Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 54092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
"No, Amalia."
"Fine," I mutter, scowling. "Big jerk."
He shakes his head and then presses his lips to my temple. "Go inside before you get yourself in trouble, mi reinita."
I roll my eyes at him. This conversation is far from over. One way or another, I'm going to make him realize that he deserves forgiveness. But for now, I'll let it go. I wrap my arms around him in a tight hug, squeezing as hard as I can. He returns my embrace, holding me close to his chest for a long moment.
I don't want to let him go. I want to stay right here in his arms forever. But I can't.
I release him, leaving him to face his brother.
"You still mad at me?" Rafe asks an hour later, leaning up against the doorjamb in the library, his arms crossed over his chest. He looks tired.
"I was never mad at you," I say, setting my book aside. I haven't read a single page. Honestly, I'm not even sure what book it is. I just picked it up to occupy my hands. Books soothe me. At least they used to soothe me. They haven't done a very good job of that recently.
"You told me to go to hell." His lips twitch.
"Okay, maybe I was a little angry."
His smile grows.
"You threatened to spank me. And tie me to the bed." I narrow my eyes at him. "Rude, by the way."
His gaze rakes over me, slowly heating. "Tesoro, you haven't seen rude yet. When I tie to you to the bed—when, not if, Amalia—I'll show you exactly how rude I can be. And I guarantee you'll love every fucking minute of it." He pushes away from the door and prowls toward me like a lion, all cool and confident. Sexy as hell. "I won't apologize for worrying about you."
"He's your brother."
"And three days ago, the woman he loves watched me kill the man who assaulted the woman I love," he says, his eyes flashing hellfire. "For all I knew, he was here to kill me."
"I didn't know that," I whisper. "You didn't tell me."
"You didn't need to know." He draws to a stop in front of me, sighing. "You've been through hell already, Amalia. If something happens to you, I won't survive it. Neither will this city. I'll burn it to the fucking ground to avenge you," he growls, his gaze locked on mine. "They'll have to kill me to stop me, tesoro."
He means it. I know he does.
"This is all my fault," I say miserably.
"It's not."
He's wrong though. It is my fault.
"I have to tell you something."
"Tell me."
"You aren't going to like it."
"Amalia, tell me."
"Diego knew you would come l-looking for him," I say, my voice shaking. Tears leak from the corners of my eyes, dripping down my cheeks. "We knew you'd bring me here. We p-planned for it."
I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Rafe.
"Why?" he asks, that one word so cold, so hard.
"I was s-supposed to find your books and turn them over to him," I confess.
"Why, Amalia?"
"B-because Diego isn't just a lawyer, Rafe. He's been an FBI informant for years. And Genovese found out. If Diego d-doesn't turn your books over to them and bring you down, Genovese is going to out him," I whisper. "And then he's going to kill me."
"Jesus Christ," Rafe whispers, rocking back on his heels.
"I l-let you bring me h-here to save Diego."
Already, he hates me. Just like I knew he would. Exactly like I deserve. I see it in his eyes. And it hurts so much worse than I thought it would. My heart twists in my chest, tearing itself into miniscule pieces. Acid rushes through my veins, burning me alive. But I haven't even told him all of it yet.
"There's more," I whisper. "Genovese f-forced Diego to kill those men in his territory. He's setting you up. He wants your empire. As soon as you go down, he's going to make his move against your family. He wants everyone to believe you started the war."
"Was any of it real, Amalia?" Rafe asks abruptly, staring at me like he doesn't even know me. Like he's never even seen me until this moment. "Was it all just a fucking act to you?"
"No!" I sob, shaking my head. "No, Rafe. I didn't mean to f-fall in love with you, but I did. I w-wanted to tell you e-everything. I just didn't know how. I didn't want you to h-hate me. I love you. I love you so much. I s-stopped looking for the b-books. I p-p-planned to tell Diego that I wasn't going to h-help him. Even if it costs me m-my life, I w-won't b-betray you."
He stares at me for a long, silent moment. The look on his face…God, it hurts. For days, I've wanted to bring this man to his knees. I've wanted to possess him the way he does me. Instead, I think I just broke him. I see it in his eyes. Defeat. Grief. So much pain.