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“Look at you,” he says with almost a mock in his tone. “Ready to commit to someone without even knowing their past.”
“My father provided me with details on my options, and I chose Elijah.”
“Your father needs to do better research, then.”
“Don’t insult my father.” I scowl at him. “And you never gave me time to uncover your murderous past before marrying you. At least with Elijah, I had a choice.”
His gentle massaging dissipates when he digs his finger into the top of my foot. “Elijah would’ve seen you as nothing more than property … a transaction.”
“And you view me as the same—an alliance with my family or some deal, I’m sure. You’re no better.”
“That’s where you’re so wrong.” His jaw tics. “If your father offered me an alliance in exchange for divorcing you, I’d choose our marriage. If he said divorce you or die, you’d be a widow. If Sonny said it’s you or me, I’d die. I’ll always sacrifice myself for you.”
Why does his reply set my blood on fire?
Since I’m not sure how to answer that and death talk isn’t exactly a fun time, I change the subject. “Why did you murder Elijah’s brother?”
“He was responsible for Sienna, my ex-wife’s, death.”
“How?”
“Sienna was an addict—well, a former addict, depending on the day you talked to her. I tried every option to get her help—expensive rehab facilities, medicines, every holistic approach, whatever she wanted—but she always relapsed. It was hard on our marriage—a marriage neither of us wanted.” His face turns rigid.
“Her family was from Chicago and friends with Elijah’s. On her last visit there, she bought drugs from Elijah’s brother, Grant. Even though the Beckers hid it well, Grant was runningthe largest narcotics operation in Chicago. Grant sold her drugs laced with fentanyl, and she died. When I learned Grant was responsible for her death, I killed him. Elijah knew it was me but did nothing about it because he was happy to be next in line in taking over his family.”
I violently shake my head. “No. My father would’ve never set me up with a man in the drug trade.” He despises them and tries to get rid of them in the city.
“Elijah kept his hands clean of the drugs, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t profiting or clueless about where the money came from. He stayed as squeaky clean as he could to maintain his government contracts.” His hand leaves my foot, and he massages the skin between his eyes.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” I whisper sorrowfully. “Sienna didn’t deserve to die like that.”
“It wasn’t my loss. It was Amara’s.”
“Did you love Sienna?”
“No. Nor did she love me.”
I play with my wedding ring, circling it around my finger.
“If you don’t like it, I’ll buy you a new one.”
“No.” I raise my hand. “It’s perfect.”
Every detail of the ring is distinctive with its gold band, handcrafted with willow-like vines and clusters of dark rubies around them, giving it a Gothic look. A giant triangle-shaped diamond lies in the middle.
For the first time, I peek at Antonio’s hand. I never thought to check if he was wearing a wedding band, and I can’t help but smile when I see one.
He’s letting me mark him as he is with me.
And now, there’s a huge chance I’ll lose him.
My stomach drops, and I hate what I’m about to say. “This won’t end well, Antonio. My father will never make a deal. He’ll pretend to negotiate with you and kill you in the end.”
He grabs my hand and presses it to his lips. “Then I’ll die.”
“Antonio—”
A different phone rings, interrupting us. He digs it out from the other pocket and answers after checking the caller ID.
