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“I already went with Jacques.”
“Who the hell is Jacques?”
She stopped in her tracks, and turned around and stared at me. “The head groundskeeper.”
“The slumped-over old man?”
“That’s rude.”
“How is stating the obvious rude? I think it makes me honest. How else would you like to pass the day?”
“Does it really matter?” There was frustration written all over her face.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means, we all know I’m here because this is what you wanted. You were the only one who had a say.”
I folded my arms across my chest. “You could have said no to our deal.”
“We both know that’s not true.”
I titled my head, as if I didn’t understand her words. “Are you saying I coerced you?”
“Are you saying you didn’t?”
“You wanted to commit a crime. You failed. I offered you an alternative.”
“Are you trying to say you did me a favor?”
“That’s how I see it.”
She just stared at me and then shook her head. “Of course, you do. Tell me, Dario, does anyone who exists in your world actually get a say over how they live their own lives?”
This time when she marched away, I just let go.
She thought I was controlling. She was right, but it was only for her protection. Now that she was a part of my world, I had to keep her safe.
I had enemies, plenty of them. Besides, she was her own worst enemy. I didn’t really trust her not to do something to get herself into trouble.
Unbeknownst to her, I’d done some digging into her life over the years. I knew her mother died when Mya was barely an adult. I knew that her father wasn’t ever around and that sheconsidered Jason some sort of savior because he’d helped her after a low point in her life.
All the information I knew about her told me that she was prone to making questionable decisions when grief was involved.
Part of me believed that I could make it all better. I deeply believed that she just needed time to return to her senses and see that the situation I had created was a good one.
She would never want for anything again. Nico wouldn’t show his face around her, and I could give her a life that she could only have dreamed of before.
But most importantly, she wouldn’t be lonely anymore. Neither one of us would be.
Later that evening, I found her sitting in the downstairs study reading a book. Her feet were folded under her and her hair cascaded across her shoulders, falling into her face. She looked younger, less occupied with the world, and more carefree.
She smiled to herself. Whatever she was reading had amused her.
I wanted to ask her what she was reading, but I didn’t want to disturb her. I hadn’t seen her smile so unguarded in a long time. I would give her that moment.
The air was getting a little crisp as the nights were getting longer and the leaves were starting to turn. I had a home in Connecticut that I thought she might enjoy visiting. It wasn’t anything like the mansion I’d rented for our wedding and fake honeymoon.
It was more homey, down-to-earth like she was. I thought she would enjoy it, especially seeing the leaves change color. I hoped it would make her happy.