Page 76 of Indulge
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
His eyes darken and I swallow the lump in my throat.
“No, you aren’t. And you shouldn’t be either. This is my fault.”
He removes my hand and then he turns and walks out, leaving me alone with the kitten and the ache in my chest.
36
REGGIE
Song- Dying To Love, Bad Omens
My whole life, when shit gets tough, I go to my brother.
Now? I can’t even do that.
I don’t blame him for this. He’s got no reason to feel guilty. It’s all on me.
Because I’m built like this, cold, cruel, always putting the mafia and everyone else’s needs first, never factoring myself into the equation.
And if Rowan can make Bella happy, I can’t stand in the way of that.
Yet Drago’s words keep circling in my head.
What if I did try with Bella?
That chemistry between us—it’s undeniable.
The guilt she felt for thinking she betrayed me with Rowan—that tells me something.
That deep down, she cares what I think.
Maybe if I hadn’t been such an asshole from the start, she would’ve come to me instead.
I pour another whiskey and knock it back. The burn does nothing.
Bella still hasn’t left the living room with the kitten. I think she’s too scared to even come near me.
This is where I’m fucking it all up.
I’ve never had feelings. Never had to navigate this kind of mess.
A damn kitten was never going to fix what I broke.
I push myself off the chair and head toward the living room.
She’s curled on the couch, wiping away a tear, the tiny ball of fur asleep in her lap.
And yet she’s smiling, and something tightens in my chest.
“Bella.”
She looks up and sniffles once. “Irish,” she says sheepishly.
“Stand up.” I crook a finger, motioning her toward me.
To my surprise, she obeys immediately.
