“Isn’t it? I am your oldest friend. Your only friend. Don’t think I haven’t watched you fake your way through life all these years. I know that you changed when Stella died. And I might not know all the particulars of it, but you lost yourself. You became only that shallow playboy. Though you were never only that. This... This is actually more the real you. You being an asshole, that is.”
“A very good friend you are.”
“It’s true. So tell me. What is it that’s going on?”
“She brought me here to protect her. This is not a love match.”
“Well, I say bullshit to that. It’s obvious that she loves you.”
He gritted his teeth. “She does.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“I can’t love her.”
“You can’t love her? This is your version of not loving somebody?” Dante chuckled. “I’m surprised literal heads haven’t rolled over this. You’re on a warpath, my friend. If this isn’t love, what is?”
“Justice,” he bit out. “Nothing more than justice.”
“Is that so?”
“You’re reading into things that are not there.”
“Why not love her?”
“Because it’s too dangerous. I let my guard down with her. She was nearly killed because I...because I spent the night with her hands tied over her head driving her mindless with pleasure, and then she said she loved me and I was consumed in my own feelings, too much so to pay attention to what was happening.”
“I’m sorry—are you blaming sex and feelings for the fact that someone tried to assassinate her? Because her feelings are not what caused someone to attempt that.”
“You don’t understand.”
“No, I don’t.”
“I was complacent the day that Stella died too.”
“You could not have protected Stella. You didn’t know what was coming.”
“I should have,” he said. “I should have known. I should’ve done something to save her.”
“But you didn’t. You couldn’t have. Hindsight is all well and good, Maximus, but it doesn’t change the past.”
“People lie to you about who they are,” he said. “They lie to you and then...and then it only puts those you care about in danger.”
“What are you talking about?”
“My father...he’s not everything he appears to be.”
“Your father rescued me from a life of... I would be dead by now if it weren’t for your father.”
“I know. But Stella is dead because of him. Because of his choices.”
“If you have a problem with your father, you should talk to him.”
“There’s nothing to say. There is nothing to say except that actions he made in business created enemies who destroyed my life. And I could never... I could never look at him the same way again.”
“Is this about your grief over Stella’s death? Or is it about anger toward him? Him disappointing you and abusing your love?”
That made him stop. “It’s not.”