Page 67 of Scorned Beauty

I would sit in front of the television, and her acceptance was the only thing keeping me on the edge of sanity. Because it was the nights when the regrets came and tonight the enormity of the injustice I’d inflicted on Sloane was magnified a thousand times worse. Sloane and I had embarked on a physical affair, but we were in denial that emotions weren’t involved. I was used to playing boss, concentrating on keeping the gears working smoothly in my organization, so I didn’t notice how she’d crept under my skin and burrowed into my heart. I was such a fucking asshole. Phil was right. I didn’t deserve her. I kept her boxed in a corner because I figured she would never survive the scrutiny of my position and leave me. Even now, I didn’t want to present her to my mother, not because I was ashamed of her, but because Ma’s disdain at my choice of partner would drive Sloane away and make her end things between us.

But I didn’t have to worry. It was I who ruined us.

I was selfish.

She’d hinted, hadn’t she? That she was feeling more and seeing me go out with other women was wearing her down. I was a coward and hid behind my responsibilities, but in doing so, I’d forsaken who was turning out to be the most important person in my life.

Luca once said when I made a choice, I should protect that choice with my life.

I didn’t.

I didn’t fucking deserve her. And I might be too late. I didn’t know whether Sloane was dead or alive. My thoughts went to Luca. Were the Moretti men cursed to suffer the same consequences because of our quest for power?

The sound of the key turning made me sigh. It was the women. They’d been trying to corner me for a week, but I’d been one step ahead of them.

I typed a message to Trevor and Sandro.

Me

Fuck you, guys.

Trevor

Take it like a man, bro.

Sandro

Fix this.

Fix what? I didn’t owe them an apology. The only woman who was getting an apology from me was Sloane. I would grovel and crawl over broken glass if only I could find her.

Ginger jumped off my lap to greet the women. I had a suspicion they’d been coming into my residence to play with her.

“Ooh, he’s here,” Sera snipped. If there was a silver lining that came out of Sloane’s disappearance, it was that it seemed to have united my female cousins and my sister against me. Sera picked up the remote and turned off the television.

“Didn’t Matteo ever teach you not to touch a man’s remote?” I grumbled.

“Trust me, cousin, Matteo lets me touch everything.”

“Gag.” Lucy made the vomiting gesture. Of course, Bianca would be here. She was leading the charge to castrate me for what I’d done to Sloane. And that was without knowing what went down between us.

“I don’t know why you girls are here. I’m no closer to finding Sloane than a couple of days ago.”

“We went to visit Harriet,” Bianca said.

“Why?”

“The question is why haven’t you?” Sera asked.

“She doesn’t know me. Sloane never introduced me to her. But I know Harriet’s got a heart condition. I don’t want to shock her with the news that Sloane is missing.”

Bianca rolled her eyes and looked at the girls. “Know what? I have my answers. Sloane and Dom were nothing but hookups and obviously she didn’t share her personal life with him.”

“And how much did Sloane share with you?” I challenged.

“Did you know the reason she tries to be so independent and didn’t want to depend on any man was because that’s what her mother told her when her father left?”

I frowned. “That’s not bad advice. Talking about her family is off-limits. That was our deal. Any attempts of mine to pry were shut down. But we don’t need to look too far. Billy…”