Page 73 of Scandalous Kingpin
“I want to hear what she has to say,” I returned, a volcano full of betrayal threatening to explode in my chest.
“He knew,” Juliette breathed heavily. “Your husband knew and he chose not to tell you.”
My chest heaved from the exertion, though the anger was long gone, leaving only a cold detachment behind. Ringing in my ears drowned out the bickering between my brothers and the DiLustro family.
They seethed, the indignation visible in their expressions. Aemon had his gun trained on Emory, but I knew he wouldn’t shoot her. Bren wrestled against Basilio while Dante kept Caelan restrained.
“I’m sorry, Ivy,” Juliette cried, like I was the one who’d torn up her heart today. Like I was the one who lied and pretended for fucking months that she was my friend, despite the fact that she killed my father. “I just didn’t want to lose you. Please believe me.”
Ignoring the nausea her words induced, I lifted my eyes and locked them with my husband. Surely he wouldn’t deceive me like that. I stood by him, never judging. He’d never betray me like that.
Yet, the answer was right there, in his blue eyes I loved so much.
“And things were finally going well,” Emory muttered under her breath.
I didn’t bother asking her what she meant by that. Instead, I stared at Christian, his touch burning like frostbite and betrayal twisting my heart in a brutal grip.
The world was spinning. I needed to get away from here. From him. From her. From everyone.
Christian turned me to face him, his chest brushing against mine, and I flinched.
“Don’t touch me,” I hissed. This pain clawing at me was too much. The people I loved—and trusted—the most, hurt me.
“Please, angel, let me—” I shook my head, and his words faltered. I couldn’t do this. I just couldn’t. I promised him forever, but he betrayed me. Lied to me. He must have seen something in my eyes because he released me.
I walked over to my brothers who stood waiting for guidance on what to do.Yeah, there’s a lot of that going around. Their eyes met mine and worry crept into their expressions.
“I want to go home with you,” I choked out.
They didn’t hesitate. Their anger took a back seat to their concern for me.
“Let’s go,” Aemon gritted, glaring at my husband and his family. “And this isn’t over.”
“Not by a long shot,” Bren added.
A coldness radiated from my chest, ready to consume me whole as I walked away from my husband and best friend.
It wasn’t until we were back in lush green Ireland and far away from the DiLustros that the tears began to fall. For the loss of my athair, my best friend… and most of all, my husband who’d betrayed me.
Chapter Thirty-Three
PRIEST
Iwatched her leave, my chest hollow and my eyes burning. I wanted to run after her, yet I found myself frozen to my spot.
With the last glimpse of her as she disappeared from my view, her brothers in tow, something cold settled in my stomach.
“Priest, you can’t let her go,” Juliette cried, shivering against her husband. I couldn’t look at her. I couldn’t look at any of them. Not without risking going on a killing spree that started with my own family.
The worst part was that it was all my fucking fault. I should have been honest and told her what I knew. Should have. Could have. Would have.
And now it was too fucking late.
“Short of killing her brothers, he can’t force her to stay,” Emory murmured. It was the closest toI told you soshe could get.
I felt empty. Something tightened in my throat and pierced me in the fucking chest.
I rolled my shoulders to push the odd sensation and tension away. I inhaled deeply, and with an unnatural calmness, I turned around and faced my family.
