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“Who told you that?”
“Does it matter?”
He seemed to think about it, and frowned. “Cason talks too much. My arrangements with my ex have nothing to do with you and I, Shakarri.”
“It does when it comes to our baby, and you haven’t denied what I’ve said once.”
He shrugged. “I don’t have a reason to deny it. I’ve been honest with you from the beginning.” That was a dig against her. “It’s true. I pushed for full custody of Catarina.”
Shakarri’s jaw dropped. There was nothing she could say. She’d heard it straight from the horse’s mouth.”
“Get out.” She covered her eyes so he couldn’t see the tears. “Get out of here! I’m getting a headache.”
He strode toward the door. “I’m arranging for you to be released. I’ll get a nurse to care for you until you’re on your feet again.”
“It’s a cold. I don’t need a nurse!”
“You’ll stay in the house at all times unless Dean escorts you.”
“You think I will!” She scrambled to the end of the bed and stood, wrapping the gown about her. “I’m getting dressed, and I’ll do whatever I choose to do. You’re not going to dictate my life.”
She took a few steps toward the closet where she assumed someone had stored a change of clothing for her. Ezio blocked her path.
“Get out of the way, Ezio.”
He crowded her, and she stumbled backward. Her head spun, and she grabbed hold of his shirt to hang on. His arm came around her, and he supported her weight for a few moments.
Rather than argue with her, he released her and walked to the closet and brought out the clothes. Shakarri smacked his hands when he tried to dress her. She did it on her own, burning with annoyance that he watched her every movement.
“I’m going on my own,” she announced.
“You’re not.”
She put a hand on her hip. “I’m not some bony behind white woman you can bully.”
“No one knows that better than I do. However, you will not go off alone anymore. I told you. As long as you’re my wife, I will protect you! You can fight me all you want, but you will lose.”
“You’re so infuriating!”
He snatched her chin up and took her by surprise when he kissed her. “And you’re bellissimo.”
She blushed.
They had been shouting at each other up until then, but now he lowered his voice. Shakarri imagined someone was on the way to tell them to cut the noise or leave.
“You’re determined to think the worst of me.”
She pulled her chin away from his grasp but didn’t try to get out of his embrace. Her balance was still off. “And you’ve done nothing but confirm it.”
He sighed. “I told you I pressed to get full custody of Catarina, but you didn’t ask why.”
She blinked. He raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to speak. She pressed her lips together and refused to ask. Amusement brightened his beautiful eyes. She focused away from them to keep her head on straight.
“Catarina’s mom has been drinking too much. There have been several violent incidents.”
“Oh no, not with Catarina?”
“No.” His jaw tensed. “But the situation was escalating to that point. I took her and gave her mother a choice.”
