“I can’t go to the charity because I pawned the jewelry you got me.” I let the words out that I’ve been holding in. It’s the first of many things I have to ‘fess up to but it’s a start.
“At least tell me that Layla took you somewhere nice to do this.”
“I found a really nice place. She didn’t know what was happening until I was already doing it.”
“Is this why you were at Meierotto’s?”
“Layla told you?” I’m kind of shocked.
“No. Apparently Layla doesn’t tell me shit. Frances told me when he thought I’d found a new jeweler. I thought maybe you’d gone to get a gift or something.”
“That makes it so much worse!” My eyes start to water again. I didn’t know that jewelers gossiped. “You thought I was getting you something and I was hocking the gift you got me.” Con kisses me. I sigh against his mouth. The tears stop.
“Now go on. You know I don’t care about you getting me anything. I’ve only ever wanted you.” How could I ever have lied to this perfect man?
I take a deep breath, knowing this next confession is going to hurt more than the first. Con waits patiently for me to tell him. He doesn’t push me before I’m ready. “I hocked the stuff you gave me because I needed the money to give to Teddy. I thought he had turned a corner and I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.” A tear slips from my eye, realizing how naïve I’ve been. “I’m sorry. You’ll never know how sorry I truly am.” I start to cry again.
“Please don’t cry over Teddy. I’m not mad at you.”
I keep shaking my head. “I was so wrong. I should have known it was all a bunch of crap. That he was trying to make me think you’re cheating on me and getting his deal screwed over.”
Con flinches.
“Con?”
“I wouldn’t cheat on you,” he says, trying to distract me from the other thing I said.
“I know that.” I stare at him. I spilled everything and now it’s his turn.
“I’m always keeping tabs on Teddy.”
I reach up to wrap my arms around Con. “Of course you have been. He’s been running game on both of us.”
“Using things against us he knows he can.”
“You’ve been paying him to stay away from me?” I say what Con doesn’t want to because it’s the truth.
“I know you want me to say it was wrong of me but I’m not lying to you about this anymore.”
“It wasn’t wrong. How much money would it take for you to stay away from me, Con?” I ask the question I already know the answer to. Teddy always puts money first. Con always puts me first.
“I’d do anything for you.”
“I know that. I do. I just really hoped he was better. That I could show you that he changed and he could come around again.”
“If that is what you really want I’ll feed him money. He can come around.”
“No. Please don’t. I think it would only get him killed faster.” It’s a hard truth to face but it’s one I have to. “I just don’t want any more lies or half-truths between us. It’s been driving me crazy. I won’t let Teddy ruin us. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you everything from the start. I promise I’ll never do it again.”
“Do you want me to make you the same promise?” I smile at Con. He knows what I need sometimes before I even do.
“No. I think I’d rather you do what you think needs to be done. I might be a little bit of a coward not wanting to know but—”
“Don’t call yourself a coward. I’m your husband. All I want to do in life is love and protect you.”
“I know.” I lean up, brushing my mouth against his. “I still need that million dollars.” I laugh against his mouth. He silences it with a kiss.
Chapter 23
Constantine
“You okay?” I ask my wife for the hundredth time. She gives me a tight smile and the same answer. “Yes. It’ll be fine.”
I’m not sure if she’s trying to reassure me or herself.
“I wish we’d chosen a less public place.” I look around the downtown restaurant with some consternation.
“He’ll be less likely to blow up,” counsels Abigail.
She does know her brother better than me. After we made love, Abigail said that we should confront Teddy together. Now that the secrets are aired out (and the jewelry was retrieved), we had a united front.
I’d like to beat the shit out of him, but I doubt physical violence is going to make Teddy change his ways. He’s already been put in the hospital over money and he still can’t control his spending habits. What’s going to hurt is Abby cutting him off—oh, maybe not emotionally. He’s a sociopath or he wouldn’t be doing this to his own sister, but financially it will be painful. The lack of funds will also hurt his pride, which might be the most harm Abigail can bring down on the asshole’s head. At first, I offered to let him keep the million. He’d burn through it in six months, but it would be the last he would wring from Abigail.