Wife (Betrothed 1)

It didn’t stop me from hating her.

I fucking hated her.

I pulled out my phone and tried to text Damien…but I couldn’t even spell. I called him instead.

He picked up immediately. “Haven’t heard from you in a few days. I’m guessing you’re busy with Sofia.”

I didn’t want to hear her name. Like someone had poured acid into my eardrums, it burned. “I need a ride.”

“Why?”

“I…I just need a ride.” I could barely get a single sentence out. I slurred my words and sounded idiotic.

Damien pieced the puzzle together. “Holy shit, are you drunk?”

“Just come get me.” I hung up.

My phone rang again, and I struggled to take the call. “Hmm?”

“You need to tell me where you are.”

“A bar.” I hung up again.

He called me again. “Hang up on me again, and I’ll kill you.”

“I doubt it.”

“What’s the name of the bar?”

“Uh…” I turned to a woman sitting beside me. “Do you know where we are?”

“Santino’s.”

“Thanks.” I winked at her and turned back to the phone. “Santino’s.”

She leaned forward on her stool to get my attention. “I can give you a ride home.”

I was too drunk to fuck. “Nah.”

“Alright,” Damien said. “Sit tight. I’ll be there soon.”

Damien got into the driver’s seat of his truck and drove me home.

I rested my head against the window, the cool temperature fighting the migraine pulsing in my temples. My eyes were closed, and I focused on the vibration of the vehicle, on the old potholes we ran over.

“Don’t throw up, alright? This is a nice truck.”

“Should I throw up on you, then?”

“Fuck off.” He turned right then approached my building. He got through the gate and entered the underground parking garage. “So…are you going to tell me what’s up? Or do I need to ask?”

I didn’t want to move from my seat in the car. It wasn’t comfortable, but it was better than standing. “No.”

“I’ve never seen you drunk like this. Whatever it is, it must be bad.”

“I’m fine.” I pulled on the handle and opened the door…and fell on my ass.

Damien sighed. “Yeah, you look fine.” He came around the truck and helped me to my feet, throwing my arm over his shoulders so he could support me to the elevator. He got me inside and then helped me take the stairs to my bedroom.

When I saw my bed, I immediately crashed on it.

I fucking hated this bed. I’d told Helena to order me a new one. I’d gotten new sheets in the meantime…so it wouldn’t smell like her.

Damien pulled off my shoes.

I kicked him away. “Knock it off.”

“Just shut up and hold still.” He pulled off both shoes and left my socks on.

I lay on my back and stared at the ceiling, my eyes closing now that I was comfortable.

Damien pulled up an armchair close to the bed and kicked off his own shoes.

“What the fuck are you doing?”

“Making sure you don’t choke on your vomit.”

“I’m fine. Let me choke.”

“Just shut up and go to sleep.”

I was slipping away. “You shut up…”

When I woke up, I was sober…but I felt worse than I had last night. I dragged my hand over my face and felt the pulse in my temple. I opened my eyes and reached for my nightstand, finding a glass of water and a couple of pills.

I love you, Helena.

When I turned back over, I noticed Damien sitting there, his feet on the bed while wearing the same clothes as the night before. His eyes were heavy from exhaustion, probably because he’d been up all night making sure I would last until morning. “You look like shit.”

“Trust me, you don’t look much better.” I sat up then stripped off my leather jacket. I vaguely remembered being warm last night, kicking my feet to get the sheets as far away as possible. I rested my elbows on my knees and rubbed my face with my palms, still feeling sick even though I’d had nine hours to detox.

“I look better than you—any day.” He lowered his feet from the bed and straightened. “Now, we’re gonna talk about the shitshow last night. What happened?”

“I drank too much.”

He gave me a cold look. “You let your guard down out in the open. What if someone spotted you and decided to take you out? What if you crossed paths with Maddox?”

“He’d be stupid to show his face in my city.”

“Hades, come on. What happened with Sofia? You’ve broken up before and never lost your shit like this. What the hell happened?”

Destiny happened. “I asked her to marry me. She said no.” That was the simplest explanation I could give. I put my heart out there, living in the moment, and it all went to shit. I wanted her in my house every night, safe under my roof. I wanted to fuck her every night in my bed. I wanted to help her run her hotel so she could have everything she wanted.