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"That's my favorite," he says in a small voice.
"Is he alright?" Ciro asks.
I glance up and smile. "Yeah, he isn't used to all this."
Ciro nods. "I know." But I don't miss the look of longing in his expression. "I––"
"Does he need anything?" Killian pushes Ciro aside, removing his mask and crossing the small space. "I don't want to upset him or you in any way."
"Then deal with her," Ciro says in a hard tone before turning away.
"I'll talk to her. If she pushes back, she's gone."
"Are they okay?" Ciro asks when I exit the room and press the screen, shutting the door behind me.
Fifteen minutes before we arrive at the dock, he wants to push me when I want to strangle him for the way he looks at her–at them. My family.
"They are not your concern."
"They have been for the past five years, Killian." He steps closer, almost in my face, but I have an inch on him. "Hate me or not, they are and will always be. I have been by their side, and if it makes you feel better, no, I didn't sleep with her. She loves you too much to allow another man to touch her." His jaw hardens. "But knowing that you didn't feel the same way made it easier for me. All she has to do was look at me the way she looks at you, and I would've." He steps back with a defeated look in his eyes. "I love her, and I don't give a fuck if that means we can't be friends because she's worth it. They're worth it. Think about that when you bring your past along with you so it can mock what you have always taken for granted."
I feel a weight lift off my shoulders, knowing she didn't sleep with Ciro or anyone. The same way I didn't. The thought of my best friend fucking my wife. The images that would play out in my mind.
Shame runs over me when I think about being with Blair and Sarah. What I put Lillith through. The way she must feel. The reason she took our son into the room so he wouldn't see?
"You're right," I say quietly.
He gives me a bitter laugh and slides his hand over his face. "I wish I was wrong."
"I'm in love with my wife, Ciro. I'm in love with my son. My family."
"That is why I'm still here, Kill. I'm not the bastard you think I am. I know you haven't touched another woman since Lillith left. But if you love her, I will stand by you both because I love her and want her and Niro to be happy. I want you to be happy."
He walks to the front of the boat as it approaches shore, the sensors going off.
"Hey, Ciro." He twists his head. "Sydney stays."
He smiles. "It's about time, brother."
In the back of my mind, I was plagued with contemplation. I needed to know who in my circle wanted my wife dead. The way Blair acted comes to mind, but she didn't think she was alive until after the race. Maybe she was waiting because her father and the judges suspected Pyralis was, in fact, Lillith.
We dock the boat, and I help Lillith and Niro off, staying close behind them.
"Can we visit Jimmy's mom?” Niro says in a sweet little voice.
His eyes are huge like saucers, waiting for his mother to reply. He’s a good-looking kid. Agnes was sad to see him leave. She gushes over him every chance she gets. She reminded me of my mother and how proud my parents would be to see me married to Lillith and Niro.
Lillith searches for me through the guys, already getting things off the boat. “I’m sorry. He made a little friend–''
“It’s alright. We can visit on the way back home. We have a couple of things to finish first. There is a large shipment I’m sure you would want to look into,” I say, giving her a wink.
Food. Lots of food. Supplies. I managed to get the grid up and running. Ciro and I put our pride aside and worked tirelessly for three nights since we returned from the fundraiser. I wanted to do right and make my wife proud.
We have to race so that it doesn't draw attention to us if we both pull out. Bets are on, and people want a show. She has to lose, but the winning pot will be distributed among the people. If she wins, there will be a target on her back bigger than her current one because of her father.
"I can't believe you're doing this to me! To us!" Blair cries, storming down the dock and tugging Sarah along.
"You did it to yourself. Get lost," Ciro says triumphantly. "Take your little sidekick with you and go torture another asshole."
