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I swallowed, nodding as I hugged my stomach with a step back. I wanted to fight it. Fight him. But I knew this was a losing battle.

I motioned my hand toward the idling car and his eyes roamed my face for a second before he stepped back, heading down to where his men were waiting.

Antonio was brave as he was stubborn. Hopefully this time, it didn’t get him killed.

CHAPTER 30

Nirah

It was around four in the morning when I tried to shift but couldn’t, only to realise Sally was laying beside me.

She didn’t want to leave my side after the shooting, but I couldn’t blame her. Rosalia and I struggled to get her to sleep, and when she eventually did, it was right here.

I threw my legs over the edge of the bed, the cold floor pricking my bare feet. I rubbed the side of my arm, yawning as I snuck out of my bedroom and down the hallway.

I knocked on Antonio’s bedroom door but when I didn’t get an answer, I peeked inside to find it empty. My mind was all over the place as I continued down to his office, but it was empty too. I checked the kitchen thereafter and only when I stepped into the living room did I see him sitting on the couch with his laptop on his lap.

He wore nothing but grey sweatpants, and my heart raced when my eyes landed on the thick, white bandage wrapped around his left bicep.

The bandage had been tainted by his blood, and my stomach twisted but slowly relaxed when I realised he was okay. He was home.

With hesitant steps I approached him and his eyes darted up to me then back down at his screen.

“Why are you awake?” he drawled, fingers typing away.

I swallowed. “Just wanted to make sure everyone was home safe.”

His fingers faltered for a second before he continued typing, invested in whatever he was doing.

I opened my mouth to speak again but shut it and opted for closing his laptop as I stood in front of him. He forced his hard gaze to settle on me, and with a racing pulse I clutched the side of my arm.

“Is everyone safe?”

He nodded.

“Did you… you know.” I slightly scratched my temple, before resting my hand back on the side of my arm. “What happened with Fujimura?”

Calmly, he moved his laptop to the couch beside him and rose to his full height, towering over me and allowing his bodily heat to entrap me in its orbit.

“Were you afraid for me?” His words forced my heart to stop for the briefest moment as my eyebrows pinched together. He lifted a slow hand, brushing my hair back and out of my face.

I merely shook my head, folding my arms over my chest as another barrier. “If you died I’d have to fend for myself in this cruel, cruel world,” I mused. “Not to mention, I’d have to run all of this by myself,” I motioned my pointer finger in a circle. “And you and I both know nobody could run it better than an egotistical prick who only thinks about himself.”

“You wouldn’t be standing here if that were the case, tesoro.” His large palm cupped the side of my face as he pulled me in, my arms dropping to my sides. “Admit that you were worried about me.”

I shook my head and he leaned down, our lips hovering inches apart. My fingers gripped the bottom of my shorts as I stared up at him, craving to say so much.

I licked my lips to speak but he kissed me and my eyes fluttered closed. I gripped his waist with both hands, pulling his body to mine. I hurt him. And yet, he’d die before letting anyone else hurt me.

With one hand he lifted me and I wrapped my legs around his waist, deepening the kiss. This was wrong. And fucked.

His grip on the side of my face turned firm as his tongue danced with mine. Without breaking the kiss he sat back down and his free hand slid into my hair, tugging my head back.

I moaned, breaking the kiss and with a heaving chest his eyes lingered on my lips, making my pulse throb in my neck.

Slowly, his hand slid out of my hair and he let go of me entirely. Panic shot up my spine and released a shaky breath. “You’ll never forgive me, will you?”

His silence was loud enough.