Page 148 of The Billionaire's Fake Wife

"It can't be," he whispers. His face blanches.

"Tell her what you did to me... you fucking piece of shit."

Adam takes a deep breath. "It’s a long story."

I twist my lips, "Trust me, nothing as extended as the time I spent with the rest of the Seven locked up in a windowless cellar."

"You were locked up?" She whips her head around, and I feel every millimeter of that green gaze. Waves of confusion emanate from her. Fuck that. I don’t need her sympathy; I don’t need anyone feeling sorry for me. I want revenge. Anger coils my gut. A hot feeling stabs in my chest. I click the clasp on my watch. Control it. You gotta rein in your temper. Stay focused. I click the clasp again.

The cold metal soothes me; some of the noise in my head recedes. So close. I am so close to my goal, I can practically taste the ending. Revenge: his utter destruction, tracking down the men responsible, and putting this whole ugly segment of my life behind me.

A pressure builds behind my rib cage.

"Tell her right now, or I swear I'll kill you with my bare hands. Right now."

Summer inhales sharply. Go on Bird, go to his defense, tell me off. Show me how the blood of my enemy runs through your veins.

Her gaze is fixed on her father, "Spit it out, whatever you did to him." She firms her lips.

Huh?

Adam makes a choking sound. He pulls out a handkerchief and mops his forehead. "Can you get me some water?"

"No." My wife’s features are pale. The hollows beneath her cheeks are pronounced. She grabs a strand of that glorious pink hair and chews on it, a giveaway that she is stressed. I take a step forward, then stop myself. What am I doing?

Why do I want to go to her, pull her close and ask her to lean on me? Tell her that she doesn’t have to worry about anything as long as I am around. I’ll take care of her forever. Fuck. These motherfucking emo thoughts? Where are they coming from? Just because I fucked her— You made love to her, asshole. Last night had been as close to a declaration of intention as you can get.

You worshipped her body with your own. You kissed her, took her arse, wrecked her pussy as if it were yours. For she is yours.She is. Only it’s too late. I’ve come too far, planned too much. I owe it to the Seven to see this through.

She? She is collateral damage. A drumming intensifies behind my eyes. I drag my fingers through my hair.

"No point delaying the inevitable." I glare at the man.

He makes a choking sound.

"Don’t faint on me now." I lean forward on the balls of my feet. "You’re not getting any sympathy from me."

"I don’t need it." He draws himself upright. Then turns to my wife. "You remember what I told you about owing money to the mob?"

She nods.

"I was in their control. I had to do what they asked. They threatened to kill you and Karma. Or worse."

"The fuck?" A growl rips up my chest.

Both of them turn in my direction.

"They threatened her life?" I flex my fingers at my sides,

Summer’s gaze narrows, "What’s your problem?"

I shoot her a glare; she juts out her chin. She takes a deep breath and opens her mouth. I shake my head. She purses her lips and I am sure she’s going to speak or say something; instead, she wraps her arms around her waist and glowers back.

Later, Bird. You and me are going to have this out, and I promise, you won’t be able to speak at all by the end.

Her cheeks redden. Perhaps she read the intention in my gaze, hmm?

I turn on Adam, sorry excuse of a human that he is. "And you call yourself a father? You left them in danger and ran away?"