Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 95431 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95431 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
“This is not what you think. Julissa felt like someone was following her. I sent Adriano to stay with her to make sure things were—”
“For two months … this is where he has been for two months? Do I look stupid to you?” She throws her hands up. “No, do not answer that. Your actions already have. You don’t respect me.
“I told you I would not have this. I will not share you with another. You gave her my bodyguard? My friend. What the fuck were you thinking?”
“Symphony,” I bark.
I know she’s upset, but she’s never talked to me like this, and I won’t allow it to begin now. The fact of the matter is someone sent killers after who they thought was my wife.
That’s the fact that’s ringing loudest in my tired brain. Not someone; this was Leonardo. I know that without a doubt. He’s the only Italian stupid enough to set something like this in motion.
“You are not and never have had to share me with anyone. She needed help. She’s not like you; she can’t protect herself and she doesn’t have me. I sent Adriano to help her.
“At no point have I been to see her or involved in her life. This is the first time since the first week I sent him to be with her that Adriano has reported anything about her to me. I told him he should only call if there was danger.
“My mind has been on so many other things, on us. I haven’t had the time to pull him from watching over her. It slipped my mind.”
“Right, it slipped your mind because I haven’t been asking after him. Do you love her?”
“No.”
“Am I going to have to kill her?”
“Sim, she is nothing for you to worry about. I was messed up after you left without a word. I needed someone to talk to.
“She was a friend. Yes, I tried to date her, but that didn’t work out because I was and have always been in love with you. I have always wanted you.
“The only reason I even thought about trying to move on was because I thought I hurt you and we couldn’t move forward. I just didn’t know what I did or how to fix it—”
“So you give her my bodyguard?”
“Yes,” I bellow. “Because I hate him. I hate the way he looks at you. I hate that he has been with you all this time while I have ached to be near you.
“I wanted him out of my face. I was tired of watching him look at you, so I sent him away. Now I’m happy I did. She could be dead, and I wouldn’t have known it was because someone was looking for you.”
“I don’t want to talk to you.”
“You don’t have to talk, but I need you to listen. You are the most important person in the world to me. Everything I do is for you.
“If I had to choose between you and her, it would be you every time. I’m sorry I have hurt you. I never meant for that to happen.
“I was trying to help a friend who helped me find my way back to you. I was dying without you. Nothing in my world made sense.
“What was the point in all of this if I couldn’t have you? It started with me wanting to protect you, but over the years, you began to squirrel your way into my heart. I thought I had hurt you and I ended up in a dark place because of it.”
“I hear your words, but they do not fix your actions. You knew how I felt. You should have told me.”
“I should have.”
Symphony
Right now, I am so mad at myself. I trusted Michael to be honest with me. I thought we had become partners.
If he doesn’t care about her, why would he help her and send her my bodyguard? If he is jealous of Adriano, who is my friend, how does he think this makes me feel?
I huff and punch the bed. How can he snore like this when I’m so upset and can’t get my thoughts to settle? I want to beat him over his head in his sleep.
Before I do something silly, I get up and climb from the bed. I need some space. My feelings are jumbled and wrapped in anger.
I look at my holster, but I’m too angry to touch it. I can’t be sure that I won’t pull a pistol and fire it. At the moment, I want to shoot him right in his butt.
“Stupid husband. Stinking liar,” I grumble as I turn to leave the room.
I stomp my way through the house. It feels so empty without all the guards that are usually here. Since we left with the family, our men are all coming in tomorrow.