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When I step out, I study the open space. “How did you guys set this place up?” Most houses in this area of Boston are too old and too close together to have garages.
“My uncles had it done.”
“Is it legal?”
“Everything we do is legal.” He engulfs my hand with his huge one and tugs me toward the elevator, greeting his men as he goes.
“So if the basement is a garage now, where do you put your enemies?”
“The ones we’re willing to negotiate with go to our special suite on the third floor. I believe you’re familiar with it.”
“You’re horrible.” I try to pull out of his vise-like grip.
He laughs and pushes the button for the first floor, and the doors slide to shut. But just before they do, he points to a door at the far end of the large space. “That room is for the ones we aren’t willing to negotiate with.”
I wrinkle my nose, hoping I’ll never know what the inside of that place looks like.
Mom is waiting for us when we ascend to the first level. This time, when I pull away from Rowan to run into her open arms, he lets me go without hesitation.
“I missed you, Mom.” I sigh, so relieved to see her again.
“I’ve missed you, Lulu.” She smiles and cups my face. “I take it the honeymoon wasn’t too awful?”
There’s no mistaking the mischief in her gaze, something that says she hopes what Rowan and I shared in the past in still there. Although I’m not sure if it’s to assuage her own guilt at pushing me toward this marriage I didn’t want, or if she genuinely believes there’s true love between us.
Either way, there’s no point in dashing her hopes by saying, “No, Mom. The honeymoon was horrible. Rowan killed Peter. And even knowing this, I let him fuck me raw. Let him tie me to the bed and fuck my ass and fuck me on the counter and on the table, in the shower, against the window, and once in the hallway outside the door when I threatened to leave after one of our many fights. It was torture and I hate him. And, still, I begged him for more. Begged him to make me come.”
Oh God, I want to scream.
I glance at Rowan. He’s standing near the study, speaking quietly with Declan. As if he senses my stare, he lifts his gaze to me.
My skin heats as his eyes move over me, touching me everywhere his hands have been. Against my will, liquid warmth pools between my legs and I have to glance away or risk everyone in the foyer knowing what he’s made me into.
Turning back to my mother, I remove her hands from my flushed cheeks. “It was fine.”
Her smile widens, obviously taking my reaction as something good, when the truth is, it’s too terrible to tell.
“Fernando is on the way with my sons. He should be here in half an hour,” Mom says to Rowan.
He nods. “Declan just informed me. Did you have a chance to pack?”
“Pack?” I ask, looking between the two. “But we just got back.”
Mom squeezes my arm and smiles. “It’s time for me to go home. While I’ve enjoyed a little time away from the boys, I miss them.”
I blink at her. She makes it seem as if she had a choice in the matter.
A knot forms in my throat. “What about me?”
“You don’t need me the way they do. I can’t even imagine the state the house is in. Besides, you have your own place to run now.”
“It’s not mine!”
“Isn’t it?” She cocks her head to the side.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I say, “You know my brothers are grown-ass men.”
“And you’re a grown-ass woman,” she retorts. Then she leans in and whispers conspiratorially, “Don’t forget I know exactly what you’re capable of” before pulling away and winking.
