Page 94 of Unexpectedly In Love

As we pass through the large gates, my shoulder deflates, and I press my fist to my lips. As much as I hate to admit it. Cassia was right…. Eryx never loved me.

* * *

ERYX

Inever really looked at how clean and crisp her signature was. She signed all of it, I just have to send this to Levi, and it’s done. It’s done.

I drag my hand over my face, pulling down my eyes and cheeks. That was painful, but it had to be done. I don’t want her to end up like my mother or Khaos’ mom.

Beautiful women who were stained by the hands of the men they love.

My door creaks open. Khaos walks in, throws his jacket onto the chair, and proceeds to my mini bar. I press the heel of my hands against my eyes. The tickling of ice tells me that Khaos is making a drink.

“Is she gone?” I ask.

“Why are you concerned?” Khaos asks.

I lift my head staring at him right in the eyes as he places a crystal glass filled with an amber liquid.

“I’m concerned because she is my wife.” I scoff as I take the cup and throw back the alcohol, hoping that it burns. I need something to quell this weird emotion that I am feeling.

Khaos sits and rests his glass on the floor. He reaches for the file on my table. “Wife? She is not your wife.”

“She is,” I rebuttal, still confused by my reactions.

“Her signatures say otherwise.” Khaos sniggers as he flicks his head to my table.

I exhale trying to get that feeling off of my chest. “It’s the best thing to do.”

“Was it?” he questions.

I have to stand by my decision, my composure will not crumble. “Yes, it was the right thing to do.”

Khaos remains silent and he swirls the whiskey in his glass.

“Now, about tomorrow’s meeting.” I open my laptop and pass him a file.

* * *

ANISE

It takes a village, that’s what people normally say. As I open my sister’s door, and walk to the kitchen everyone stops moving. Sage is breastfeeding Soleil on a new beige recliner, Cassia and Rosemary are on the bar stool.

I just let my bag roll over my shoulder. My knees wobble and I feel like I am about to fall.

“I got you. Baby, I got you,” my big sis says as she places my head on her shoulder.

Cassia comes to my side as me and hugs me on top of Roise’s hug. “What happened, Ani?”

“I told your ass a black girl being loved by a Don is unreal.” I whisper to Cassia.

“What is she talking about?” Rosemary hugs me tighter.

“He doesn’t love me; we’re getting a divorce. He. Doesn’t. Love. Me,” I break down in tears letting all that pain that I was holding my back roll through my body.

I cry for the missed opportunity for Eryx and me. For Kai who had the chance of having an awesome family. I cry because I was stupid enough to fall for a man who had no intentions of ever loving me.

“I say we burn his house down…tonight,” Cassia says as she presses a kiss to my hair.

---