Jesus, it’s too rough. The boat rocks hard from side to side, carried by the waves. Whatever I do with the remaining paddle counts for shit. Water soaks me, and I start to cry. I can’t see anybody coming for me.
Dad, where are you?
Jesus, where is Dad?
I glance back to the entrance of the cave when another wave hits me. I’m shocked that I can barely see it. I didn’t realize I was that far away.
I’m so far away, and the waters
are getting more turbulent. Another high-rise wave rolls toward me. I scream when it hits the boat so hard it twists me right around and makes me feel sick, like I’m going to vomit.
More waves are coming, higher and stronger looking than the last. So high they seem to touch the sky.
I don’t think I’m going to make it.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Massimo
God, I don’t have time for this.
Arguing about fucking shit.
I’ve never met a more stubborn woman. It’s because I know her why I’m sparing the time to have this fucking argument.
I’m not violent toward women. It’s not my way, but fuck, this woman has me all riled up in ways I can’t describe.
It took all of ten minutes just for me to get her fucking clothes back on.
“Something is wrong with you,” she snaps at me, setting her hands on her hips.
“What? What the fuck could be wrong with me? I told you we can’t play this game anymore,” I retort. I’m loud and I know I could be causing a scene. What I’m mindful of is Emelia coming in here after hearing the argument and seeing Gabriella.
I know what Gabriella is like. If that happened, she’d find some way to make Emelia feel bad about shit.
“Massimo, you’re saying this because of the marriage. It’s not real. It’s an arranged marriage to conquer an enemy. You and I are more than that. Look how many years we’ve been together,” she says, giving me an incredulous glare, like I should see her point.
The thing is, I do see it. If I had been with anybody, it should have been her. We’ve been screwing around the way we have for the last ten years.
I look at her and know she can see what everyone else who’s close to me in is seeing when it comes to Emelia. Some show me respect. Some keep quiet. She wants to ruin it.
I fucking hate being forced to do anything. I’m not ready to accept whatever it is I feel for Emelia, but being backed into a corner with a naked woman on my lap I used to fuck on the regular woke me up in a massive way.
Gabriella came here and tried to seduce me again, and I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t do shit because I want Emelia. I want my wife. If that is who I want, I have to tell Gabriella straight that she’s to stop this shit.
“Listen to me,” I say, walking up to her. I get close, real close. So close I see the tremble in her skin she tries to hide. She’s always been afraid of me, never knowing if I just might snap if she pushes me the wrong way. Today came damn close. “Listen to me, Gabriella, and listen well. Today is the last day you do this. You are not to come back here, and you are not to message me about shit again. You are not to come anywhere near me or try to pull shit like you did today ever again.”
She can no longer hide the shaking. Her eyes brim with tears, but I know she won’t cry. She’s not a crier. It’s not that she’s strong. She just doesn’t want to reveal that vulnerability.
“Right. So, this is it? The end of us.” Her voice quivers.
“We ended when you thought it was a good idea to jump in bed with Senator Braxton. That was it for me. We ended a long time ago.” That is the truth and more emotion than I would normally reveal. It tells her I was hurt by what she did.
“You will never love her. You loved me.”
“Just go.” I can’t talk about this anymore.
She cuts me a crude glance, gathers her purse, and storms out at the same time Tristan and Dominic walk into the sitting room. She almost bumps into Tristan as she makes her exit, heels clicking.