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When Santi calls, I’m at my desk in the villa with Cristiano and Lucas.

“We’re on our way to Quinta Rosa do Vale.”

He’s deferential and he’ll follow orders, but he respects Daniela and adores Valentina, and I’m sure he doesn’t like how this has gone down. I’m not crazy about it either.

“Anything else?” I ask.

“No. Just letting you know, like you asked.”

“Santi, it goes without saying that security needs to be tight. I’ve spoken to Duarte, as well, but no matter how hard Daniela pushes, take no chances, even if the risk seems small. Get me involved right away if she becomes a problem you can’t handle.”

“I understand, and so does everyone else. You made it pretty clear the other day.”

I end the call and glance from Lucas to Cristiano. “Showtime.”

The room is deadly quiet. They hate my plan with a vengeance. All of it. I hate it, too, more than they do, especially what happened last night. I’d rather plunge a knife into my soul than repeat it.

I declared war last night—on my wife. It was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done. Daniela is tough, and she fights for us with everything she’s got. I don’t have time to push her away slowly, to wage small battles until I wear her down. In the long run, I’m not sure that’s a better approach, anyway. Bleeding out, slowly, is a painful way to die.

“Pay off the redhead,” I instruct Cristiano. “Tell her that her services are no longer needed.”

I’m not sure Daniela bought it, anyway. Although who knows? As much as I admired her grit last night, it could have been nothing more than bravado—a way to save face, or to shame me.

When she whipped her hand over my cock to see if it was hard, and then called me out on it—fuck—I wanted to toss her on the bed and worship her body until the sun came up.

“Is there a change to the plan we should know about?” Cristiano asks, warily.

“I have someone else who can fill in as the flavor of the week.”

“Why the change?” Lucas can’t stand change in a carefully constructed plan. Even if it’s a plan he despises.

Because I can’t stop thinking about the horror on Daniela’s face when I brought another woman into our bedroom. The sense of betrayal in her eyes leveled me. I would never betray her in that way—never. But I need her out, and I need it to feel real to everyone, including her.

“I’ve decided that there is a better option.” He’s waiting for more, but that’s all he’s getting. I hate explaining myself even more than Lucas hates change.