Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
“No,” Xavier shakes his head. “I always felt guilty about that. You’ll see once I explain tomorrow.”
“So why kill all my men? Why all this fucking violence? If you’re pretending to be a good guy suddenly, your actions sure as fuck aren’t matching up with what you’re saying.”
“I’m not a good man,” Xavier shrugs. “But I will not lie to you anymore, Heath.”
I groan, sitting back down. I’m eager for this conversation to be over, to retreat to my room and ponder everything my uncle just told me.
“There’s been a bedroom set up for you,” Xavier mutters. “You’re free to leave.”
“Now?” I ask. “What about what I want most from you, Xavier?”
“What’s that?”
“An apology,” I hiss. “For all the shit you put me and Rain through. Are you even capable of saying the word sorry?”
“I don’t need to apologize,” he shrugs. “It won’t make you feel better, trust me. And I did what I had to do.”
“You’re as fucked up as grandfather,” I hiss, picking myself up. “I don’t want to deal with this any longer. I see right through your good guy act.”
“I’m not a good guy,” Xavier cuts in. “And I never claimed I was, Heath. You’d better remember that tomorrow when Rain comes here.”
“If you fucking harm her, I’m going to skin you alive.”
“Relax,” he laughs easily. “I have a proposition for the two of you. I think you’re going to agree when I present it to you.”
I thin my lips into a line and walk out of his office. I refuse to listen to any more of his bullshit. And yet, the change in Xavier is palpable. I can see he’s softened toward me. I can tell he’s spent a lot of time thinking about my family and his role in it. Still, that doesn’t excuse the horrific actions he performed to hurt both Rain and me.
My hands form fists as a guard walks me to a guest bedroom. I sit down on the bed and remember the bloodbath back at the Palacio.
Xavier is at fault for that.
No matter what he says, the man is a ruthless monster.
I’m never, ever going to make the mistake of trusting him again.
Chapter fifteen
Liberato and I ride in silence to the Casa. My mind is spinning with a thousand different thoughts. I hope for Xavier’s sake he hasn’t harmed a hair on Heath’s head. Judging by Liberato’s stony expressions, he’s ready to kill the bastard himself.
Once we arrive at the Casa, I’m instantly hit by a wave of painful memories of the place. But I don’t have time to ponder them, because two guards escort us into the building.
“Your companion can wait in the salon,” one man tells us. “Don Xavier and Heath are waiting for you in his study.”
Reluctantly, I nod at Liberato to signal that I’m going to be okay. Then, I follow the guard into the study I know well in the years I’ve lived here.
The relief when the door opens and I come face-to-face with Heath feels like a giant weight falling off my shoulders. I launch myself at Heath, clinging on to him as he embraces me tightly.
“Enough of that,” Xavier speaks up from behind us, and we break apart, though our hands remain intertwined. “Sit the fuck down and let’s talk.”
Without saying a word, we both sit down on the armchairs in front of Xavier’s desk. Heath won’t quite meet my gaze, which makes me wonder whether he knows what’s going on here. I fight the urge to rest my hand protectively over my belly. Neither of them knows I’m pregnant yet, and I’d like to keep it that way for the foreseeable future.
“I trust you’re not dumb enough to fight me in my house,” Xavier smirks. “And you were patted down when you came here?”
I nod. It’s not like I have a weapon anymore, anyway. Xander stole my pink revolver, and the memory of it is tainted now.
“Why are we here, Xavier?” I demand as we sit face-to-face.
It’s an almost surreal experience to be before my husband with another man’s hand in mine. I thought I knew Xavier—and I thought he’d kill Heath for so much as glancing in my direction. But so far, so good. While his eyes don’t miss us clinging to one another, he doesn’t mention it and quickly averts his gaze.
“As you know, Rain, I intended only getting married once,” Xavier begins. “But since you’ve let me down in every fucking way as a wife, I have no choice but grant you the divorce Heath has asked for.”
My heart instantly soars. Could it be that things are finally working out in my favor? Will Xavier really let me walk away from him.
“Of course, there’s a condition,” my husband smirks, making me crash down back to reality.
“What condition?” Heath demands.
“It’s simple. I’ll explain in a moment. Would either of you care for a drink?”