Page 111 of Burning Caine
“It was a private sale. It was secret!” He ran his fingers through his hair in desperation.
“You couldn’t have told me it was a fake without saying anything more?”
“I wanted to, but—but you would have asked how I knew. I saw how you worked at the auction. You don’t let things go.”
“You dragged out cleaning it for three weeks, knowing the pressure I was under!” I fumed. “All the little tests you ran on it? Snapping your fingers, so I’d come running like a little lap dog? Is that what I was to you? Nothing more than a fucking challenge? You’re all alike!”
He clenched his jaw. “I didn’t want to let you go so quickly.”
“You could have asked me on a fucking date instead of playing this stupid game!”
“I did. You said no!” His voice broke as his tears fell. “Over and over again! I needed something to hold onto you with.”
“Well, guess what.” I didn’t need to say more. He knew. I looked at him—at the tears in his eyes. The need to slap him was strong. He’d ruined everything.
He hung his head and reached for my hands again.
I stood and wiped my eyes roughly. “We need to go. Nathan will be waiting for me.”
We headed back downstairs together and we kept up appearances. I let him put an arm around my waist as his family came to say goodbye. We walked out like that, and he helped me into the car. I programmed the GPS and turned away from him, ignoring him the whole way.
When we arrived at the gas station where I’d arranged to meet Nathan, Antonio hurried to open my door, but I didn’t wait for him. Unfortunately, he got there in time to close it for me, taking away my chance to slam it.
“You know what hurts the most, Antonio? How many times we talked about the importance of honesty and trust, and the people who betrayed us. All the while, you were lying to me.”
He grabbed my hand and fell to his knees. “Samantha, one more fresh start, please.”
“Enjoy Naples.” I wrenched my hand free, not looking back. “Four months should net you four girlfriends. Should be fun.”
As I approached the car, Nathan met me, wrapping his arms around me. “Did he hurt you? Did he touch you?”
I shook my head, unable to speak. I had to get away. I could break down in the car.
“Samantha!” Antonio pleaded one more time.
Nathan moved around me. “Leave her the fuck alone, you asshole. Haven’t you done enough?”
I turned to see them. Antonio was up, Nathan stalking toward him. But Antonio’s eyes stayed on me, and he didn’t see the right hook coming until it connected with his cheek.
I let out a strangled sob. “Stop! Take me home!”
Antonio’s head jerked back up, eyes still locked on me. “I am so sorry!”
Nathan growled at him, not budging. “Get lost. She doesn’t want to see you anymore.”
“Go home, Antonio. Just go home.” I turned back to Nathan’s car, collapsed into the passenger seat, and fell apart.
Chapter 43
Samantha
Nathanrefusedtotakeme to my hotel. Instead, we went to Cass and Kevin’s. I slept in their guest room and he slept on the couch. She’d tried to get me to open up about what happened, but I just wanted to be by myself. The way I should have stayed. Antonio was too good to be true. I shouldn’t have let him in.
When I woke the next morning, I peeked at my phone. Twenty texts from Antonio. Five calls. Two emails. All apologies and excuses. I read the first few and almost caved, then mass-deleted everything.
By the time I came downstairs, everyone was gathered for breakfast. After eating their fill, while I pushed food around my plate, the kids got dressed and ran out back to play on their swing set. I helped Nathan clean up the dishes when Cass tried again to get me to talk.
“It’s time.”