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“Trafficking shouldn’t be a crime?” I’m agape at her defending such heinous acts.
“Yes. But they don’t do that. They’re involved in gambling, which apparently is okay in a state lottery or at a casino, but for some reason, not when they run it. Real estate and construction, food industry, entertainment… organized crime is involved in all of those, but for some reason?—”
“They commit fraud or extort or take advantage of people?—”
“And corporations don’t?” She arches a brow.
I can see that I’m not going to win this argument. I turn away.
She’s quiet for a moment but then sighs. “Kate, I don’t condone bad acts, but I love Niko and my children so much that I’d do anything to be with them. Perhaps it’s easier for me to live in it because I grew up in it. I understand it. But my world doesn’t have the market on bad behavior. You’re naïve if you believe your normal, regular world is squeaky clean.”
It's not the same, I tell myself, and yet, I know there’s a kernel of truth to what she’s saying.
“If you really are so against Liam’s work, you need to go to him right now and tell him to take you home. Get out of it. Call the police to protect you.”
My stomach clenches because I know that right now, my safety relies on Liam and Niko. She’s telling me to put up or shut up.
“It also means we can’t be friends, which would really hurt because while I know you resent me for what happened, I’d never had a friend, a real friend, until you, and I’d hate to lose that.”
Tears well in my eyes. I’m overwrought emotionally.
“Oh, honey.” She walks over to me, her arms outstretched to hug me. I give in, letting her hold me. “I’m sorry I was so defensive. I know this is scary and difficult. And with the baby, you must be exhausted. Why don’t I show you to your room, and you can rest?”
I nod as I step back and wipe the tears from my face.
“Let me get the babies?—”
“No. Don’t disturb them. I’ll have Rosa show me,” I say.
“Are you sure?”
I muster a smile. “Absolutely.”
She studies me like she isn’t sure but then goes to the sunroom door. Opening it, she calls for Rosa.
“Can you take Kate up to her room?”
“Of course.” Rosa leads me upstairs and shows me to an opulent room with a window seat.
When she leaves me alone, I sit at the window, wishing I could sort my life out. Do I love Liam enough to look the other way regarding his work? Is Elena right and his work’s not so different from other business? Corruption is everywhere, right? Am I just looking for an excuse? And if I am, does it matter? Elena doesn’t seem to care that her excuses are justifications. She loves Niko. There’s no doubt that he’s completely devoted to her. I can hardly blame her for choosing to be loved like that.
Feeling tired, I move to the bed and lie down. The last two days run through my mind. I’d never been happier than with Liam… laughing, playing, making love. And it happened knowing about the man he is.
The truth becomes crystal clear. I want what I had the last two days. I want it for the rest of my days. The more I acknowledge that, the more I want it. The more I don’t care about the rest. Is that how it is for Elena?
I squeeze my eyes shut as tears come again because I know Liam won’t care about what I want. He’s singularly focused on having me go back to my old life. But I can’t, I realize. Even without Liam, my life is forever changed. I’ve seen and experienced things that I can’t undo, and the thought of living the rest of my life without him is unbearable. To never feel his touch. For him to not know his child. That’s not how life should go.
What can I do to change his mind and make him decide to stay with me and the baby?
27
LIAM
Istride into Niko’s, heading straight for the bar. I don't know why I bother. There is no amount of booze that can fix what's wrong with me. I can't regret giving in to my desires, both emotionally and physically, over the last couple of days to immerse myself in Kate. But it's making the withdrawal from her all the worse. I'm going to have to go through the rest of my fucking life with a hole in my chest.
"When are you going to end this thing?" Lucy demands.
"Tone it down, Lucy," Niko says as he moves to his desk.
