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Chapter Thirty-Two
Maceo
It’s well after midnight when I enter our suite at headquarters. All is quiet, aside from the dogs snoring in the corner. Apart from the moon spilling into the room, casting a halo over my sleeping beauty, the room is dark.
Careful not to disturb her, I sit on the edge of the bed, watching her chest rise and fall rhythmically in her sleep. She looks like an angel—stunning and tranquil. My cold heart beats painfully in my chest the longer I stare at her.
I don’t want to send her away.
The first thirty years of my life, I spent thinking I was meant to roam the earth alone—a vagabond ‘till the end. From the moment I was conceived, everyone involved in my life became a target. I lost mypadreandmadrein my infancy. Myabueladied from lung cancer right before I reached adulthood. But there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t wonder if the stress caused by Esteban weighed on her health.
And now my wife and unborn children are in the crossfires. I avoided any form of relationship with a woman other than a sexual release until I met Josephine. If I was a decent man, I would have left her alone the moment I saw her. But I’m not decent—at least not like that. One look at her and I had to have her in every way imaginable. I may be possessive of her, but she possesses my heart.
My selfishness has put the only person I’ve ever loved in danger. Yet, I would rather be the devil himself, walking her through hellfire, then to live my life without her. To give her up would be the end of me…and I think it’s fair to say it would be the end for Josephine as well. We need each other—my heart is hers and her soul is mine. Together we make a whole. Apart, our world would crumble to dust.
Aching to touch her, my fingers reach out and run the length of her naked spine. My wife still has a hard time going to bed in anything more than her panties. I smirk, recalling how insane I went when she would strip in her sleep, and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to stop it.
This woman has the power to rile me up while building me up. She flips my world but makes me stable. The yin to my yang—my balance in all things.
Overwhelmed, I squeeze my eyes tight and pinch the bridge of my nose to stop my tears. How the fuck am I going to let Punk run with her? The very thought of it fills me with rage to the point I want to barricade us in this room, keep her safe with me.
Deep down—like in the depths of my marrow—I know she needs to go into hiding. But it just might kill me to do it.
Feather-light fingertips brush across my arm. “Maceo?”
Blinking back tears, I force a smile for my bride. “I’m sorry I woke you.”
Josephine sits up on her elbows, her forehead creased with concern. “Hubby, are you okay? Why are you sad?”
I try to brush it off like I’m fine, but my head bobs transition to head shakes. “We need to talk, Pixie.”
Josephine sits up completely, the sheets slipping away from her. My hands trail over her petite body, softly caressing every curve before settling on her belly.
“Within two weeks, Punk will take you into hiding.”
My wife starts to object, but she stops when I raise a hand—the fight inside of me is gone. “I don’t want to and I’m afraid if you put up any kind of stink, then I won’t be able to let you go. The safest place for you and the boys is to be far away from me, ‘till Esteban is dead.”
Josephine crawls into my lap, her eyes practically pleading. I know she wants to fight me on this because it’s in my woman’s nature, but I think she can sense I wouldn’t be insisting unless it was the last option. “Please don’t do this. My place is with you.”
God, how this woman slays me.
I cup her face tenderly. “And my place is with you too, but I fear that we won’t have that if I continue to keep you in harm’s way. You need to go underground for a while. I’ll come for you when the threat is gone.”
Her slender hands cover mine, her coastal eyes brimming with tears. “For how long?”
The lump in my throat is hard to swallow. “Not sure. All I can promise is that I won’t rest until he’s gone and I can have you back at my side.”
Josephine sobs softly against my chest. As I hold her in my arms, I don’t bother to stop my own tears. “It’s going to be okay, Pixie.” I have to believe it will be okay, even though it feels like we’re ripping each other’s hearts out.
“What will I do about work?” Josephine asks.
“Your dad and Jared can manage the crew for the restaurant project. You already have everything lined up for the next few contracts because you were planning with the twins. I’ll take care of the problem, and you’ll be back home before you miss me.”
“What about my appointments?”
“I’m going to have Flay reach out in his network to set up all the care you’ll need where you’re going before you leave. You can veto anyone you aren’t comfortable with—it’s important that you feel good about the people who will treat you and the twins. Perhaps it’s best if you and Flay work as a team to pick out your best care options.”
Josephine sniffles. “And the babies?”
