Page 139 of Marrying the Billionaire Single Dad

Of course, I know that, and yet hearing it from his mouth, makes it seem all final and real and I know then that she is never coming back. She’s never going to be with me again. She’s gone, and so is my love, my Flower, my Julia. She’s gone, and it’s my fault.

I straighten, "Thanks for letting me know." I brush down the front of my sweatshirt. "You can leave now."

"Damian, don’t do this. Let’s talk, at least."

"Since when do you believe in talking, huh?" I chuckle. "Thought you preferred to speak with your fists?"

"You’re right." He widens his stance. "Let’s take this outside, shall we?"

"Fuck that." I raise my fists, throw the first punch. He ducks. I see two of him and I think, maybe, I managed to brush the side of his face… At least, I think I did, then he plants his fist in my side and pain slices through me. I yell, "What the fuck!"

He throws another punch. I swerve, bury my fist in his stomach. He groans, doubles over. I grab his shoulders, double my knee up and into his chin, but he’s too fast. He twists his shoulders, breaks free, grabs me around the waist and throws me over his shoulder. I land on my back, my head connects with the floor, and sparks explode behind my eyes. White noise thuds in my ears.

I open my eyes and see her. Green eyes, lush pink lips, that beautiful thick hair of hers flowing down toward me. "Damian?" She smiles, "What are you doing down there?"

"What areyoudoing here?" I ask.

"I belong here." She laughs. "And you belong with me." She holds out her hand. I take it.

"I love you, Damian," she whispers.

"Damian?" Hard fingers grip mine. "Damian, you with me, buddy?"

I snap my eyes open to find Arpad looming over me.

"Where did she go?" I frown.

"Who?" He hauls me to my feet.

My guts churn and my belly twists. "I think I’m gonna be sick."

Fifteen minutes later, I accept the cup of coffee Arpad hands me. I take a sip and wince when the liquid burns my lip. I deserve it, of course. That, and every punch that Arpad got in. Not that I’ll ever admit that to the bastard.

"Why the fuck did you come by anyway?" I mutter.

"The cops had a breakthrough with the intruder." He tilts his head.

"Oh?"

He nods, "Turns out..." He stares at me, "You ready for this?"

My heart begins to beat faster. "What is it?" I set my jaw.

"Go on; I can take it."

"He confessed to running Stella's car off the bridge."

"What?" The breath rushes out of me and I clutch the edge of the table as if it’s the only thing tethering me to this world. "He caused the accident that killed—" I can't bring myself to complete the statement.

"Seems that way." He reaches over to grip my shoulder, "Sorry buddy, I know it’s a lot to take in."

I dig my fingers in my hair and pull, "And all along, I've been thinking it was my fault. That I should have stopped her from leaving after we fought. I thought if I had asked her to stay a while longer, somehow the accident would have been averted." I lower my hands to my lap, suddenly exhausted. "It wasn't me." I stare at him. "But why the hell would he do that? Why would he kill my daughter? My little girl... "Why?" My voice cracks and I curl my fingers into fists.

Arpad shifts uncomfortably. "I caught up with the other guys, and we think—" He straightens, looks me in the eye, "It's a possibility—nothing's confirmed—but we believe there's a good chance that—"

"The Mafia are involved," I finish for him.

He nods.