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Before our engagement party, I didn’t monitor Benny’s doings, as he did with me. I was confident he was up to no good, so I had no purpose to seek reasons to hate him further.
I wouldn't be as bothered if Gretchen were a random woman with no affiliation to his family. But this is different. They’ll see each other regularly, and when we spoke, I could tell Benny meant something to her. She wasn’t a stray he’d picked up at our engagement party, like Alden had been with me.
They have history.
Familiarity.
Something I don’t have with my husband.
“Gretchen and I regularly had sex,” he answers. “She was convenient.”
I scrunch up my face. “Calling someone convenient regarding sex sounds gross. How manyconveniencesdid you have? One on every corner, like a 7-Eleven?”
“I’m picky about who I sleep with, sono. For the past six months,prior to our marriage, Gretchen was the only woman I slept with.”
“Did you …” I play with my hands in my lap. “Do youcare about her?”
Exclusively sleeping with someone for six months isn’t a fling.
It’s pretty much dating, even if Benny wants to deny it. There might’ve been a lack of romance and roses, but emotions are bound to form over that length of time.
My heart flip-flops in my chest.
I haven’t been Benny’s wife for even a week, I have only slept with him twice, and I’m scared of losing what we’re building. I can’t imagine having him for six months and then him walking away with someone else.
Benny scratches his head. “I don’t want any ill will to happen to Gretchen, but if you’re referring to me loving her, the answer is no.”
“If you didn’t have to marry me, would you be in a relationship with her?”
“No.”
I dig my nails into the leather center console and huff. “Of course, you’re going to say that.”
“All I have for you is the truth. If I hadn’t been forced to marry you, I’d be single. A relationship—love—was the last thing on my mind.”
“What about now?” I whisper into the darkness of the car.
“Now, it seems I can’t take my mind off you.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“Yes, baby. It’s averygood thing.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR
BENNY
Luca staresat me as if I’ve lost my mind. “I know he’s your brother-in-law, but we regularly deal with men like him, Benny. You’ll never get your money back, and you’ll be out half a mil.”
I’m aware Tommaso won’t pay me back. I’ll be lucky if I get a couple of hundred dollars before he raises another debt with someone else. I’m no fan of handing out loans. I acquire my income from club profits, racketeering, and extortion, among other illegal activities.
Men don’t like to owe me anything, but it’ll be different with Tommaso. After my lack of killing him at his townhome for his sister, I’ll be at the bottom of the payback list. But I can only be so understanding until he crosses enough lines where I can’t control myself.
I won’t kill him over money.
I can easily make more money.
He’ll die if my wife is put in harm’s way again.
