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“That’s not—”
“I haven’t slept with anyone since you, and before you ask, the last time I had sex was a year before I met you. I’m not lying. And if you think I’m that kind of girl, then maybe you shouldn’t be in Liam’s life at all. I would rather raise him on my own than with someone who thinks of his mother like that.”
The air in the room is suddenly prime to explode, and being the stupid man I am, I strike the match. Don’t ask me why I do. Maybe it’s because of the way she manages to accuse me of being some deadbeat dad and a sorry excuse of a man all in one breath. Or maybe it’s the months of pent-up frustration, sexually and otherwise, all because of this little spitfire temptress unconsciously cockblocking me. Either way, I take the whole matchbox, soak it in gasoline, and throw it on the smoldering fire between us.
“Really? You’re going to raise this baby on your own? For fuck’s sake, Rose, I found you at a human sex trafficking auction. So tell me. How is that responsible parenting? If I hadn’t found you, you would have been raped tonight, maybe even killed.”
“How dare you,” she hisses, her green eyes flashing a warning. “I was happy living my life far away from here. I didn’t ask to be sold like a piece of meat at a fucking auction, Michael. I was kidnapped, you arrogant asshole. I’ve done nothing but give Liam the best life I could, and I will continue to do so, with or without his father.”
“Speaking of, where is Liam then? Was he sold tonight as well?”
“No. Of course not. He’s safe.” Her voice is much softer now, and the pain on her face is raw and honest.
It’s enough to bring my swirling anger to a brutal stop. Right as I’m about to ask more about her son, there’s a knock on the door. I turn toward it. “What?”
A second later, my brother pokes his head inside. “Dad wants to see us at the house.”
I catch Rose shift in the bathroom doorway and glance over at her. Her eyes bounce back and forth between Raphael and me, confusion and shock clear on her face. Oh right.
“Rose, this is my twin brother, Raphael. Raphael, meet Rose.”
“Hi there,” Raphael says with the same charming smile we’re both known for.
“Hi,” Rose mumbles, a small blush blooming on her cheeks.
Intense jealousy flares in my chest at the sight, and I suddenly want to throttle my brother. He doesn’t have the right to smile at her like that, let alone make her blush. Maybe Rose needs to be reminded which brother she belongs to. Even if she’s mad at said brother.
“Tell Dad I’ll come to see him when I’m ready,” I tell him, waving him away.
“Michael,” Raphael warns me, ignoring my dismissal.
I level my brother with a look that tells him I’m not budging. “I’m not leaving Rose when she has just woken up.”
“He was insistent.”
“I don’t fucking care. I am not leaving her—”
“Go.” Rose’s soft voice interrupts the rising heat between us, and I turn toward her. Standing in the doorway, she suddenly looks exhausted, and my anger fades a little. “I’ll be fine. I could use some more sleep, anyway. That shower was really relaxing, and the pain meds are taking effect. I’m tired.”
I’ve never known ibuprofen to make someone drowsy. But okay. I’ll let her have her excuses if it makes her feel better. Either way, this conversation is far from over.
I stand and walk toward her. She watches me with guarded eyes but doesn’t flinch when I reach for her hand and squeeze lightly. “We’ll talk some more when I get back, okay?”
“Yeah.”
I don’t want to leave her. Not when I’ve just found her again, but I also haven’t handled her confession well, so some time to process is a good idea for us both because while I’m confident she’s confused, she’s convinced she isn’t, and continuing to argue about it right now isn’t the best idea. “Please get some rest, Rose. You’re safe here in my home, but don’t leave. Alright? It’s not safe out there.”
“I won’t leave,” Rose assures me.
While I believe her, a faint memory tickles my mind, and I can’t help but poke at it. “Do you promise to actually be here when I get back?”
The embarrassing blush that blooms across her face is adorable when she understands. “I promise.”
My home is secure, but I still lock the penthouse down before we leave and station Enzo downstairs for added protection. No one else knows about Rose’s presence in my home, but I’m not taking any chances.
I expect Raphael to say something the moment we step into the elevator, but surprisingly, he waits until we’re in the car.
“Sounded like I interrupted a rather heated conversation.”
