Page 80 of Blood & Lace
“Onyx—”
He lifted a hand, halting anything I was going to say. “Don’t! Once this business is done, we will never see each other again. So how about, moving forward, you don’t give me bullshit promises and lies. You’re not on my side and never will be. No one can be trusted.” A laugh devoid of any humor filled the room. “Knowing how fucking crazy you are, you probably ordered the hit on yourself to trap me in this marriage from goddamn hell.”
My chest throbbed in time to my heartbeat, but still, I was lost as to what to say.
“I wouldn’t do?—”
Onyx cut off my words with a look of disdain. I hadn't seen it shot my way since we had our honeymoon at my family cabin and he thought I was a peddler. “I can’t believe that either. That would mean you would have to have the fucking brain cells to do that. And let's be honest, Lucero, you’re nothing more than muscle.”
No matter what I said right now, it wasn’t going to reach his ears. When words didn’t work, actions were what was important, as my old man always said. I didn’t want to focus on his words. I knew Onyx was scared, hurt, and angry, and if lashing out at me helped him, then so be it.
I stood up and reached for him. “You’re hurt.”
Onyx spread his arms, his face red with anger. He balled his fists and blood dripped to the floor, soaking into the carpet.“What is wrong with you? I’m being a bitch right now.”
I inched closer to him, like approaching a scared animal bound to bolt at the slightest movement. I dropped down, making my bulking form seem not so big.
“Bella, let me bandage your hand.”
Onyx stared at me as if I’d lost my mind, but he gave me his hand. I checked over the bloody wound. “I’m going to pick you up.”
I didn’t wait for confirmation before I scooped him up and headed toward the bathroom. I turned the cool water on and held his small hand under the water. Once the bloodflow slowed, I checked the wound for any glass. My movements were almost mechanical.
“What happened to you?” Onyx said, breaking the silence in the bathroom.
“There was a fight today.” My chest felt heavy with each breath. “I’m not hurt.”
“Your knuckles are split.” Onyx didn’t meet my gaze as he stared at my hand. His gaze felt more like a caress as it moved up my forearm where a piece of glass still protruded. “Fuck?—”
“It doesn’t hurt.”
He chewed his lip, reaching for the piece of glass, and I stopped him. We stayed still for a second, our fingers intertwined, and no words passing between us. It felt like we were standing on thin ice, watching it crack under us with no way to stop it.
Onyx broke the silence, and a soft sigh left him. “You patch me, and I’ll patch you.”
My stomach flipped. “You don’t have too.”
“Ugh, shut up and let me do this.” Onyx chewed his lip as I said nothing in return.
I finished checking over his wound. It wasn’t so deep he was going to need stitches, but just in case, I pulled my phone out and sent a picture to my brother. Either he’d come and patch Onyx up or he’d tell me he was okay.
My husband grabbed my hand and turned it over. He cut the fabric around the piece of glass and checked it out. “Not deep atall. Merci putain.” He took it out, and sure enough, only a small bead of blood bubbled out. “Anywhere else you’re hurt?”
Before I could say anything, Onyx grabbed my shirt and started to unbutton it. “Get undressed.”
I obeyed without question, unable to look away from him. He was so beautiful, even when he looked worried. Was he concerned for me?
My heart skipped a beat as I stripped my clothes off.
“Shit, why didn’t you get this checked over?” Onyx growled. He grabbed my bicep, his hand too small to even fit around it. He poked and prodded at the wound. It was no longer bleeding, but it was a bit redder than it should be.
“You were with your brothers, right?”
I nodded.
“And they let you come home like this?” Onyx grabbed a clean towel and lightly dabbed at the wound. “Ce sont tous des putains d'idiots. Je devrais aller faire une tranche à chacun d'entre eux et voir comment ils aiment ça.”
“Are you angry with me?”
