Demanding Daddy (Club Rouge: Louisiana Daddies Series, #3) by Linzi Basset

Author:Linzi Basset
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Later in life, Second chances, Crime Kidnapping, Alpha males HEA, Female DEA agent
Publisher: Linzi Basset
Published: 2023-12-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Something had changed. From the moment Slade came back to the house after talking with the Frazer brothers outside, he was different—reserved and quietly simmering. It was a subtle change, but Jessica felt his withdrawal like a cold breeze on her skin.

That he had left with the Frazers after a curt, “See you later,” was more than enough of an indication that something was afoot. Although she knew he was struggling with the senseless killing of his furry child, emotionally excluding her had hurt much more than she would have thought possible. It was unexplainable, especially since, although they were married, they were still strangers to each other, like two ships passing in the night.

Maybe so, but the heart tended to follow its own course at its own time, unconcerned with logic or circumstance.

“I’m not in love with him, no matter which course my heart is on. It’s too soon, and besides, our lives, more specifically, my life, are worlds apart. There is no future for us. We’re from different planets.”

Time will tell, my dear. Only time.

Jessica resolutely shook off the internal debate. It served no purpose other than to confuse her further. She walked over to the frosty window and looked out at the bleak winter landscape—the bare trees, the gray skies, the snow-covered ground. A perfect match for the coldness and confusion swirling within her.

The bottom line was that she had made a mistake in marrying Slade. In fact, had she done what her father demanded instead of running away, none of this would have happened.

She had always known this day of reckoning would come, but since so many years had passed without any demands from the mighty Don Cesare, she had become complacent, lulled into a false sense of security. Now, because of her recent involvement with her Sanchigo family, she had placed Slade and even more people in danger.

“What a fucking mess my life has turned into,” she mumbled bitterly as she turned away from the window with her shoulders slumped in defeat. She slowly gathered her bags. Her movements were heavy with despair. “It’s time to leave before Slade returns.”

It was the only route left to take. Running wasn’t an option... not again. It had backfired spectacularly once already. Knowing her ruthless father and the iron grip Uncle Salvitore had over him, any attempt to further ignore the order to go home would only result in more violence and death.

With a heavy heart, she pulled the front door closed behind her. The click of the latch sounded dull with dismal finality. Swallowing hard past the lump in her throat, she forced back the tears forming in her eyes.

“Grow a pair, Jessica,” she snapped at herself. “You’ve been a fool to believe you had a chance at a normal life... at having kids.”

This time, she had no defense against the tears slipping past her tightly squeezed lids. That dream of children and a happy, normal family had been the defining factor in her decision to accept Slade’s marriage proposal.

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