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Shifting in my seat, I snuck another quick look at Largo, who was looking down at the table. I wasn’t ready to have this conversation. Hell, I didn’t know if I would ever be ready. Going with the logical approach, I simply said, “Sophia, your mom just came home. Now is not the time for this conversation. We can discuss it much later when things are back to normal, okay?”
“Alright.” My sweet girl nodded.
“You know, Sophia.” Tessa smiled, distracting my daughter. “Stone House is going to be full tonight. Not only will you be there, but Virginia and the Rejects are picking up Elizabeth, Andy, Bri, Charlie, and the babies. It’s going to be a traditional sleepover with movies, popcorn, and games.”
My daughter squealed happily and ran over to Tessa, hugging her neck as Montana leaned closer to me. “We’re taking all the kids to Stone House until Malice finds Cynic. With Vicious and Fury down, Linsey’s hands are full. My mom and the Rejects will also stay and help to protect the kids. Plus, Stone House is a fortress. I dare any motherfucker to try and break in.”
The penthouse was quiet after Montana and Tessa left with Sophia. As soon as the elevator doors closed, Largo wasted no time in making her way over to the comfortable sofa. She settled down on it and fixed her gaze upon the mesmerizing sight of the roaring fire that I had thoughtfully ignited beforehand.
Since her shower, she had been unusually quiet, and her silence was noticeable. Although I didn’t mind her being there, it was evident that Largo was quite uncomfortable. She sat stiffly. Her hands clasped together tightly, almost like she was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Honestly, I didn’t blame her. Given everything I had said and done since her return, I completely understood why she wouldn’t trust me. Walking over to the small bar, I poured myself a scotch when she said, “I’ll take one too.”
Nodding, I poured another before walking over and handing it to her. Sitting down across from her, we remained in silence and although it seemed like an eternity, it was actually just a few short minutes.
When they say silence is deafening, they mean it.
“What happens now?”
“What do you mean?” I questioned.
“Why am I here?”
“Because this is your home.”
Largo slowly shook her head. “This hasn’t been my home for three years, Caleb. When I returned, you made damn sure I never stepped foot in this place. Why now? Because after everything that’s happened, you can’t sit there and tell me you want me back. I won’t believe you.”
“You’re my wife.”
“That’s semantics and easily rectified. Why am I really here?”
“Things have changed.”
Largo took a deep breath before letting it out. “You mean because you now know the truth?”
“No,” I said, sitting up. “That’s not what I mean.”
Facing me, my wife glared. “Then explain it to me because you can’t go from hating me one minute to wanting me around the next.”
“I never hated you, Largo. I was upset, but I never hated you.”
“So what? Now we go back to our lives like nothing happened?”
“I didn’t say that,” I muttered, quickly downing my drink before getting to my feet and pouring myself another. She was gearing up for a fight. Why, I didn’t know. My initial intention was to engage in a respectful and constructive dialogue in order to find a solution to this chaotic situation. However, her aggressive demeanor made it clear that achieving that goal was unlikely.
It was clear to me that the process of readjusting to everything would be time-consuming. While three years may have seemed like a considerable amount of time, I held the expectation that she would, at the very least, find happiness in returning to our home with Sophia... with me.
“I don’t want your sympathy.”
Resting my hands on the bar, I hung my head. “I don’t know what to say to you right now, Largo. With everything that’s happened, it’s like we’re strangers. I want to avenge you. I want to rip Cynic limb from limb. I want to wrap you in bubble wrap and make all your worries disappear. I don’t know how to move forward from this.”
“And that there is the problem,” she stated. “I’ve had three years to move past what happened, to find a fresh path in life. I’ve had time to absorb and come to terms with everything. Youhaven’t. None of the brothers have either. For you, it’s like it just happened and your sad, cautious, pitiful looks aren’t helping me. You don’t see your wife, Caleb. You see a damaged woman.”
“You’re not damaged,” I growled.
“Fine. When you look at me, you don’t see your wife. All you see is a victim that your brother raped. I’m still me. The same woman you loved. The woman you married. The mother of Sophia. And until you can see me, I don’t think I should stay here.”
I sneered, “You’re not leaving me again.”
