry with. He was pushing all of us away. And if he got himself killed…the last pieces of me I was holding together would shatter.