Page 19 of The Billionaire's Destiny

“I…I found out that he pimped my mother and was going to cross that final line… with me. We fought. Judge Colby was thin on drugs, but he was strong. He threw me around like a rag doll. My face felt like it was on fire, and my ribs burned when I breathed. He grabbed Mama. She was black and blue all over, but he was going toforceher. I picked up a chair and hit him. Again and again. I-I couldn’t stop. He fell on the ground and I still didn’t stop.” I was in a trance, reliving it all. When I finally came to my senses, Cassidy was sobbing into her hands.

“Oh, Adelina. I am so sorry this happened to you. It’s so, so wrong. How is there any joy left in you?”

“I don’t know. At boarding school, I had you.” I pressed my hand to my chest.

“I wish I’d known. You needed more than I gave you. I could have been a better friend—”

“No. I didn’t want you to treat me like I was fragile. I wanted to forget and start a new life, and I did. I did therapy. And I have no remorse about maiming him. His jagged scar? That was me.”

“You shouldn’t,” she gritted.

“But Judge Colby came back, and now everyone suspects or thinks I’m troubled.”

“Fuck everyone else out there,” she said with a wave of her hand. “They don’t know you like I do. You’re so courageous, Adelina. Resilience is your superpower. I used to think that it was kickass when you’d say that, but that’s you. You fought everyday for your family and peace. Even though they don’t deserve it. Well, Jacob does. I’m honored and humbled to have you as my friend.”

“I love you, Cass.”

“I love you more.”

The creaking floorboards had my attention shifting to the archway. Rocco stood there silently. His eyes shone as ours met, and my heart sank. Even though we had talked about it, I hadn’t shared the details with him.

I lowered my head, but I could feel his energy flowing closer to me.

He came over, and I turned to face him. His hand brushed my chin and lifted it. “I love you.”

My heart swelled, and he pulled me to my feet and hugged me tightly, careful of his shoulder which was still healing. I wanted to be mad at him for listening, but I couldn’t. Honestly, I was happy I wouldn’t have to repeat it.

“Hello, brother-in-law,” Cass sang out from the call, bringing our attention back to her. It wasn’t the ideal way I had wanted them to meet, but I wouldn’t waste the chance.

“Hello, Miss Cassidy Cosgrove.” Rocco said her name in his deep voice.

I gestured to her. “Should we end our call for now?” It didn’t seem like the right time. Then again, when was?

She swiped her eyes. “Only if you want to.”

My chest constricted, and I nodded.

“Okay. I love you, Adelina,” she cried, and the screen turned off.

I pressed my face into Rocco’s chest, my body trembling as a cry surged up from the deep well where my secret had been buried. Tears streamed down my cheeks in an unstoppable flood; there was nothing to hold onto, nowhere to hide it anymore. That secret had weighed me down through everychapter of my life, keeping me afraid and apart from everyone. It had splintered me, and I longed to be whole.

Rocco’s hand moved gently along my back as he whispered, “You’re so strong, Adelina. I’ll never let anything happen to you again. I love you. We all love you.” When I finally calmed, Rocco held me at arm’s length, his eyes red-rimmed with tears. “I hadn’t meant to eavesdrop—”

“I know. It’s okay, uhm, I didn’t want to have to repeat it, at least not for a while,” I mumbled. The situation was far from over, and deep down, I knew I’d have to say it all again if the courts were involved.

He hugged me tighter. “What happened to you was never okay. How could no one protect you and your brother? Why didn’t anyone step in?”

I turned my head and sighed. “We…we lost Jacob when they did. After that, Mama would have us move if anyone suspected anything. She didn’t want to lose me and be left all alone. But we survived and moved on. I’m grateful every day that our lives are better.”

“Colby still needs to suffer. But going forward, I want to know how to support you.”

“Just be you,” I rasped.

“And what am I, my wife?”

“The kind of guy that will break my enemies in half,” I half-joked.

“I will. I’d do anything for you.” His voice broke. “I love you, Bella, and I vowed to stand by you, and I will. Always. Please show me how.”