Page 144 of Sinner's Perdition

“The compound. I have to plan for my trip to Italy.”

“Good.”

I have kept my sanity with the thought of sweet revenge, knowing what they plan for the Council, for the woman who dared come after my husband—Luciana Rossi. She planted the seed of hate in my chest, and it will fester there until she is taken out.

“They’re going to pay for your tears and anguish, as well as for thinking they can take me from you.”

I grip his collar. “I have no doubt. I want them to know what it means to mess with us.”

“My firecracker. My badass wife. I will follow you all my life,cara.”

He wraps his hands around my waist, pulling me to his chest. He’s alive. His heartbeats are strong. Our love is titanium and platinum intertwined—unbreakable. And I breathe through my fear of losing him. He kisses my temple, my quivering lips.

“Go already.” It sounds bitchy, but he understands. He kisses me one more time, assuring me he’ll come back.

With danger still lurking, I have to be driven around. In the garage, I say to one of my guards, “Take me to Kieran and Aurora’s place, please.”

He nods, and when he parks in front of their mansion, I rush out of the car and straight into her arms.

Inside, her housekeeper dotes on me with her freshly-made lemonade and brownies. By the third one, I feel better.

Kieran halts in the kitchen and acknowledges me with a tip of his head.

It’s as if he reached his limit of being a decent human, but Aurora watches him with sparkly eyes, as if he’s discovered the cure of all cures. Her genuine happiness fills me with happiness for her. As long as he keeps loving her and making her happy, I am fine with him.

“You’ll stay here while Cato’s away.”

I inhale, and he adds in a clinical tone, “It’s simply strategical.”

Aurora clutches my hand. “I would love that.”

It’s because of her I nod, and she squeals.

Kieran heads off to his office. Once we’re alone, Aurora faces me. “It’s just us now. Talk.”

“I don’t even know what to say. I mean, almost losing him . . . I was a wreck . . . I love him so much.”

Her eyes well up.

“Don’t make me cry. I cried so much. I’m so done. And you?”

“With every day that approaches my going to college, he’s . . .”

“Too much, too intense, too demanding. Hello? That’s your husband on a regular basis.”

She smiles. “He works even less, you would think I enrolled across the ocean to study marine life.” She shakes her head and places her hand over mine. “What about you?”

“I’m thinking I’ll take whatever gives me a bit of normalcy. College sounds good.”

She lets out a squeal of excitement.

“I can’t wait.”

I burst into tears. “I’m so sorry.”

She waves me off. “Hey, we made it through.”

“You should hate me.”

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