Wicked Union by Lydia Hall

Author:Lydia Hall [Hall, Lydia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-09-04T00:00:00+00:00

17

ARIA

At home, I shower and dress for bed. The look on Tito's face when Carlos interrupted our sex was physically painful to me. Not only did I really want to have sex with him, but the anger in his eyes cut me to the quick. I was the one who betrayed him. I was the one who guided Carlos to leak the information to Tito's enemies who inevitably leaked it to the police. I had no idea it would rise to the heights of the FBI.

I curl up in bed and set my phone on the nightstand. Tito hasn't checked in, and I’m not sure if I want him to. I don't know if I can keep lying to him—or myself. I should hate him for his sneaky, traitorous actions. I should want to murder him in his sleep for trying to own my father’s business, to prey up on his vulnerability after losing my brother. I should loathe him from somewhere deep in my soul.

But I don't.

For some ridiculous reason which I can't begin to comprehend, I actually felt guilty and ashamed of myself when Tito lunged out of that car, desperate to go clear his name. I come from a very long line of liars, scoundrels, and thieves, but I am not one of them. At the heart of who I am, my being can only anchor itself in compassion and concern for others. I thought I could do this, and maybe if I didn’t have this strange dynamic of being married to him, I could.

But I can't. I have to tell Carlos it's off now. I have to. Hurting Tito even in his business isn't who I am as a person. And now there is this strange bond.

Tonight at dinner, I expected him to scold me for sulking or order me to smile more. But something was different about him. He was kind and patient with me. The compliments he poured over my soul felt like droplets of water to a thirsty plant. He surrounded me, and yet he gave me space, and now I'm confused and conflicted. I may be developing feelings for him, but I can't. It would mean Jasper's killer goes free.

The phone rings, startling me, and I jolt and tense before taking a deep breath. It's just a phone call. The screen on my phone is lit up, but it's not the ringtone I saved for Tito. I push my naked form upward to prop myself on one elbow and see the caller ID displayed. It's Carlos. My shoulders tense. I don't want to talk to him. I should never have commissioned his help.

The phone stops ringing and the screen displays a notification that I have one missed call. Behind it is the picture of Jasper and me on the day of my wedding. He looks cross with me, and I know he was. He hated my marriage to Tito.

He tried to warn me.

I should have listened.

Now Jasper is dead and I'm in a mess of trouble.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.