Second (Betrothed 6)

“But it does happen. Fighters lapse into comas and never wake up again. They break their legs and can’t walk for a year. They develop internal bleeding that leads to hemorrhaging. Don’t pretend fighting is safe. The objective is to knock your opponent out cold.”

“Then why did you marry him?” Now his tone was a bit chilly when it was so warm minutes ago. He turned on me, comforting me one moment and then condemning me the next.

I turned to him, provoked by the question. “What kind of question is that?”

“A legitimate one. Why marry a man who fights for a living if you hate it so much? Why marry a man who fucked someone else while you struggled through the hardest thing you’ve ever had to deal with in your whole life? Why—”

“I told you why, Damien.”

He turned away, his jaw tight. “That’s not a good enough reason, Annabella. You’re one hell of a woman, and you deserve one hell of a man.”

“Well, you’re the only one-hell-of-a-man I’ve ever met, and you don’t want me.” The bitterness came out of my mouth so fast, like a striking snake. I didn’t even have time to think about it before I blurted it out of my angry lips.

He pivoted his body toward me. “It’s not that I don’t—”

Hades and Sofia stepped out of the room.

Our conversation was abandoned because all we cared about was her. We both got to our feet and started firing off questions.

“Everything okay?” I asked.

“What did the doctor say?” Damien asked.

Hades had his arm around Sofia, who had her hand over her stomach. “The baby is safe, and so is Sofia. It was just some cramping. The doctor ran some tests, and everything came back good. We’re in the clear.”

“Oh good.” My hand pressed into my chest with relief. “I’m so happy to hear that…”

“That’s great news.” Damien gripped his friend’s shoulder then patted him on the back before he hugged Sofia and kissed her on the cheek.

I knew Damien could be dark and cold, even with me, but when I saw him interact with Hades and Sofia…he was a whole new man. He’d give his life for either one of them. I could tell just by watching.

Hades started to walk with Sofia. “I’m gonna take her home. You’ll figure out your own way?”

“Don’t worry about me.” Damien lingered behind and started to walk with me.

“I can give you a ride,” I offered, even though I didn’t want to. Nothing but bad things happened when we were alone together. Or good things…depending on how you looked at it.

Damien nodded in agreement. “Thanks.”

I liked having a car, but I didn’t care for the model.

Bugatti.

Liam insisted I get it because he wanted the world to know what I was worth, but I thought it was ridiculously extravagant and not me whatsoever. I’d rather sell this car so Liam could retire than continue to drive it around like some kind of royal.

Damien didn’t comment on the vehicle. He just sat there quietly…looking out the window.

It was a long drive, even though his office was only fifteen minutes away.

We listened to the radio to pass the time, and every once in a while, he pulled his sleeve back to glance at the time on his nice watch. His hair was styled the way I liked, and his tanned skin peeked out from underneath his cuffs sometimes…beautiful.

I parked in front of the entrance to the bank and waited for him to leave.

He made no move to open the door. He continued to look out the window as if he didn’t realize where we were. After a quiet sigh that filled the car, he turned to me, his green eyes packed with so much intensity, it seemed like he might kiss me.

I held his gaze because I didn’t know what else to do. I was paralyzed by the look, so weak I couldn’t even blink. I didn’t want to miss a single word, a single movement he might make. My mind was transported back in time, and I stood naked in front of him, frozen by that exact same gaze. I was entirely his, and no one else could claim me…not even my own husband. Damien already owned every piece of my body, had kissed my most tender places with embraces that still burned. My body was covered with his scars, a map of everywhere he’d been. No matter how many showers I took, I couldn’t wash him off. Sometimes, I smelled him on my sheets, smelled him on my clothes, but that simply wasn’t possible.

He didn’t say anything, and he turned away when he realized he wasn’t going to. He opened the door, got out, and walked away. No words were spoken, but a lengthy conversation had just happened between us. The heat from the fire was in the car, making my skin flush and turn pink. The wine we’d already drunk was in my veins, still potent even though it’d been ingested months ago. Memories so sharp they cut us both made us bleed all over the seats.