Page 68 of Taking His Heart

“Nice to meet you.” I nod at the woman.

“How did you already know who I was?” Faith asks me.

“I know who everyone connected to my wife is,” I tell her.

“Oh, he dropped the my wife.” Faith rolls her eyes. “Well, as Daniella’s slighter older and wiser friend, that’s not going to work on me. I don’t care what kind of caveman ownership bullshit you think you have on her. She was mine first.”

“You really don’t want to challenge me when it comes to who my wife belongs to,” I warn her.

“CJ, calm your farm. She’s kidding.” Daniella pats my chest. “I need a drink, and I happen to know where my father keeps the really good stuff.”

“You need to tell me everything! How did this happen? I thought we hated him?”

“I never hated CJ,” Daniella says.

“No, I hated him for both of us, remember?” Faith clarifies.

Daniella laughs. And me? Well, I follow behind the two women as Daniella leads us to god only knows where.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“Who is that finery you’re hiding away in this house?” Faith whispers to me as I lead her to the living room my parents use the most.

“Who?” I ask her.

“The man who was standing next to your husband,” she says. “Okay, that’s going to take a bit to get used to saying.”

“I know, but I do love hearing it. And that is Elias, CJ’s cousin, and not someone you want to go near. Take my word for it, Faith. Your father—shit, your mother and your grandfather would all have a coronary,” I tell her.

Faith is cousins with Zara, Ares’s girlfriend. They’re both heiresses to one of Australia’s wealthiest families. But Faith’s grandfather? Who is also Zara’s father’s uncle… I know. Complicated family to keep track of. Anyway, he’s a psychopath. I hear he feeds his enemies to his pigs, and they’re not always dead when he does. Then again, I’ve heard the same rumors about Zara’s dad and my cousin is still alive. So maybe they are just rumors.

“Nah, my daddy would never believe I’d date anyone.” Faith laughs. She has done a weirdly good job of keeping her dating life out of the public and her family’s eyes.

“Faith, I’m serious. You do not want to go there. Tell her, CJ.” I turn and give my husband a look, letting him know he is supposed to agree with me.

“Tell her what?” he asks.

“That Elias is not someone she wants to touch.”

CJ chuckles. “Good luck getting him to let you touch him. That man doesn’t let people touch him.”

“That’s not what I meant. Just tell her she should steer clear of him,” I groan. Sometimes even the smartest of people can be so dense.

“Yeah, you should definitely stay clear of him,” CJ finally agrees.

“Okay, I won’t touch the hot, moody man.” Faith holds her hands in the air. “But you! I do want to hear all about the man you’ve been touching.” She links her arm with mine.

“I’m right here,” CJ says.

“And?” Faith asks him. “If you don’t want to hear about your performance or lack thereof in the sack, I suggest you go find somewhere else to be. Because Daniella and I have a lot of catching up to do.”

Faith is nothing if not forward. She’s never afraid to say what she thinks, or tell other people what they should be doing. She has confidence in spades. I think it’s an only-child thing. She’s grown up with both of her parents doting on every little thing she does or says.

“I’m not afraid to hear about my performance, and I’m pretty sure Daniella doesn’t have any complaints,” CJ announces confidently.

“No complaints.” I smile, then turn to Faith. “And I’m not telling you about my sex life with my husband.”

“Why not? You always tell me about your sex life.” Faith pouts.