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His eyes snap up and take a look at me, glaring at the interruption. “What do you want?”
“Have you spoken to Dante?”
“I’m trying to clear up the mess from last night. Your mess.” He stands and rounds the desk. “Chance wasn’t someone to play with, Mariana.”
“I got that. And I made sure he’s done playing. But I’m not here about Chance, and I’m pretty sure that Dante’s already said everything you might want to lay on me about it.”
“That mark?” He points to the red bruise on my cheek, disgust in his tone. I don’t even register the pain that’s pulsing under the skin. “Sounds like you need a little more than that. You’re damn lucky it wasn't me because-”
“Abel, listen to me. Just stop and listen. It’s Dante. He’s done. And it’s my fault.”
He waits, looking at me – sizing me up. “What’s your fault? Because from where I’m sitting, the list is growing fucking long.” His eyes turn hard and calculated, and I know, staring at him, that he knows. He always knows.
“He told you.” It’s a statement. Of course, Dante would have spoken to Abel.
“Yes. He told me.” His voice is calm and unnerving.
“Did he tell you what he did?” I defend, knowing I sound like a child.
“With Chance?” he clarifies.
“With me. Did he tell you he left me there with Chance to teach me a lesson?” It hurts to recount that fact.
“Yes. He was right to do just that.” My eyes widen, and more pain lances through me. “Don't even start with that whining bullshit, Mariana. I’m not in the mood.”
“You think I needed raping?”
“I think you needed some realisation knocking into you.” My mouth opens, but he holds his hand up. “Unfortunately, though, your spitefulness just lost us a brother. He told me he’s done.”
“Done?”
A scowl sets in on his face. “He’s walked. Not just from you, but all of us!” His voice bellows the last words, and I stand in confusion as I digest what he’s saying.
“Walked?” I question.
He slams his hands down on the desk behind him, making me jump. “He’s out, Mariana. He’s chosen because you pushed that on him. Wren would never be okay with what we are. And you fucking knew that.”
I shake my head as the consequences of my actions begin to dawn. “No. You’re wrong. He wouldn’t do that. We’re his family.” My denial sounds brittle to hear.
“Wren is his family, Mariana. When he came and told me about her, he made it clear what his terms were.” Abel’s temper seems under control as he spells it out for me, and I shrink down into the chair. “Dante always put us first, did what was needed, served us, and took on duties that would make others bolt. He didn’t. And he found a way to make enough peace with himself to allow a life with one person who owns his heart.”
Hearing Abel’s words spoken with calm precision only stirs the guilt in my gut, making me feel nauseous.
“Why? How can he just leave?”
“He’s told me, and he’s going. What am I going to do, lock him up?”
His words spark against my frayed nerves because if the situation was reversed, that’s exactly what they’d do to me.
“Yeah. You’d do it to me. In a fucking heartbeat. You’d shut me in a room and keep me there until I understood. You’ve all done it and still will, despite everything. You did it with Lexi, too.”
“Oh, you’re just asking for it today, Mariana. Leave my fucking wife out of this. She was the enemy. I would never bring her in until I could trust her. At least she had the sense not to tell Wren.” He tilts his head at me. “She wasn’t evil enough to bring that hurt on them. But you?” He sneers and looks anywhere but at me. “More of Mother in you than anyone considered, after all.”
Despite that hurting, I’m not giving an inch. “This is Dante, Abel. We’re not talking about Knox or Shaw. Dante,” I remind him, still not willing to believe he’d go through with this.
“You don’t think I know that!” he roars. I move back at his tone, wary. His eyes close, and I see him trying to reign that anger back in. “He’s my fucking brother, Mariana. Mine! And thanks to you, he’s gone. You. It’s always you. Mother. Dante. What else can you fuck up?” Again, another punch in my guts.
Still, I can only concentrate on one thing right now. “Are you going to let him go?” I ask again.
