Page 89 of Jetmir

My biological father wanted to kill me before I’d even drawn a first breath. My own mother couldn’t feel that her own flesh and blood roamed this earth. It must have meant I wasn’t worthy of being loved.

“Jetmir?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you, son,” Kian said slowly. “You’ve always made me proud. I’m here to tell you that you’re worthy of your wife and her love, however, you’re going to lose her if you hold on too tight.”

Something tightened in my throat and pierced me in the fucking chest.

It was the first time he uttered those words to me. Not even my own mother had said them, although deep down, I knew—or hoped—that she did.

I inhaled deeply, then said, “I have to go, Kian. Thank you for the talk.”

I hung up before he could say anything else, and continued to sit on the edge of my bed, my elbows on my knees and a steady burn radiating in my chest.

Three years ago, my wife left me, and the worst part was, I was to blame. No matter what my bloodline, who was after us, it was ultimately my actions that led to our destruction.

Now, I had to make it all right somehow.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

LIANA

Commotion erupted somewhere beyond the closed door of my home office, followed by a muffled curse, then a raised voice that was unmistakably male.

I lifted my head from the computer screen, my fingers still resting on the keyboard.

Another voice answered, calmer but no less irritated and I recognized it. It was my husband’s.

The shouting grew louder, footsteps crossing the hallway, and I suspected they were coming my way.

I pushed my chair back just as the office door swung open.

Raphael Santos stood in the doorway, looking furious.

My husband Giovani stood behind him, looking less concerned, but annoyed. There wasn’t much in this world that frazzled Giovanni. Men who thought they could intimidate him certainly didn’t rank high on the list.

“Sorry, my love,” Giovanni said, gesturing toward Raphael with one hand. “The man is annoying and persistent.”

The corners of my mouth twitched. “Much like you.”

Giovanni’s mouth curved into that infuriatingly charming smile of his. It was probably the reason he swept me off my feet all those years ago. And even now, my heart still skipped a beat.

Time had changed us. We had buried people we loved, survived things I still didn’t like to remember, built a life together, and somehow, we endured it all.

I couldn’t quite believe I’d gotten so lucky with him. I didn’t deserve him. I’d thought that more times than I could count.

But I was keeping him.

Raphael cleared his throat, and I slowly turned my attention to him. Whatever gentle emotions had been lingering in my chest disappeared.

My son’s father-in-law stood rigidly in the doorway, shoulders squared, his cold eyes fixed on me.

“Raphael,” I greeted him.

“Liana.” His voice was clipped. “Where the fuck is your son?”

“None of your fucking business,” I said coldly.