Page 84 of Worth Loving You

His nostrils flared with a sharp inhale. Staring into his juice, he muttered, “And you forgave him.”

“I love him,” I whispered, almost apologetically.

He cast a sideways glimpse, staring at me silently. Clearing his throat, he downed the rest of his juice, tossed the glass to the counter, and walked back to his room without saying another word.

Disheartened, though I had no idea why, I trudged across the living space to my own room. Pausing in the niche outside the door, I heard Wyatt in the hallway again and waited. He rounded the corner wearing a tee shirt and shoes. Glaring, he put plugs into his ears and turned on the iPod in his hand.

“Going to the gym. Tell boss I’ll be back later, if he gets up before I get home.”

“Wyatt—”

He swung open the door and slammed it behind him. Jumping from one foot to the other, I released a heavy sigh, the weight on my shoulders burdening by the minute.

I crept into my bedroom and stood next to the bed, twining my fingers, eyeing Milo. He was on his stomach, his arms folded beneath the pillow, facing me.

So many secrets. So much hidden. So many uncertain variables.

And I was willing to ignore them all because picturing my life without Milo sent my soul into mourning.

Shedding the robe, the silky material fluttered to the floor around my ankles. I slipped beneath the covers and tugged at the arm closest to me, carefully wiggling beneath and draping it across my shoulders. Grimacing at the roughness of the gauze covering the wound I inflicted, my eyelids clenched and pushed that image out my thoughts. My cheek on the pillow, our noses touching, I memorized his features.

“Milo,” I breathed slightly.

His brows twitched, his nose crinkling. Bit by bit, his blond lashes lifted, his mouth curling into an instant smile. “Mm, sexy.”

My pulse fluttered with excitement. “I love you,” I said, just as quietly.

Suddenly wide awake, his lids lifted and he gulped so loud, I heard him. “I’m going to love you so hard, Chazzy, one day you’ll forget I hurt you. I’m going to fix this.”

I was breathing erratically, terror seizing my lungs. My sight darting back and forth between his eyes, I took a jagged inhale and asked, “Are you in the mafia?”

The arm across my back tensed and turned into a hundred pound boulder, pinning me to the mattress. A shadow crossed his irises, turning them so black, they appeared void of life. His brows furrowed, his lips drawing taut. Enraged, the heat that emanated from him cloaked me, making me sweat, stifling my breaths.

In a voice I’d never heard from him, oozing with evil intent, he made a calm statement that chilled my core. “It’s not wise to ask a question like that. You’re either very brave, or very fucking stupid.”

Mistakes were made. I regretted asking. I was going to die.

Chapter 32

Chastity Monroe

So, my boyfriend was in the mafia. It was surprising how well I took the news, almost as if somehow, I already subconsciously knew. Though he wasn’t the highest ranking, he was pretty damn high. Apparently, his father was still alive. When he passed, Milo’s older brother would be the head, then Milo.

After the initial shock and rage that I dared ask, he sat up in the bed, leaned on the headboard, smoked about three cigarettes in utter silence without looking at me, and then told me everything. Probably things he shouldn’t have.

“Why are you telling me all this?” I whispered, laying on my back, staring up at him.

He tucked his chin to his shoulder and gazed down at me. “Because when I first started fucking you, I thought I’d have my fun, set you up in this penthouse, and have you at the top of my list of whores.”

Sucking the back of my teeth, I slapped at his arm.

He winced and hissed, yanking it away.

“Not sorry.”

He chuckled and leaned to the nightstand to smash out his cigarette. Sitting upright, he looked down at me again. “I had no idea I would find my future wife,” he whispered. “I honestly didn’t think I was capable of loving someone like I do you.”

This had my pulse dancing.