AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I stayed a mix of waring emotions. My heart practically leapt out of my chest at the sight of her, then relief got slammed aside by my rage.
I surged forward, gripping her arms, giving her a violent shake, shoving my face into hers. She shrank away from me in surprise. “Where the fuck have you been? Who did you talk too?” I snarled.
Becka’s head whipped back as if I’d physically struck her. For the first time I could see she was afraid of me. Pure hurt downed her features. Her body coiled tight yet her eyes were full of the vulnerable emotions filling her. Pain, sadness, disappointment, it was all there. I could see her desire and feelings retreating behind those gorgeous green eyes, now surround by red.
Has she been crying?
Her reaction startled me. Then realization hit. She had come back on her own.
Oh shit!My head almost jerked off my shoulders. I eased my grip allowing her to stand upright.
Her gaze, filled with despair began to heat and change. Her jaw clenched tight, eyes turning to fire. Becka put her hands to my chest and shoved me away with surprising strength.
“Where have I been? WHERE HAVE I FUCKING BEEN?!” She screamed at us, flinging her arms out wide as her wrath overflowed.
“I’ve been trying to get back here! You haven’t given me my phone, so after I lost those assholes in the park I had no way to contact anyone. Arianna’s phone was lost so even if I could borrow a phone I had no other number to call. I went to Ecstasy but the bouncers didn’t believe me when I said you would want to see me. They thought I was a crazy ex or something, and told me to leave or they would call the cops! So I just started walking with nowhere to go!” She wouldn’t stop yelling.
I’m going to kill those men. Ok, maybe not kill.I knew they were only doing their job. It wasn’t the first time an ex one-night-stand had to be removed from the club because she came back wanting what I refused to give.
Her voice rose a few notches. “I was almost mugged by a tweaker! Followed by a group of wanna-be gang members! And cornered by four drunk suits that propositioned me for a group fuck!” My hands fisted at my sides from the visions her words invoked. “I wandered for hours until I found an advertisement for Chestnut Hill and recognized one of the estates. But had no money, so as soon as the cab driver found out he kicked me to the curb, not wanting to risk getting stiffed. Then had to walk the last hour searching for the house.” She paused, but only long enough to catch her breath. Then went right back to raving.
“As for your ‘who did you talk to?’, I know what you mean. And you can shove it up your ass. I purposely avoided the police and even walked by two patrol cars.” She thrust two fingers in the air for emphases. “I would never risk Arianna being hurt for my actions! I have kept my word in every way possible, with every opportunity to break it slapping me in the face! If that’s not good enough for you three, then you can all go to Hell!” Becka’s arms fell limp at her sides in exhaustion.
I had no words. I stood frozen watching her tangled brown hair fall around her dejected face. Someone was shoving my head in a bucket of guilt. Her words were rife with conviction and truth.
I believed her. Maybe too easy and, maybe because I wanted to, but it didn’t change the fact that I fucked up. I hurt her terribly by accusing her of breaking her word. It had been evident in her expression when I yelled in her face.
She’d been loyal and gone through hell to come back. My own fear blinded me from at least giving her a chance to explain. I failed to show her she had my benefit-of-a-doubt. That I was in any way someone she could depend on, or trust.
Yes, I had an organization to protect but she was my wife, who proved her loyalty. Therefore, entitled to my protection as well. I failed her in more ways than one.
It won’t happen again. Something powerful took over me. Need. So overpowering it caused my lungs to seize. Not just a need to claim her body, but a need to protect her, no matter the cost.
Mine.
Lorenzo reached for his gun. I moved without thinking twice.
