Page 113 of Scarlet Secrets

“Not until the wedding day?” I glare, but he shrugs. “It might happen. Even if it doesn’t, she might get word of it. Then what?”

“I don’t fucking know.”

“Demyan, she’s not one of us,” he says, voice low. “She won’t understand. She won’t get the way of things. And I thought you told her she was marrying you.”

“I did.”

“And?”

He wants me to find an answer, tell him how to handle this. Take out Sergio and his family, or maybe he wants to know what that burning is in me. Because I think I know what it is.

“I want to marry Erin.”

“Why?”

“She’s the mother of my child,” I say, fighting it.

He shrugs. “A mistress? Or just you putting her in a position where she has to deal with whatever you throw at her because you want your child?”

“I want her.”

“Why?”

I grit my teeth. “You know why. Because I wanted to kill you for being so cozy and easy with her earlier. Because Iwant that. Because, fuck, I’m falling fucking in love with her. That’s why I want to be with her. I want her.” I sigh, defeat weighing me down. “But Sergio will do anything for his princess. We both know he’ll never let this go.”

“Forget fucking Stefina for a moment.”

“I can’t.”

He stands. “You can if you want to keep Erin. You need to get in there.”

I stand too.

“She’s freaked out by your display. Me? I don’t give a fuck what you do. I’d have fought you if you were hurting me. But you pushed your sister. You pushed her. And she… Shit, Demyan. Deal with that, then we’ll deal with this mess.”

I kick the wall the pain ricocheting up my leg. “Go.”

“You need to?—”

“Go. I need some time alone to figure this mess out myself.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

ERIN

I’m shakingas I tuck Sasha in. The voices yelling woke him and now here I am, in a place I’m not sure I belong, pretending this is home for my boy.

But Sasha picks up on things and his big, tired eyes hit me. “Mama, why you sad?”

“I’m not sad, baby. I’m tired.”

“Story?”

“You had three tonight.”

“Story?” he asks again, and he’s so close to sleep, I reach for his favorite book and start reading.

By the time I get to the end of the second page, he’s already asleep.

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