She doesn’t object, only stares at me, seemingly convinced that I’m the monster in this story.
“He runs the black market of the city, kidnaps young children, especially newborns, and sells them to an adoption agency that he owns.”
That had been my initial fear when Olivia had been taken that Luka would sell my child on the black market.
“I don’t care about his crimes. I realize he’s an asshole. What I don’t understand is how you lied to me for months! You climbed into my bed, pretending to be a hero when all you are is a monster.”
She isn’t wrong. I wish she were. If I could undo all of it, maybe I’d try something different.
“I can’t let him own the city,” I say, ignoring her anger and resentment. She may forever hate me. It’s something I will have to learn to live with and accept. “He steals children, and he sells guns and drugs. Then he threatens small businesses demanding they pay for protection, or his thugs loot the place.”
“And you’re what, some type of hero?” Her words are marked with disdain.
“I’m no saint, but I’m not Luka Caruso either,” I say. “We have a few casinos underground that aren’t the least bit legal and run under the radar, but we’re not hurting anyone. We offer protection from Caruso’s men to the businesses that need help, and I run a network that is capable of handling fake papers and identification.”
She scoffs under her breath. “You mean to tell me that’s the only illegal business dealing that you do, gambling and fake IDs?”
“We have an underground BDSM club,” I say with a smirk.
“I’m not sure whether you’re joking or not.” Her gaze tightens, and she holds up a hand to silence me from responding. “I don’t want to know. I get it. Luka is a bad man. You’re what—a saint?”
“No, I’m just not the devil you have me pegged out to be.”
She huffs under her breath. “Fair enough. I still hate that you killed my son, my husband. I can’t let that go. Don’t expect my forgiveness. Not now. Probably not ever.”
I press my lips together. “I understand.” I try not to stare at her nakedness. I want to touch her, hold her, make up for my past transgressions.
I’m not an idiot. I know sex is off the table. Not only because she just had a baby, but because she’d probably chop off my dick if I came anywhere near her with it.
She’s pissed at me, and forgiveness isn’t an easy thing to accept, especially from a man running the mafia.