Empire of Pain: A Dark Mafia Romance (Torrio Empire Book 3) by J.L. Beck

Author:J.L. Beck [Beck, J.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Beck Romance Books LLC
Published: 2023-06-15T16:00:00+00:00

CALLUM

“It’s time we talk about this, and you’re not going to shut me out anymore.” I gesture for Tatum to enter my office, which she does before I follow her and close the door. I don’t know whether or not Bianca followed us. She’s perceptive enough to know this needs to be a one-on-one discussion.

“Oh wow, now you want to talk to me about the happy day? All of a sudden, it matters what I want?” She barks out a laugh, crossing the room and standing at the window with her back to me. “You care what I think now?”

“It was never about not caring what you think.” I pause, and when she says nothing, I decide to take my life in my hands. “What do you think?”

That earns me a filthy look thrown over her shoulder. If I didn’t know better, I’d think I was in the middle of a fight with her mother. Somehow, she manages to project the same disdain. “You can't be asking me that question right now. It’s a little late either way.”

“Did you think this was all a joke? Bianca and me being together? We’re having a baby. What did you think was going to happen next?”

“I don't know what I thought.” She looks downright defensive when she wraps her arms around herself, and the way her chin juts out tells me this isn't going to be an easy, straight-line conversation.

“You thought this was some crazy, midlife crisis thing, didn't you?” When she looks at the floor, I know I'm right. “I hate to disappoint you, but this is the real deal. I know what I want. And I am so terribly sorry if it hurts you, sweetheart.”

“That's easy to say when you’re not on the receiving end.”

The amount of bitterness in her voice leaves me recoiling. “It's the truth.”

“Well, it does hurt.”

“Then let's talk about it, for God's sake. Do you know how long I've wanted to have an honest conversation with you about this?” She scoffs, turning her gaze toward the window again. I’d throw something through the fucking window if I thought it would help. Anything to break through this wall she built between us. It wasn’t always this way, but it’s not like I’ve done anything to improve it, especially not in the past couple of months.

I lean against the desk, shoving my hands into my pockets while I fight to find the right words. No matter what I say, it’ll be a mistake. There’s no way of getting through this without shedding blood, figuratively or otherwise. “Tatum, it's clear you're suffering. No amount of pretending you're fine will fix things. I don't want to hurt you, but I won’t know what does or doesn't hurt you if you don’t talk to me.”

“This hurts me,” she whispers, hunching her shoulders. “We grew up together. We’re the same age, and now you want to marry her?”

“She's having my baby, sweetheart.”

“I know, but that's one thing. I could live with that. These things happen, but deciding to get married? That's so much more.

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