Page 31 of Relentless Sinner
When a wayward tear runs down my cheek I look away, not wanting him to see me cry.
Eve goes off to get the ice and Jaxon marches toward me.
He touches my face. I try to pull away but he holds me in place.
“I’m fine,” I tell him, trying to move away again.
“You’re not fucking fine. Why didn’t you call me?” He holds my arm.
“What for? The two of you are using me for the same damn thing. Aren’t you?” I know I’m out of line but it’s true. “Why would I call you?”
Guilt flashes in his eyes but it’s quickly replaced by that hard look that reminds me he’s the boss. “You call me because you’re mine.”
My lips part in surprise. I don’t know what I expected to hear but it wasn’t that. I’ve never belonged to anybody before. I’ve hardly belonged to myself.
“Your father is not coming back here to see you,” he adds. “And next time he gets out of line donotstop me.”
Another tear trickles down my cheek. Eve returns with an ice pack and Jaxon places it on my face, keeping his gaze fixed on me the whole time.
Once again I feel like I’m in a state of flux but I’d rather play devil’s advocate and side with the beast.
Dad said he needed me to stay put. I think he’s still planning whatever it is he was planning. And it’s not good, nor does it include Jaxon.
Whatever it is, I want no part of it.
I just want my life back.
Chapter Seven
Jaxon
“That fucking bastard doesn’t know who he’s dealing with,” I sneer, pressing my phone to my ear.
“Are you sure Salvatore didn’t say anything to Gabriella about what he’s up to?” Micah asks. I’ve just filled him in on what happened with Salvatore.
“Nothing.” At least nothing more than what she told me.
I walk into my office, close the door, and sit in the large leather chair.
I’ve decided I’m working from home today. After what just happened it didn’t sit well with me to leave Gabriella. She’s with Eve now. They’ve gone for a walk in the woods.
I feel responsible for the massive bruise on her face and the terror she must have felt when her father hit her. I wish I’d done more damage to him. No way did I anticipate his behavior. Not here in my house withmehere.
“Gabriella didn’t have much to say,” I continue. “Salvatore wasn’t with her for very long. Just long enough to attack her.”
I should have known he was going to react that way. The man is a fucking psycho.
I was in the other room on standby. It wasn’t until he started raising his voice that I knew he was getting worked up.
“We need to keep watching him.” Micah’s voice sounds stern.
“I don’t know if that’s enough. He’s fucking planning something, Micah, and I need to put a stop to it. He told Gabriella to stay put—as in stay with me—and I don’t think that was because ofourdeal.” Salvatore sounded desperate. I didn’t hear anything he said before that but I’m sure there was some hidden clue there about what he’s up to. “I want to lock his ass up until after the wedding.”
“I don’t think you should do that, Jaxon.”
“Why the fuck not?”
“Because then we won’t know what he’s planning. All we know so far is that he’s desperately trying to figure out a way to replace the money he stole from the Castellanos and pay off the other fuckers he owes.”