Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
I bristled. I liked to think of myself as honorable, but what had happened the night before between Matteo and me flashed through my mind. “Yeah, we all have our flaws.”
“We’re all a little bit fucking crazy, or we wouldn’t survive what we do.”
“He shot me, Leo. I almost died.”
“But you didn’t, and he planned it that way.”
My pulse skyrocketed, and I leaned back my seat until I was nearly lying down. “Fuck…he really did?”
“I believe that and so does X. So does his CIA handler.”
“Fuck, that means. I…I really do have to reevaluate everything.”
“It means whatever you want it to, but you can trust him to work with you to beat these sons of bitches down for good.”
“Thanks.” I fought to keep my tone neutral. I was about to lose it, but I didn’t know Leo well enough to do that with him.
“You’re welcome. Good luck.”
“I’ll need it.”
I ended the call and took a moment before I readjusted my seat and turned the key in the ignition. I pulled back onto the road and headed for Worth’s house.
He was the last person anyone should go to for relationship advice, but he was exactly who I wanted to talk to. I called him, needing to verify he was home.
“Where are you?” I asked when he answered.
“Home. Why? What do you need?”
He was ready to help me with no questions asked, even when he probably had some twink in his bed. “Are you alone?”
“For once, yes,” he said laughing.
“I’m on my way. I need to talk.”
“Okaaay. What’s up?”
“I can’t talk and drive.”
“Carter.”
“Later.” I ended the call.
As soon as Worth opened the door, he started pelting me with questions. “What’s going on? Where is Matteo? Why did you call me? Are Miles and Ford on their way?”
I laid my hands on his shoulders. “Stop.”
When he looked into my eyes, he sucked in his breath. “Whoa. What’s wrong?”
“What isn’t wrong? I’ve got the man who shot me and betrayed our platoon in my cabin, but he’s not who I thought he was. I mean he’s exactly who I initially thought he was and now….” I paused to take a breath but my chest was so tight little air seemed to come through. “Miles and Ford aren’t…I just wanted to talk to you.”
“Then I’m here.”
That was the best thing about my friendship with the three of them. I knew that if I needed something, no matter how embarrassing, they would listen and support me. They would never laugh or scoff at anything when it truly mattered.
“I talked to Matteo, and then I talked to Leo. It’s all true. Matteo joined the CIA. Actually, they recruited him and gave him little choice because I was being targeted. The only way to save me, according to them, was for him to do their bidding.”
Worth took my arm and led me to his sofa. “Holy fuck.”
“Yeah. Matteo told me all that. I had it so wrong, and he…. All these months he was fighting to stay alive and falling deeper and deeper into his role with the cartel. To protect me. But I was hating him. I’d wished we’d never met. I wanted to kill him, to hurt him as badly as he hurt me, and he just wanted to save me.”
My eyes stung, and I squeezed them shut. I was not going to fucking cry. Not even with Worth, not—
Worth wrapped his arms around me. “I’m here. It’s okay. Just let go.”
I couldn’t fight it anymore. Tears I’d wanted to shed since the day Matteo shot me came pouring out.
I don’t know how long I sobbed against Worth’s shoulder, but by the time I was done, I felt absolutely exhausted. All I wanted to do was slink away, curl up somewhere on a soft surface, and sleep, but no matter how long I slept I wouldn’t forget. I’d dream of Matteo. He’d be right there, taunting me.
Worth’s hand rubbed up and down my back. His touch was soothing, but I pulled myself away. “I’m sorry.”
He shook his head. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”
I looked at the tear stain on his shoulder. “I may have ruined your shirt.”
He rolled his eyes. “I’ll replace it.”
“You’re never that casual about someone ruining your clothes.”
“This is a special circumstance.”
I laughed. “Yeah, I guess so. It’s not every day one of us falls apart on you.”
“And you’re the last one I would have expected it from.”
“I am the last one I would expect it from too, but that’s what Matteo does to me. He ties me up in knots. He’s been messing with my head for so long, and I haven’t gone a single day without thinking of him.”
“Now you know there was a reason for that.”
“So you’re saying that somehow subconsciously I knew he cared? That I knew he wasn’t really the traitor he seemed to be?”