Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 80507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Romeo gave a grim nod. “Neither do I.”
She smiled lovingly, kissed his cheek, and strode away.
I looked down at the ground, not wanting to meet Romeo’s intense gaze but feeling him take us in with an expression I couldn’t quite place.
“Uncle Romeo,” Naz greeted, throwing his body into his arms. He wrapped his arms around his neck and hugged him close to his body.
It warmed my heart, seeing that our complicated relationship didn’t affect his love for my son. I hadn’t seen Romeo much in the last year, although I knew anytime Naz was with his parents, he would spend time with him in their home. It was obviously enough to make an impression on Naz; he never chooses anyone over me.
“Hey,” I said when he caught me staring at them.
Romeo didn’t waver, asking, “How long has he been this bad?”
Not surprising me in the least.
Romeo
She knew what I was talking about, but still, she tried to cover for him. “He’s fine. We’re fine.”
I called her out, she was trembling, and we promised no lies. “You know you can’t lie to me, right?”
“What do you want me to say?”
“The truth.”
“Funny request coming from you.”
“I didn’t come here to fight with you.”
“No? Just break up our fight then?”
“I thought everything was fine.” I smiled, playing coy. “He’s fine. We’re fine.”
“Can I please have my son?” She reached for Naz.
“No.” I held him back. “He’s good with me.”
“Naz, come to Mommy.”
He leaned his head on my chest, wrapping his arms harder around my neck. She noticed who he wanted to stay with, and I felt a sense of power that he chose me over her.
“Fine.” With a stern glare in my direction, she made her way outside, following after Tristian, I assumed.
I was long past the jealousy. Besides, I held her son firmly in my arms and the necklace I gave her last year for her birthday hung firmly around her neck.
I was still in her heart, and that was good enough for me.
The day went on with normal festivities; we ate, we drank, and Tristian didn’t leave Eden’s side. Later, after Naz was tucked away asleep in his bed. Tristian decided he was going to bring everyone’s attention over to him.
Everything stopped.
Everything.
My breathing hitched; I swear to God, my heart stopped beating in my chest, only for a second. A surge of panic flooded my body, my mind, and my soul at precisely the moment my heart started beating again.
Louder and harder in my chest.
Eden looked over at him, eyes wide and full of fear. “Tristian,” she pleaded in a hoarse tone. She cleared her throat and begged him to stop with that look in her eyes.
The one I recognized; she’d shown them to me several times over the years.
He didn’t even get it. He couldn’t read her at all, not like I could. Or maybe he did, and he simply wanted to hurt her, fully aware he’d be hurting me too.
Two birds, one fucking stone.
“You promised, don’t do this,” she added with the same desperation in her voice.
Tristian’s smile beamed with resent, right down to Eden. It was obvious he was drunk as shit and couldn’t care less about the person he’d sworn to love and protect.
At first, it was like a movie. When you knew something bad was about to happen, the anticipation of knowing what was coming was stronger than the ability to stop it.
I couldn’t stop it.
I couldn’t stop this.
His hand tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and his fingers brushed down her cheek. “I just want to tell our friends and family who the woman I married truly is.”
Aw hell.
Which was exactly where everything ended up going that night.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
“I have no interest in understanding sheep. Only eating them.” —Hannibal Lector
Romeo
A quick grimace crossed her face. It was subtle, but I noticed.
I noticed everything.
The entire room became heightened to some sort of cosmic energy. I knew everyone was there, that it wasn’t just Tristian, Eden, and I, though that’s how it felt. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, knowing this wasn’t going to end well. It wasn’t going to start that way either.
My glance slid to Tristian, and he fucking grinned. His eyes darted around the room, and he smiled with bright white teeth. Teeth I wanted him to swallow after my fist knocked them down his fucking throat if he was getting ready to announce what I think he was.
Once my eyes landed on Eden’s, it was all over. I didn’t need to turn to the clinking to know I was right. Tristian raised his champagne glass in one hand and a fork in the other.
The metal clanked off the glass, mimicking a ringing bell. “Hello! I’d like to have your attention!” he announced, making sure all eyes were on him. Everyone’s but mine. The entire room silenced at an eerie speed as he spoke, “Have I told you how happy I am to be a father? You see, a family is all I’ve ever wanted.”