Page 173

"You'll have to be patient with me. I haven't…shared—" Fuck, I hate that word so much, I stumble over it. One of Catarina's favorites. "—since my sister died."

"Your sister?" Her brow furrows. "Gabe, I didn't even know you had a sister."

Catarina. I exhale through my nose, and the familiar ache blooms sharp and immediate in my chest. It's worse today—stronger—because of what Damiano and I discovered a few days ago. The kid. Mynephew. The DNA results have landed, proving he's Damiano and Catarina's son. I knew it in my gut the second I understood the significance of that god damn ring around the boy's neck.

"My sister," I say quietly. No more hesitation. No lies. I'm never going to hide anything from her again. Not if I want this—us—to be real. "Catarina was killed. Three years ago."

The words come out flat, but she can see the pain on my face. I'm not hiding it. The raw edge that never quite dulls. The way my jaw tightens, and my eyes go distant for a second, remembering the morgue, the water damage, the fish marks, the video that showed up weeks ago with her screams still echoing in my skull.

Audra's expression turns to sorrow for me. "Oh… I'm sorry."

I nod once, pulling her a little closer even though part of me wants to get up and pace, burn off the sudden pressure in my chest. Instead, I stay wrapped around her, skin to skin, my cock still nestled inside her warmth like an anchor.

"She was my twin," I continue, holding nothing back. "Same eyes, same stubborn streak. She was the only person in this world who could make me laugh when I wanted to burn everything down. And then one day she was gone. We tore the city apart looking for her. We found her eventually. What was left of her."

I swallow hard. The ache is sharper now, tangled up with the revelation of her son. Catarina had been in love with Damiano. Had his kid. Worse, she kept it all from me. The kid, I still can't bring myself to say his name out loud.

Audra's hand comes up, hesitant, and rests against my cheek. Her thumb brushes the edge of my jaw. "I didn't know. I'm so sorry." She wiggles free of my arms, sliding away from me with a soft gasp as my cock slips out of her. The sudden loss of her heat hits me harder than it should. A sharp, hollow ache blooms in my chest, loneliness, raw and unfamiliar. I've spent years sleeping alone, waking alone, ruling alone. One night with her wrapped around me, and already the bed feels wrong without that.

Audra sits up, pulling the sheet over her breasts like a shield. Her copper hair is a wild mess around her shoulders, and her cheeks are still flushed from sex and confessions. But her eyes are serious now.

"Anyway," I shake it off. "A couple of days ago, Damiano and I found a kid, a three-year-old boy who turns out to be my nephew. Damiano and Catarina's son."

"Oh my God," her eyes are wide as saucers. She looks absolutely adorable. Maybe there is something to thatsharing. "And you didn't say anything?"

I shrug. "You had your own demons."

She pokes a finger into my chest, her eyes are blazing, and even though I just pulled out of her a few seconds ago, I'm already stiff again at the sight of her.

"I don't care what either of us has going on in their lives. We. Share." With each word, she stabs me harder in the chest, making me grin.

Because, whether she realizes it or not, she just planned our future together. I'm about to pull her into my arms when my phone rings. Brick.

"This better be good."

"Oh, it's good." I can hear the satisfied smirk in his voice. "We've got Salazar. Fucker walked right into the casino, demanding to talk to you."

I stare at the phone, not feeling any of the satisfaction Brick is projecting. This doesn't add up, not one bit. "Why the hell would the fucker walk in here?"

"Beats me, but I have him in the basement, ready for you."

I look at Audra, I promised her… no, I'll tell her about it once I know what the fucker wants. She can be there when he dies. That will have to be enough.

"I have to go," I tell her, then to Brick, "Get your ass up here and guard the women. Get extra guards, too." Something smells foul. I don't like this. Not one bit.

Audra jumps out of the bed and grabs my hand. She rises to her tiptoes and kisses me. "Be careful."

"Always am," I reply. I won't lie, her concern for me is… heartwarming. Fuck. Firstwhimsical,nowheartwarming? Next, I'm going to start watching Hallmark movies.

"I love you," I tell her again.

"I know."

I know she's not ready to say it back, but being worried about me is a good first step. "I'll be back soon. Stay out of trouble."

The door clicks shut behind him, and the penthouse suddenly feels too quiet. Too big. I stand there in the middle of the bedroom, still naked, his cum slowly leaking down my thigh, and his last words echo in my head like a gunshot that won't stop ringing.

I love you.