Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
“How long was she in that line of business?”
“About four years. Then the Oath found her, and she ran.”
He gave a slight nod. “That girl’s had a hard life.”
I pitied her more than I showed. I pitied her the moment she begged for my help and was willing to do anything to earn it. “Yeah, she has.” I took a drink from the glass and put it down.
“Where does that leave the two of you?”
The second I’d walked up to the two of them, I could feel the tension. See that she was pale as a ghost. That he was uncomfortable and even a little angry. My stomach had dropped and my hands went numb, but I didn’t show it. “Doesn’t change anything.”
Approval moved through his eyes, and he gave a nod. “Good for you, Luca.”
“I don’t want to fuck this up.” I still didn’t want to fuck it up. Even knowing she slept with one of my boys—for money and for free—didn’t change my perspective. “What would you do if this was Fleur?”
“Fuck,” he blurted. “Don’t do that to me. She’s my wife. It’s different.”
“If this was before she was your wife.”
“She’s always been my wife,” he said. “From the start, she was the one.”
I continued to stare at him and hoped he’d answer the question.
“No,” he finally said. “It wouldn’t change anything. I’d want to punch Carvel in the face, but it wouldn’t change anything.”
I knew I’d made the right decision because I felt no anger or resentment. If I’d chosen to end things with her, I’d be drinking myself into a stupor and smashing vases.
“Talked to Carvel?”
“No.”
“Hash it out with him and put this behind you—and go back to being happy.”
I knew he would be at headquarters tonight, so I stopped by. I thought it was better to catch him off guard, so whatever he felt about the situation wouldn’t have a chance to simmer and then boil.
I walked in and found him yelling on the phone. “You know we don’t do extensions. I’ll put you last on the rotation, but that’s the best I can do.” He hung up and shoved the phone back into his front pocket. That was when he noticed me, and he stilled.
I entered farther into the room and dropped into one of the ornate wooden armchairs.
He continued to stare at me.
I nodded to the other chair for him to join me.
He hesitated before he took a seat, slouched, one ankle on the opposite knee, arms crossed. “How do you want to do this?”
“I’m fine with it. Let’s put it behind us.”
He slowly cocked his head like he didn’t understand what I said. “Put it behind us?”
“Yes.”
“Let me tell you my side of the story—”
“I don’t need your side, Carvel.” Nor did I want the details. Didn’t want to be reminded that he knew my woman’s body like I did. “It’s in the past. I don’t judge her for how she earned money, and I don’t care that the two of you were somewhat involved.”
He studied my face in search of a lie. “Sleeping with the same girl isn’t new. We do it all the time. But being in a relationship with one of them…is a little weird.”
“It’s not weird for me.”
“Really?” he challenged.
“You seem to have the problem with it, not me.”
“If you’d let me tell you my side of the story, you’d know why.” He stared me down.
I stared back.
“We were more than just somewhat involved.”
I believed Aliénor. I trusted her. And that faith wouldn’t falter now. “You’re entitled to your perception, Carvel.”
“My perception?” he asked incredulously. “I fucked her without—”
“Be very careful how you tread here.”
“I’m just saying it’s more than what she made it out to be.”
“How do you know? I haven’t told you what was said.”
“If she told you the whole truth, then you would know I wouldn’t want you to see her.”
My stomach tightened in discomfort.
He continued his stare like we were opponents rather than allies on the same side.
“It’s been years, Carvel. Let’s move on.”
“I really cared about her. And she knows that. There’s no scenario where she doesn’t know exactly how I felt.”
I felt a tight cord around my neck. Felt it around my arms and the increase in the pulse underneath my skin.
“And then she just disappeared. Her apartment was abandoned, she dropped her number, and I looked for her for months but couldn’t find her. Now, I guess part of the reason for that was that she gave me a different name. I had no idea what the fuck happened to her.”
I wasn’t sure if I should share those details. If she wanted him to know, she would have already told him. That proved that she’d told the truth, that his feelings weren’t reciprocated. Otherwise, she would have shared with him as she shared with me. “Carvel, you know I’m not the kind of guy to cross boundaries like that. But this relationship is already solidified now, and I’m not going to walk away just because you two had a past. I’m sorry that it bothers you, but I’m invested at this point, and I’m not giving her up.”