Page 96 of Release Me

Or at least I think he’s teasing.

‘Well, I suppose after everything, you’ll have to make an honest woman out of me—especially if you’re going to come good on your threat to put babies in my stomach.’ I arch my eyebrows.

‘Oh, sweetheart, that wasn’t a threat, it was a promise.’ His eyes flare. ‘See you later.’ He brushes his lips over mine, grabs his wallet and his phone and starts for the front door.

‘What about your car key?’ I call after him.

‘Callaghan’s waiting downstairs for me. I can’t face rush hour traffic. Killian’s men will remain outside the door.’

Security has doubled as the Beckett family demanded. Callaghan used to take care of both of us, especially with me being in the penthouse, but now there’s always extra security around. It’s reassuring. Especially given the viciousness of Anthony’s threats.

‘Okay. Love you.’ Amazing how those two little words glide off my tongue so easily when I couldn’t ever bring myself to say them to the man I married.

‘Love you more,’ he shouts, then the penthouse door bangs.

How did I get so lucky?

Everything is finally falling into place. I’m with the right man. Away from the wrong one, and thanks to my sexy new boyfriend, it looks like I have a way of keeping everything I worked for.

As I flip open my laptop on the island, my phone buzzes beside me. Anonymous number. Could be Anthony, but then again, could be work. I can’t keep dodging calls in case it’s my ex.

I inhale a shaky breath and swipe to answer.

‘Hello.’ I force the tremor out of my tone. It’s probably just work.

‘Hello, darling,’ my husband says, sarcasm dripping from his tone.

I’m about to hang up, but something inside of me screams at me not to.

‘Don’t hang up,’ he demands icily. I’ll take icy over irate. Maybe if I tell him I’m not coming home, he’ll get closureand stop leaving me the vicious voicemails. ‘We have to talk about this, Rebekka.’

‘There’s nothing to talk about. I left. It can’t be a surprise given the way you’ve been parading Sorcha around Dublin.’

‘Actually, it was a surprise, darling, given all you have to lose. I was prepared to let you leave, to take your company as compensation for the embarrassment, until I found out who you’re shacked up with,’ he hisses.

Chapter Forty-Three

REBEKKA

The blood drains from my face. ‘I told you I was staying with the Becketts.’ I pinch the bridge of my nose.

Perhaps it’s better to rip the plaster off now, get all the drama out in the open in one go.

‘You didn’t tell me you’re staying with Rian Beckett—my best friend. Our best man.’ The accusation weighs heavily in every word. ‘No wonder he hasn’t returned any of my calls in weeks,’ he spits.

I stay silent, debating on whether to come clean. He’s going to find out at some point, and even though he’s clearly angry—at least he’s not threatening me.

Maybe because I have the backing of the Becketts?

They’re a formidable family.

Killian’s connections alone could have people killed in seconds.

‘Tell me,’ his voice is worryingly calm, ‘what are the sleeping arrangements exactly?’

Rage rips through my chest. How dare he? After everything he’s put me through. ‘Look, Anthony, you’re in no position to point the finger at me when you’ve been fuckingaround for our entire marriage. I was prepared to turn a blind eye, but it’s pretty fucking difficult when you’re dating her openly in Dublin.’

‘So you thought you’d get me back by fucking my best friend?’ he snarls.