Page 8 of His Bride

My nerve endings throb, and I stalk past her to close the door. Rubbing the back of my neck, I try to find calm, choosing my words wisely when I start to speak. “You’re right. You’re his wife, and Alexius loves you,” I say. “More than anything in this entire motherfucking world. And I know you love him, too. But tread very carefully here, Leandra.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“That depends on whether you’ll let me see him or not.”

She squares her shoulders, lifting her chin. “Then itisa threat.”

Now, I’m all for ruffling feathers, but even my moral compass, which always points toward stirring shit, is currently telling me to turn this conversation around. That, and Alexius will pull my spine out of my ass when he finds out about this—ifhe finds out.

“It’s not a threat,” I mutter, letting out a sigh. “Just…you’re locking him away, and I don’t understand why.”

“You don’t have to understand it, Caelian. You just need to respect it.”

“This is not about respect.”

“Of course it is,” she shoots back. “Thisfamilyis about respect. And Alexius is a proud man. You know that. I know that. AndI also know that he wouldn’t like for others to see him so vulnerable. Weak.”

“So?” I challenge. “He’ll suck it up, like any of us and when he recovers?—”

“If.”

“When.Whenhe recovers,” I reiterate, “he’ll appreciate that we were all there. For him. For you. The kids.”

She crosses her arms, her eyes set with resolve. “I won’t change my mind about this, Caelian.”

“You’re in pain. I know that. But so are the rest of us. You’re keeping him to yourself, and that’s real fucking selfish.”

“I’m selfish? You’re the one crossing lines by threatening me simply because you want to ease your conscience by standing next to his bed for ten whole minutes every second day.”

“We have the means and the space to have my brother here!” I snap. “You don’t have to keep him in that cold, sterile facility away from his family. We have every doctor, specialist, and nurse he’ll need on our payroll, so why keep him separate and away from us?”

She steps closer, and I see a glimpse of that fight only a true mafia wife can have—an anger that doesn’t rage and destroy. An authority that doesn’t intimidate and terrify.

Instead, there's a deadly calm that creeps underneath your skin, lilting through your veins, a silent promise of the storm that can and will be unleashed. Leandra embodies that power now.

“I do not have to explain myself to you, Caelian del Rossa. And I’ll advise you to focus on your own life right now, because fromwhere I’m standing, it sure looks like it’s falling apart at the seams.”

“Thisismy life. He’s my brother. He’s the leader of this family, and guess what?” I wave my best jazz hands. “I’m family.”

Her eyes narrow. “Do you want a star?”

“White gold, diamond-studded.” I grab my cigarettes then put one between my lips right before ripping the unlit thing away. “Alexius should be here. Where we can all help care for him.”

“And I say no.”

“I fucking say he needs it!”

“Do not push me away by challenging me, Caelian. You’ve already alienated your wife.”

My anger flares. “Don’t bring Giana into this. This is not about her. This is about my brother, and how he should be here with us, and you know it. Or at least let us see him and stop acting like you have this claim of ownership over everything Alexius. Yes, you’re his wife. You’re the mother of his children, but you are not his God, and you sure as hell don’t have the right to act like you are.”

“I have the final say. Understand my reasoning or don’t. But youwillaccept it.”

“He—”

“No.” She jabs a finger into me. “You don’t get it. We chose each other, to love. Commit to. And you’re too selfish to get my pain, that I might lose my husband.” Her voice cracks. “Don’t you get it? This is all your fault.”

This shuts me up for a long beat as she continues with the punches.

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