Page 11 of Ruthless Secrets
The valet at the Plaza brings my Mercedes round, and I slip him a tip before climbing into the front seat.
My phone instantly connects to the speakers, and I groan as an incoming call from my brother flashes on the center screen.
“What’s up, Andre?” I put my foot on the gas and speed away from the Plaza, and from Clara.
“You called for help cleaning up at ten. It’s now almost three.”
I roll my eyes. “Didn’t realize I still had a curfew.”
“When our own men are working against us, you better believe I need to know where you are, Marco. Because right now, we can’t trust anyone.”
I hate to say it, but my brother has a point.
And betrayal is not something we tolerate.
Hopefully, we handled things in a way that will serve as a reminder that it is in everyone’s best interest not to cross me or my family.
“Where were you the rest of the night?” Andre asks.
“Around.” My mind goes to Clara.
Has she woken up yet and realized I’ve left? Is she disappointed?
I’m itching to go back up to her room and find out.
“Do I even want to know?”
“I was taking care of some other business at the club and lost track of time.” The lie falls easily off my tongue.
“I need you to get your ass back home. We have work to do.”
“We always do,” I mutter after the phone goes dead.
Chapter Three
CLARA
Was it all a dream?
But one look at the empty space on my ring finger where my wedding band should be and reality hits me in the face all over again.
Adam really is gone.
I throw my covers back over my head to try and muffle the sounds of my cries.
My neighbors are bound to put in a noise complaint any day now from the amount of scream-crying I’ve been doing over the past four weeks, but I just can’t seem to stop.
I’ve never experienced heartbreak like this.
I needed the night I had with the mystery man. Booze helped a bit. He helped more. At least until I opened my eyes again the following morning and reality came crashing down on me again.
No matter how much I wished that one incredible night of sex would heal me, it didn’t.
It doesn’t help that my phone has been eerily quiet.
Part of me was hoping Adam would reach out and try to beg for my forgiveness just so I could have the satisfaction ofbeing the one to walk away from him. But so far, I’ve heard nothing. It seems all my luck has officially run out.
Even if he did end up calling, what would I even say? Thanks for breaking up with me so I could have the best sex of my life with a complete stranger in the very bed where we were meant to consummate our marriage?
