Page 104 of Vicious Kingdom

My fingers found their way to his face, tracing the sharp line of his jaw. The stubble there scratched pleasantly against my skin.

“You have a lot on your plate. We’ll survive,” I promised, even though I didn’t believe the words because I was still so unsure how that would possibly happen.

Leo sighed and carefully untangled our bodies. He wet a paper towel and began to dab at my legs. Only once he was done did he face me.

“Give me his name.”

My heart ached. He didn’t believe my story. What was worse than the shame about the Tormentor was the fact that Leo would think I was a big fat liar. “I chose you because you could protect me. I’m safe here.”

His voice was pure granite. “So you do know who attacked you?”

“It’s over, Leo. I’m yours. You said so yourself.”

“And no one touches what’s mine,” he insisted.

Those words sent a double thump through my chest. “I’m burying it before it becomes a story,” I pleaded.

“There is no story worth keeping him alive.”

“But don’t you see? Now that we’re together, now that we’remarried—” I held up the simple wedding band “—what happens to me, affects you.”

“Anna—”

“It’s over.”

“You’d prefer to create a wedge between us?” Leo insisted.

“Is that what’s happening?” I snapped. “Are you going to let his torment fester?”

Leo worked his jaw back and forth. “No one threatens my girl and lives.”

“Lay your ego to rest, please. I’m begging you. It’s over. We’ve won, we’re together!” How couldn’t he see that? There would be no more surprise attacks. No more dark corners where that putrid body could touch me. I was free—I had what I wanted. I had Leo!

“If you think I’m the kind of man, who will suffer this assault, you don’t know me at all.” Leo pushed away and strode upstairs.

I laid back on the counter, chest heaving and heart sinking. My finger throbbed. My body hurt from our desperate attempts to close the rift between us, but the distance loomed, tangible, insurmountable. My heart wept. He was so far from me, from us, from what we had built in such a short time. The chasm between us was still there, a tormented shout that only I seemed to hear.

Once again, I waited, hoping Leo would calm down and see this as his choice to stay or leave, his choice to fight or forgive. I waited, not knowing if he’d ever come back to me. It was the same impasse I had been facing for years. And if I wasn’t careful, I might slip and fall into the abyss.

Chapter 37 – Leonardo

Sweet Annaliese, she thought I didn’t know.

But I did.

Every night, she snuck into my bedroom for a couple of hours, napping on the opposite side of the bed. She would set her alarm to vibrate and sneak away, thinking I didn’t know. But that was one of the few secrets I’d discovered.

That and the fact that after all this time, she was still my little authoress.

And yet, standing under the harsh lights of the Coliseum, the truth was glaringly obvious. Neither of us trusted the other with our secrets. The only difference was, she was good at unraveling mine.

She knew about this place, knew where I was going tonight. Apparently, Penelope begged the don to let her come along, to wait in the upper room and watch the fun below.

It was simply out of the question.

My wife belonged at home, where she was safe.

I sat at the poker table and pushed the chips in for the opening bet.