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And I’m left standing there, wondering what the hell just happened. Theo has never dismissed me like that before. I have no idea what’s eating at him, and as much as I want to sayscrew him and his brooding, all I really want to do is fix it. Whatever is wrong, I want to make it right. I don’t like the tension building between us. I don’t chase after him though. Instead, I take a shower and get ready to see my father for the first time in over twelve months.
I should be more excited about the visit, but a part of me is still angry at him for doing what he did and leaving us. But there’s that little girl part of me who just wants her daddy back. Before he went to jail, he was my rock. I could talk to him about anything, and he never judged me. And all I’ve done the past five years isjudge himfor his actions—resent him for them. How much of a hypocrite does that make me now? I’m married to one of New York’s most ruthless crime bosses. Or so I’m told. I’ve yet to witness Theo be anything other than the sweet, protective man, who whispers promises of forever in my ear. Well, aside from this morning. I’ve been racking my brain, trying to figure out what I did to elicit such a harsh reaction. If he’s not going to be mature about it and tell me, then I won’t bother asking again.
I go downstairs in search of my husband, finding him and Neo in the midst of a heated conversation in the home office. Both men stop talking and look my way when I enter the room. I wring my hands in the fabric clinging to my abdomen. I chose a maxi dress. It falls down to my ankles, concealingall that skinthat Theo seems to think needs covering. “Ah, I can come back, or I can call Reilly and see if she wants to go with me?” I offer.
T sighs, shaking his head. He still looks pissed as hell, but I don’t feel like it’s directed at me anymore. “No, dolcezza, I’ll take you. Let’s go.” He picks up his wallet and keys from his desk. I don’t know where he went to shower and change, but he’s now dressed in a freshly pressed navy suit. His hair is still damp, and he smells clean and minty. How is it that I just had him less than an hour ago, and I already want nothing more than to kick Neo out of this office and have T fuck me over his desk?
I look to the desk, with that image in my head, and I can feel the blush creep up my face.
“Holly, are you okay?” T’s voice is quiet as he steps in front of me.
“Ah, yeah. I’m fine,” I croak out.
“Mmhmm, care to share what you were thinking about just now?”
“Nope, some thoughts should never leave my head.”
T laughs before placing a hand on my lower back. “Neo, make the arrangements,” he throws over his shoulder as he guides me out of the office.
ChapterTwenty-Two
Holly is sitting in the passenger seat chewing her fingernails. She’s nervous. I can’t tell if she’s worried about seeing her father, or if it’s because she knows I’m still pissed as hell. No matter how frustrated I am at her, I can’t help but want to ease her worries. I reach over, grab one of her hands, and squeeze. “What’s wrong?”
Her head turns towards me sharply, her green eyes shooting daggers directly at mine. “Seriously? What’s wrong? Nothing’s wrong, Theo. What could possibly be wrong? I’m about to visit my father for the first time, in I don’t even know how long.In jail!Oh, and there’s the fact I’m taking my mafia boss husband—who, mind you, currently has a stick up his ass—to meet my father.In jail!Gee, Theo, I don’t know what could possibly be wrong.” She snatches her hand away.
“There is so much to unpack there, dolcezza, but let’s start with the fact that I don’t have a fucking stick up my ass.”
“Oh, my bad. I thought your grumpy-ass mood was from the stick.”
“I’m not grumpy. Just pissed off a little.” Holly raises an eyebrow at me. “Okay, I’m fucking fuming. But I don’t have a stick up anywhere.”
“Care to share with the rest of the class why you’re sopissed offthen?”
I look at her, contemplating whether I should tell her the truth or not. In the end, I decide what the hell? Maybe it will prevent her from making the same mistake twice. “You called another man and asked for a fucking jet, Holly. You sought help fromanother man. Of course I’m fucking pissed off at that.” Her eyebrows scrunch together, right before she bursts out laughing. “It’s not fucking funny. You don’t ever need to go to another man. For anything. You’re my fucking wife. Anything you need, I can fucking give you, with a goddamn cherry on top too.”
“Except you weren’t going to give it to me, were you? I asked, and you said no.”
“Because I want you safe. I don’t want anything to happen to you,” I huff. “I don’t like fighting with you, Holly. It makes me sick to my stomach.”
“This isn’t fighting, T. This is you being an overbearing alpha-ass.”
“A what? Actually, it doesn’t matter. Just… if you need anything, ask me. Don’t ever call another man for anything again, and don’t disrespect me in front of my men. It’s not a good look.”
“I didn’t disrespect you, Theo. I would never do that.”
I pick up her hand and bring it to my mouth, kissing it gently. “You might not have done so intentionally, dolcezza. But what you did, calling on another man for help, that’s a huge disrespect to your husband, especially in our world.”
“I’m sorry you felt that way. It wasn’t my intention. I promise. I freaked out. I didn’t want to be separated from you again, and I was prepared to do whatever I had to, in order to follow you to Italy. If you need to be somewhere, then so do I.”
“Okay. If I survive this visit with your father, I promise I will never leave you again, unless I have absolutely no choice.”
“Why wouldn’t you survive?”
“I married the man’s daughter, without asking his permission. And now I’m stealing that daughter to live with me in my fucked-up, dangerous underworld, all the way in New York. You really think your father’s not gonna wanna kill me?” I smile at her.
She doesn’t return it. “That’s not funny. I don’t like thinking of my father as a killer. But that’s what he is, isn’t he?”
I glance over at her; her eyes are glassy. “Holly, your father didn’t do anything I wouldn’t have done myself. Anything I haven’t alreadydone myself. And you don’t look at me any differently, even knowing what I’m capable of. You shouldn’t look at him any differently either. You don’t know what you’re capable of doing for your children, for someone you love, until you’re in that position yourself.”
