Page 85 of Wrong Pawn. Right Capo.

After bragging to me some more in the cell, he’d received a call which made him leave. But I guess luck was on my side when, hours later, Jeremiah showed up at the cabin.

Perhaps the caller had invited Caughn to… check out some evidence? Or maybe he left to clear his head since the truth would be too much for someone like him. Jeremiah had mentioned it during the rescue—he said Liza had learned from her husband that there was strife between the two.

Caughn wanted to be seen as the mayor’s son, not some illegitimate killing machine that had to be hidden. And so all the dirty things he did, he did them because the mayor had promised to publicly acknowledge him as his son. When Caughn realized the mayor would never see him as anything other than his lethal attack dog, he started acting up, so the mayor secretly planned his elimination.

I shut my eyes, exhaling deeply. Where one man is willing to lay down his life to avenge and save the ones he loves, another is offering his son as the ultimate sacrifice for power. Images of my mother’s lifeless eyes flash in my mind.

“My mother…” I start, though I don’t know why. “She used to be the reason I still held on to my last shred of morality. But when she died, I-I didn’t know what to do with myself. For years, I had nightmares of her lifeless face. All I wanted was revenge.”

“And that led me to do things… I used you.” Guilt eats me up at the thought. “Lied. Manipulated. Took your family’s money. I nearly killed Enzo.”

I hold my breath when I see the tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Elena.” My voice is raw. “I don’t think any kind of apology would undo the damage I’ve done.”

For the longest time, she goes silent, and I notice the slight clench of her fist.

“I know,” she finally sighs, swallowing thickly. There’s no forgiveness in her words yet, just acknowledgment.

“And I hated you for it. I still might, some days,” she scoffs. “But beyond that, I also see the man who went completely crazy over a guard helping me up, tracking down the exact sneakers I liked and buying them in every single color just so I wouldn’t have a reason to think about anyone else. I see the same man who risked his life… who took a bullet for me.”

She shifts in her seat, angling her whole body toward me as a tear rolls down her cheek. “I-I said a lot of hurtful things to you, too. I’m sorry. I’m sorry about your mother. No one deserves to watch their family get slaughtered, and live with the guilt for so long.”

“I judged you without trying to under—”

“It’s okay.” For some reason, my heart aches at the tears in her eyes. I ruined her family.

“Let’s just… go home,” she mutters.

***

Once the doctor finishes patching me up and securing the stitches, I head back to the room. Despite all that happened, for the first time in my life, my head is quiet. No thoughts, no noise… just me.

When I open the door, I’m met with the beautiful sight of Elena’s naked body.

The doctor had said to stay away from intense physical activity, but fuck that. My dick throbs as I trail my gaze down her luscious curves. Damn!

I don’t know how long I stare, but she suddenly turns, aware of my presence. Her face reddens as she scampers to get something to cover up. I quickly stop her.

“Leave it,” I rasp, licking my lips when I notice her nipples hardening.

Her hands, which have flown up to cover herself, freeze. Her eyes widen as a fresh wave of heat paints her skin a redder shade. I let out a low groan, walking slowly toward her while savoring the full swell of her breasts and her pink, wet pussy.

As I trail my eyes down her curves, I see the bruises, stirring a low growl in my chest. It takes a lot to remind myself that it’s all over now.

“Adriano,” she whispers, her voice trembling, and that’s all it takes.

I pull her closer to me, one hand curving around her waist as the other grabs her breast. She gasps, and I slam my lips against hers with a growing hunger.

My cock twitches as she locks her arms around my neck, pushing her perky nipples against the thin fabric of my singlet.

My hand slides down her waist to cup her ass. I spank her once, and knead the soft flesh like my life depends on it, simultaneously shoving my tongue into her mouth.

She gasps, releasing a breathy moan. Her hands slide carefully to my chest as I push her backward until her knees hit the edge of the bed. She falls onto the sheets with a gasp, pulling me with her.

I catch my weight on my forearms, but it doesn’t stop the pain from shooting through my shoulder and stomach. Her eyes instantly fly open.

“Your wounds—”

“Fuck the wounds,” I snarl, rolling over until she’s half sprawled over me. “I don’t care if I bleed out right here. The pain is nothing compared to the pleasure of feeling your tight, wet pussy split wide open for my cock.”