For the first time in my life, I actually felt weak. “Why have you been obsessed with me all these years?”
He clearly had a lot to say because he pushed away his plate and utensils. His arms rested on the surface, and he leaned forward. “We are the same. I told you that.” His eyes moved down to my plate before he looked at me again. “I noticed it a long time ago when you killed your father. Made me feel less alone…that someone else would do something so heinous. I watched you progress in your career. You’re a self-made man. I admire that.”
I listened to every word and hated myself for the attention I gave him. It was the first time I’d wanted to understand him fully because he was the kind of opponent I had never faced before.
“My respect and admiration only grew through the years. You were just a pawn in a game, but then you became the knight. I’ve watched you cut down everyone around you, and the pride grew inside me like a balloon…even though I didn’t know you. Once you became my primary adversary, I’d never been so impressed by anyone in my life. You’re a special man, Hades. I can never kill you because that would be a crime against humanity.”
I’d never been fearful of someone’s respect. I was afraid of people’s murderous intent, but not their praise. “So, you’ve always wanted me as a partner. You’ve plotted all of this to keep me tethered to your side.” Realization dawned on me that Maddox was far more intelligent than I’d ever given him credit for. He was patient and calculating, seeing the big picture when everyone else could only see the immediate event before them. He maliciously removed Sofia from my life so he could have me all to himself. It was so harsh, I almost stopped breathing.
“In so many words…” He grabbed his glass of wine and took another sniff, like the fumes from the alcohol could affect him through his lungs. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone…never wanted anyone so much.”
I was actually scared of this man. He had me by the balls, could get me to do anything he wanted. All he had to do was threaten Sofia and Andrew, and I’d be bent over and ready to be fucked like a whore. It made me so sick, I nearly threw up everything I’d just eaten. I felt even worse for what happened to Sofia…that she’d had to endure this for weeks. “You’ve forced a partnership, so it’s not based on loyalty or respect. It’s empty because you know I despise you. If you forced any other kind of relationship, the results would be the same…empty.” I refused to beg for my freedom, but I also refused to lie down and give in. Suicide returned to my thoughts because I’d rather be dead than have to live like this.
Maddox set down his wineglass and looked at me with disappointment. The silence continued for a long time, as if he was considering the perfect thing to say. Both of his arms rested across the table, and he leaned forward again to regard me. “If we solidified our partnership, we’d be unstoppable. Our reign wouldn’t only be in Italy. It would stretch all over the world, and it would be so much sweeter if we were more.”
I’d never been hit on by a dude, and it wouldn’t bother me so much if the request were optional. But I knew it was only a matter of time before Maddox pressured me to give him what he wanted. He wouldn’t have been this obsessed with me for so long if I’d really had a choice. I would be spared tonight, but not spared forever. “We’ll never be more, Maddox. Let’s not forget what you did to my wife. Maybe you’ve forgotten, but I never will.”
“It wasn’t personal. And she’s your ex-wife.”
My right hand tightened into a fist. “It doesn’t matter if I hate her. She was still my wife, and you did something you can’t take back. I will always despise you for what you did to my family. You’ve threatened my son many times, and I’m not going to pretend that didn’t happen. I will never reciprocate your feelings, not just because I’m straight, but I absolutely loathe you. If you want me, you’re going to have to force me.”
His gaze was impassive, and his eyes were wide open like he didn’t need to blink. His body tensed in the subtlest way, like he was channeling his rage to every part of his body. He could express so much with so little, and that’s what made him innately creepy. Both of his hands formed fists on the table. “You know I have no problem doing that.”