Page 84 of Explosive Union
I finally smile. Good. That means I have time to go home, shower with my wife, and then fuck her like I wanted to this morning.
“Is she okay?” he asks me. “That was fucking crazy, bro. You hurt her, and forget about the family coming for you. She’d gut you where you sleep.”
I chuckle. “I know.”
“You don’t give a fuck. You’re completely gone, brother. But honestly, I couldn’t have chosen better for you. She may not have been the woman you expected, but she’s more than you could have ever hoped for.”
He’s right. I am completely gone for her. I love my wife, and I’m fucking lucky that she is who she is. Having a woman who’s like my mother or sisters would have led to a boring life. Whereas with Jade, I doubt that I’ll ever be able to know what’s coming.
“First thing tomorrow, your ass is at home. We have a meeting with our father. He’s wanting to expedite things, and that means telling Dario.”
The sharp intake of his breath tells me he agrees with that just as much as I do. “You think that’s for the best?”
I watch as Jade strides back to the car, her head held high. She looks more relaxed. Coming here has definitely helped.
“No, but he’s the boss, and what he wants—goes. So unfortunately, we’re going to have to deal with the fallout of whatever happens when Dario finds out,” I respond. “I’ve gotta go. Don’t be late.”
“I won’t. See you tomorrow.”
I end the call just as Jade slides back into the car. “Ready to go home?” she asks as she backs out of the parking lot.
“I’m ready to bury myself in you.”
Her laughter is soft and husky. “That can be arranged.”
She’s lighter as she drives home, no longer wound up tight. I just pray that it stays this way. Her cell buzzes from the center console and she reaches for it.
“Hayden and Adelina have set a date,” she informs me, something my father should have done. “Two weeks from now.”
I blink. “What?” I hiss. “Why the fuck is it in two weeks?”
She raises a brow at me. “Did I set the date? No,” she says bitchily. “But it’s set, and, Roc, there’s nothing you can do about it now. So suck it up.”
“Suck it up? I’m not five.”
She giggles, her smile wide. “Then stop acting like it. Your sister is older than I am. She’s known that one day she’ll get married, I’m surprised being part of the famiglia that she’s not already married.”
“She was supposed to marry five years ago, but her fiancé died.” Tomasso Fugo. The man was an asshole the majority of time, but he was a good captain. One who was well respected. Did I like that my sister was engaged to him? No, but there wasn’t anything I could do about it. He wanted Ade and the deal was done.
“I’m sorry,” she replies softly.
“Honestly, I’m not sure who would have been better for her. Him or Hayden.”
She shrugs. “Nothing I say will make you view my brother differently, and that’s something I’ll come to terms with, but I will tell you that Hay won’t ever hurt her.”
The way that she talks about Hayden is as if he’s her best friend. I know they’re close but didn’t realize that they were this close. “How did you get so close? I’d die for my brothers, but you and Hayden, you’re closer than I am with Elio.”
“He’s closer in age to me than Hayes is. I love both of my brothers, but when we were younger, Hayden and I were terrors.” Her laughter rings through the car. “It’s always been instilled in me that family is everything. But when I was kidnapped at seven, Hayden grew protective, as did I. I will do anything to ensure that those I love are safe.” Her words are definite, like she’s talking from experience.
I narrow my eyes at her words. “What have you done to keep them safe?”
“You’re not going to like it,” she tells me, her shoulders straight and her head held high. She turns into the gates to our home. “I took the fall for Hayden.”
“I’m sorry, what?” I hiss, leaning into her. I must have misheard her. There’s no fucking way that she went to prison for her brother.
She sighs as she parks the car. “You heard what I said.”
“Why the fuck would you do that?” I’m furious. Beyond fucking that. “Better question, why would he allow you to do it?”