Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
“I saw you… with the woman, she was in your bed. She was with you all the time. The newspapers—”
“You saw what I wanted you to see. The woman on my arm is a VIP. She’s a fucking escort. I needed to have my enemies see me with someone else, just in case. For your safety, I needed to take the heat off of you. It was the only way I could protect you. The day you came into my house, it was planned. I needed you to hate me. I needed to reel you in. I needed to bait you to pull that fucking trigger. It was all staged. I wanted you to shoot me. That’s why I was so cruel, saying things I didn’t mean. I never—”
“Your mother’s cross. She was wearing it. I saw—”
I pulled it out from under my collared shirt. “This one?”
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
“She was never wearing this cross. I had a duplicate made. I never wanted to hurt you again. It killed me inside to have to do this to you. The day of Michael’s christening, Dylan told me I had three months to pull this off. And I was telling him and Austin that I didn’t think I could go through with it anymore.”
“Oh my God. Before Creed barged in. That’s what you were talking about? I overheard you. And when I saw you having a deep conversation with Briggs, you were telling her?”
I nodded.
“That’s why you flipped on me? You changed overnight… I thought you were having second thoughts about us. I thought—”
“The only thing that kept me going was the end result.”
“Alejandro, I could have killed you.”
“It was a risk I was willing to take.”
“Why?”
I stood, walking over to her. She eyed me warily, but didn’t back away. I couldn’t blame her for looking at me that way. I deserved it and more. I was surprised she even let me say everything I needed to. Not that I would have given her a choice in the matter. I sat on the edge of her bed with very little distance between us.
She swallowed hard, waiting for my answer. I didn’t falter, taking off my mother’s cross necklace. “Because it would give me you. I could burn my past. And have a fresh future with you. I couldn’t bring you into this life, Lexi, but I could have you take me away from it. I had to fake my own death. I kept your scent as my talisman,” I rasped, caressing the side of her face. Trying to ease her anxiety with my touch. “I gave away my life and soul to be with you. I want you, it’s only been you. I don’t care where we will go, or what we will do. You are my beginning and my end.”
She closed her eyes, fresh tears falling down her beautiful face. I placed the necklace around her neck. Whispering in her ear.
“It will protect you. Even when I can’t.”
“What happens now?” she asked with a shaky voice, taking the cross in her hand. Her eyes still shut.
“Now. I leave.”
She instantly opened them. I reached into the pocket of my suit jacket, handing her an envelope. She eyed it before grabbing it out of my hand, opening it and looking at the information.
“Italy?” she stated as a question.
“It’s a one-way ticket, you can use it whenever you’re ready. I want you to come on your own terms. It’s where I’ll start my new life, praying you’ll be right next to me in the place you’ve always dreamed to live. Everything you need to know is in this envelope. Including where to find me. My destiny is literally in your hands. It’s always been in your hands. I will wait for you for the rest of my life if that’s what it takes. I’m so fucking sorry, cariño. If you can give me a chance, if you can forgive me, I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you. I promise.”
“Alejandro—”
She broke down, so overwhelmed with her emotions.
“I need some time to take all this information in. It’s all so overwhelming. I thought I fucking killed you, I was about to turn myself in. My life has been nothing but heartache with dustings of happiness. And it’s not just me…” she began to sob harder. “I don’t know if I can forgive you, Alejandro. You broke my heart more than once. It’s just been too much. I don’t think I can get past it. I don’t think I can forgive you this time.”
I pulled her into my arms, holding her so goddamn tight. Needing to feel her, hold her, comfort her.
Fucking love her.
“Te amo, Lexi. I love you with each breath I take. With every beat of my heart, my future belongs to you. Para siempre,” I breathed out into her ear. “Please find it in your heart to forgive me. I need you. I can’t live without you. I’ve tried…” I whispered, trying to hold it together. “Take all the time you need, but please come to me.” I held her for as long as I could, but it wasn’t nearly enough. “I have to go. I was only allotted an amount of time, and I’ve already gone way over it.” I kissed her forehead, yearning to kiss her fucking lips. Holding my future in my arms.