Her tongue darts nervously out. “How did you find out?”
“Security footage. I haven’t seen what happened yet.” I still keep a tight grip on her hand, unable to let go of her. “Tell me everything.”
“I was in the restroom…”
I shake my head. “No, Tess. Start at the beginning. When you were eight.”
Her forehead furrows, fresh tears jumping to her eyes. “Irene hated me. I don’t know why. From the moment we moved in with them, she just… hated me. I think some people are just born evil, and she was one of them.”
I wait patiently for her to continue, knowing this can’t be easy for her.
“S-she would slap me, shove me around… and she loved it.”
As Tess opens up about her past, and one horror story after the other spills over her lips, hatred, unlike anything I’ve felt before, fills my chest. My fucking heart breaks, thinking how vulnerable she was, and no one fucking helped her.
As much as I love Tess, I hate Irene.
When I hear voices outside the room, I press a finger to Tess’ lips to silence her. “Don’t say a word about Irene to the police. She’s mine to deal with. Stick with the story that you lost your balance.”
Just as the door opens and two police officers come into the room, Tess nods.
There’s no place for law enforcement when it comes to the mafia. We deal with our own.
Always have. Always will.
Chapter 33
Tess
The first day is a confusing mess. I sleep more than I’m awake.
After telling the police it was my fault, Nikolas dealt with them.
He hasn’t left my side. Unless it’s to use the restroom, he’s at my bedside, watching over me like an avenging angel.
The scruff on his jaw is dark, thickening by the hour. Today he looks thirty-six, the past forty-eight hours taking their toll on him.
“You need to get some rest,” I say, wiggling my fingers in his tight grip. “And I need some blood circulation in my hand.”
He lets go, only to place his hand on my thigh. Looking at me, he blinks a couple of times, then asks, “Why didn’t you tell me about Irene?”
I shrug, the old familiar fear slithering through my veins. “It was what it was.”
“Theresa.” His tone is tight and not negotiable. “Why didn’t you tell me about the Xanax? Why did you keep so many secrets from me?”
I shrug again. “I didn’t think you needed to know.”
Nikolas shakes his head, his features tightening with something akin to heartache. “How could you think that? I need to know everything about you, Theresa.” Moving his hand up to my stomach, his expression turns tender. “It’s time you realize you’re the most important thing in my life.”
My heart kicks in my chest then sets off at a fast pace.
His other hand brushes softly over the bandages around my head. “I married you because I fell in love with you.”
Holy shit. Really?
With my eyes wide on Nikolas, I don’t know what to say. Warmth spreads through my chest as I stare at the man who used to make my life hell.
“I love you,” he admits again, then he chuckles, giving me an incredulous look. “One minute, I still wanted to strangle your pretty little neck, and the next,” he shakes his head, “I found myself in uncharted waters. Madly, deeply, obsessively in love with you.”
I’m struggling to process his confession. “Why?”
“Why did I fall in love with you?” Nikolas gets up and moves to sit on the side of the bed. Resting a hand beside my hip, he leans closer. “From the moment we met, you had a hold on me I couldn’t shake. And now that I know how much it must’ve taken for you to stand your ground against me, Christ, it just makes me love you even more. You’re so fucking brave and strong, Tess.”
My insecurities creep in. After the blow Irene dealt me, I haven’t been able to push them back into the dark hole. “But…” I suck in a breath of air, lowering my eyes from his, “Why do you find me physically attractive?” I feel stupid for asking the question, but I desperately need to hear his answer.
The corner of Nikolas’ mouth lifts in a hot smirk. “For one, your sexy-as-fuck, pornstar-worthy ass. It’s my undoing.” His teeth tug at his bottom lip, and my ovaries threaten to spontaneously combust. “You’re fucking exquisite, Theresa. There’s not an inch of you that doesn’t do it for me.”
Seeing the desire in his eyes, hearing the heat in his voice acts as a soothing balm to my bruised soul.
The door opens, and Athina comes in, carrying an overnight bag. “Hi.” She smiles at her brother before looking at me. “How do you feel?”
“Better.” I start to sit up, and it has Nikolas pulling me into a sitting position. He rests me against his chest, fluffs out and arranges my pillows, then carefully leans me back.