Sweet Temptation by Cora Reilly

Daniele and I settled on the floor. It was bonding time, not just between him and me, but also with Loulou, while Simona had her afternoon nap. The last couple of evenings Cassio had come home late again, and I hoped it wouldn’t turn into a permanent thing. For now, I focused my main attention on Daniele, Simona, and Loulou. They kept me distracted enough.

Loulou trotted closer with a ball in her muzzle as she usually did when I sat down on the floor. I took the ball from her and rolled it over the floor. Daniele followed everything with curious eyes. After two tosses, I held the ball out to him. He took it and flung it away then smiled widely when Loulou chased her toy. We did this for a couple of minutes before I put the ball away and patted the spot in front me. Loulou came closer, her pink tongue lolling about adorably. I stroked her gently then crossed my legs and motioned for Loulou to come even closer. She curled up in my lap, and I stroked her ears gently, amazed at how silky this spot of her felt to the touch.

Daniele moved closer until his knees bumped against my thigh. I could tell how much he wanted to touch Loulou. I regarded her for a while to see if she was ready for more closeness. In the last few days, she hadn’t tried to avoid Daniele anymore. Now, she seemed completely relaxed, her eyes half-closed as she watched Daniele. “Do you want to touch her?”

Daniele gave a quick nod.

“Try to move slowly, so she can get used to your presence, all right?” Another sharp nod.

“She’s shy. She needs to get to know you and see that you’re her friend.”

I took Daniele’s hand and put it on Loulou’s back. Her ears twitched in curiosity and her eyes opened a bit more. Slowly, I moved Daniele’s hand along her side, staying away from her head for now because I’d read that dogs often felt threatened by a touch there. Loulou’s eyes drooped once more as she enjoyed the caresses. “See? You have to be careful. Loulou is small. Don’t tug at her ears or tail, all right?”

Daniele nodded, watching his hand on the fur, mesmerized.

I pulled away, allowing him to do this on his own. Maybe we were on the right path. Even Cassio had stopped complaining about Loulou. Simona allowed me to calm her at night often now, which gave Cassio the chance to sleep more.

I smiled, feeling a wave of optimism.

I was half asleep when Cassio returned home that night. A week had passed since the killings, and the kids and I had barely seen him.

I watched him get ready for bed. Then he stretched out beside me.

“When will you be home for dinner again?”

Cassio touched my hip, pulling me closer. His lips found mine but despite the rush of heat, I drew back. Our only interactions apart from a few exchanged words had been sex. He sighed. “Work is important. I have too much to do. I’m tired. I only want to take my mind off things when I get home and not argue with you.” He kissed me again, and this time I pushed him back, angry.

“You treat me like a nanny and whore, Cassio. I deserve better.”

“I would never treat you like a whore,” he growled. “You are my wife and I want you. If I remember correctly, you always enjoy it.”

I did. Cassio made sure I came before and during intercourse. “That doesn’t mean I don’t need us to form an emotional bond as well. I thought we were on a good path, but now you’re pulling back again. Is it really just because of your workload or is it something else?”

He was silent for a moment. “I’m trying to make sure you and my kids are safe. I need to be in absolute control of my city to guarantee your safety.” He kissed me again, softer this time, but I could feel the urgency lurking just beneath. “I’ll try to be home around dinnertime.”

Was it to appease me? I allowed him to deepen the kiss, to slide down my nightgown and awaken my body with his lips.

The next day, I browsed party ideas for third birthdays. Daniele’s special day was in a week, and I wanted to surprise him with a cake and a themed birthday party. Clutching the edge of the sofa, Simona pulled herself up to her legs beside me, grinning proudly.

“Good,” I cooed while I kept an eye on Daniele and Loulou. He was throwing her ball, and she dropped it in front of him every time. It was beautiful and I wished Cassio could see.

My phone pinged with a message. Surprise rushed through me when I saw it was from Christian, telling me he was in the area and wanted to visit. I hadn’t seen him since the wedding. In the past, I would only see him every two months because we lived in different cities, but now that had changed, at least until he returned to Baltimore to rule at Dad’s side—whenever that was going to be. I hurried into the kitchen to tell Sybil to prepare a few sandwiches and coffee.

Fifteen minutes later, his car pulled up in front of the house. “Your uncle’s coming to visit,” I told Daniele, who’d been following my every step all day. I carried Simona on my arm, despite her squirminess. She wanted to crawl but she was quick and it was difficult to keep an eye on her in the vast house.

Daniele’s eyes grew wide, a mix of shock and hope marking his face. His reaction surprised me. Cassio only had sisters. Had Gaia had a brother? I didn’t remember. The bell rang. Loulou stormed out of the living room, barking. She jerked to a stop in front of the door, scratching it.

“I’m getting the door!” I called before Sybil could come forward from the kitchen. Elia and Domenico could see the front step with the surveillance cameras surrounding the house so they’d know it was only my brother.

“No, Loulou,” I said sternly as I carefully pushed her to the side with my foot before I opened the door. Loulou tried to squeeze past me again, but I nudged her back again.

Christian wore a thick coat against the bitter cold December air and gave me a curious look. “Of course you’d keep the dog.”

Daniele stared at my brother then turned around and rushed upstairs. Puzzled, I smiled at Christian as I kept Loulou away with my foot. She growled at Christian. We really needed to work on her treatment of guests.

“What’s with the kid?” he asked, indicating Daniele who’d disappeared from view.

I shrugged and opened the door wider so he could enter.

Christian came in and hugged me with one arm, trying not to crush Simona, who made a sound of protest at his closeness. The cold clung to his coat and seeped into me.

I quickly pulled back and closed the door. For a moment, I didn’t pay attention, and Loulou dashed past me, jumping at Christian with angry yaps. He glared down, not impressed. “Go away,” he said, shoving her away with less gentleness than I had done.

“Loulou!” She finally stopped and trotted a few steps away.

“How are you?” Christian asked as he slipped off his coat and hung it up at the coatrack. It was obvious that he’d been here before and knew where everything was. The worry in his voice was unmistakable.

I touched his arm. “I’m fine.”

His eyes narrowed. “I can tell that you’re lying.”

“I’m fine, really. Just a bit overwhelmed. Daniele won’t talk and barely eats. I’m trying to break through his walls, to find out what happened, but I don’t know how.”

I led Christian into the living room, even if I worried about Daniele. I’d check on him later if he didn’t come down soon. Loulou followed close behind, never letting Christian out of her sight. She was brave, I had to give her that.

We settled on the sofa where I’d had Sybil set up cake, sandwiches, and cookies as well as coffee. “The kid lost his mother. Of course he’s traumatized.”

“I know, but it’s more than that. He’s avoiding Cassio.”

“Maybe you should let the past rest, Giulia.” The way he spoke it was more a warning than advice, and his worried expression only affirmed my suspicion.

I set Simona down on the floor when her squirming got too much. She crawled off at once, heading for her blanket with her toys. “What do you know that you’re not telling me?”

Christian’s mouth thinned. “I know that Cassio doesn’t want people to rummage in his past, especially where Gaia is concerned, and I think you should respect his wish.”

“To protect him or me?”

Christian took a cookie and bit it, obviously biding his time. “Both… and those kids too.” He motioned at Simona, who squeezed a stuffed unicorn that laughed shrilly every time she did, causing her to giggle too. Her eyes flashed with joy as she gazed at me.

“How can I help Daniele if I don’t know what happened?”

“The boy will come around. He’s going to be Underboss one day. His mother’s death won’t be the last trauma he suffers.” My stomach tightened at my brother’s cold assessment.

“You’re worried Cassio will hurt me if I try to find out what happened to Gaia.”

Christian picked up his coffee cup and took a sip, contemplating his next words if his expression was an indication.

“I don’t think you need to worry. Cassio has been good to me so far, and he’s good to his children.”

Christian touched my hand, looking at me the same way Cassio sometimes did—as if I was a naïve child. “Let me tell you something about men like Cassio that I know because I’m that kind of man. Like him, I’ll be Underboss. Like him, I’ve survived and done horrible things to make me strong enough for that task. To get in a position of power in the mafia, you need a dark side. The stronger that dark side is, the more likely you’ll get into a position of power and stay there. Nobody threatens Cassio’s power.”

“I know you all have a dark side. You, Dad, Cassio, but none of you have ever hurt me nor do I think you will.”

Christian laughed bitterly. “Sometimes the dark comes out when it shouldn’t.”

Elia appeared in the doorway. “Everything all right?”

My brows snapped together. “Sure.” I glanced at the clock. It was almost five. “Why don’t you leave early? You’ve been working long hours these last few weeks. Christian will stay and protect me.”

Elia peered at my brother. I couldn’t read the look in his expression, but it definitely held a hint of suspicion. “Cassio ordered me to keep an eye on you.”

The way he said it sounded less like protection and more like surveillance. Did I need to have another talk about trust with Cassio?

Christian narrowed his eyes. “I can protect my sister, don’t worry.”

“Leave,” I ordered.

Elia nodded, but it was obvious that he didn’t like the idea. Still, he turned and left. After a moment, the front door opened then closed. Would he report back to Cassio again?

Christian shook his head. “Cassio keeps you on a short leash.”

I couldn’t talk about my marriage with him. It would only prove Cassio right that he had trouble trusting me.

“How’s Mom in her new role as rising star in our circles?”

Christian scoffed, but he took me up on my offer for a topic change. “She sees it endangered now that they had to take in Kiara.”

“Our cousin did nothing wrong. Her father is the traitor, not her.”

“You know how it is. She’ll suffer for his sins anyway. The children always do for the sins of their fathers.”

Was he referring to Dad’s mediocre reputation, which led many people to believe that Christian, too, wouldn’t be a good Underboss one day? Or was he referring to Cassio and Daniele?

“I’m going to call today and talk to Kiara. I wanted to give her a few days to recover from what happened.”

“I doubt you can recover from seeing your mother being killed by your own father.”

“Are we still talking about our uncle, or are you trying to hint at something else? If you’re trying to subtly tell me something, it’s not working.”

Christian took another cookie. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Of course you do. I thought you didn’t know what happened to Gaia? Was that a lie?”

“No. I just think it’s strange that Daniele avoids Cassio and doesn’t talk. That kind of trauma usually requires a strong catalyst.”

“Losing your mother in any way at that age is a strong catalyst.”

Christian gave a tense smile. “At least, Dad’s still happy about your bond with Cassio.” After that, we only talked about Dad, who was already reaping the fruits of my marriage to Cassio. Fewer people talked about him behind his back, too scared of my husband. I doubted Cassio would come to Dad’s help, though, unless I asked him to perhaps.

Simona scrunched up her face.

I sighed. “That expression means I need to change her diaper. Do you want to stay down here?”

Christian shook his head. “I can handle it. I’ve seen worse.”

I picked up Simona and we headed upstairs into her nursery. On the way, I noticed that the door to Gaia’s old room was ajar. I put Simona down on the changing table. I’d check on Daniele afterward.

Christian’s face twisted in disgust when I opened the diaper. He’d definitely never changed his child’s diaper.

“I thought you could handle it?” I teased, even if my own nose twitched at the stench, especially when Simona had any kind of meat before—like today.

“That doesn’t mean I enjoy it.”

“I don’t enjoy it either, but someone has to do it,” I said, then tickled Simona’s belly, causing her to grin. “Right?”

“Dad should have never forced you into this position. You are too young to take care of two little kids, who aren’t even your own.”

It was starting to annoy me that everyone kept saying that. Mom, now Christian, and even Cassio kept calling them his kids. We hadn’t been married long, but I wished he’d see how much I already cared about them. “I can handle it, Christian,” I snapped. “It’s not easy, but I’m stubborn.”

“True.”

I threw him an indignant look but couldn’t really stay mad at him seeing the grin that had accompanied my childhood. Once I was done with Simona, I put her into her crib. I could tell that she was tired. She had refused to go down for her nap at noon. She cried when I stepped back, so I bent over her and rocked the crib until her eyes drooped once more. But the moment I tried to go away, she started wailing again. This time I didn’t go to her, hoping she’d settle down. Some people said you needed to let the kids soothe themselves and let them cry, but I found that impossibly hard to do.

“She’s really demanding,” Christian commented, leaning in the doorway with crossed arms.

I picked Simona up, trying to figure out what was wrong. She kept wailing then without warning she spit up on me and herself.

“Eww,” Christian said.

With a sigh, I changed her clothes before I put her into the crib again. This time she quieted after a couple of minutes. I motioned for Christian to be silent as we walked out and closed the door. He eyed the vomit on my shirt and in my hair. “Aren’t you going to change?”

I snorted. “No. I like smelling like a bar on Sunday morning.”

“As if you know how a bar smells.”

I didn’t. I’d never been allowed in one, and not necessarily because of my age. Cassio probably wouldn’t let me set foot in one once I turned twenty-one either. I walked into the bedroom, trying not to pay too close attention to my ruined shirt. The stench was bad enough. Christian looked around curiously. Would Cassio be angry that I brought someone else into his private quarters? He and Christian had worked together for years, but they certainly weren’t friends.

“I need to grab a quick shower. Can you check on Simona if she starts wailing again? I’m worried she’ll throw up again.”

“Sure. I’ll go wait in the hallway while you get ready. Can’t leave you out of sight without a bodyguard after all.”

I rolled my eyes then headed into the bathroom. It wasn’t easy getting out of my clothes without getting the vomit on my skin. Throwing over a bathrobe, I hurried downstairs to the laundry to put the dirty clothes in a washing machine despite Christian’s questioning look. I heaved a sigh of relief when hot water finally streamed down my body, dispersing the lingering smell of vomit.

I was blow-drying my hair when I heard commotion. Turning it off, I listened. A distorted male voice carried over to me. I took a step closer to the bedroom door.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Cassio snarled.

I put the blow-dryer down and rushed out of the bathroom, only wrapped in my towel, my hair still damp. What I saw in the bedroom sent a wave of shock through me. Cassio shoved Christian against the wall, his forearm wedged into my brother’s throat.

Cassio’s gaze cut to me. Slowly his eyes slid over my half-dressed state, and his expression morphed into pure rage.

He hurled Christian to the floor, pulled his knife from his holster, and knelt on my brother’s chest. My blood ran cold. Cassio pressed the gleaming blade against Christian’s throat. Blood welled up at once. What was happening here?

I rushed forward and gripped his arm, trying to pull him away. “Cassio, what are you doing? Stop it! Stop it, please!”

Cassio bent down, bringing his face closer to Christian, ignoring my futile attempts at stopping him. “What the fuck are you doing alone with my wife?”

It took a couple of heartbeats for his words to trickle through the fog of my terror. “Cassio, have you lost your mind? That’s my brother! Let him go now!”

Christian tried to free himself, but with Cassio’s weight on his chest and the knife against his carotid, he was trapped. He couldn’t speak either. His face was turning increasingly red and his eyes were frantic.

“Please, I beg you, let him go. Whatever you think is going on, it’s not!”

Cassio didn’t react.

Shuffling sounded in the corridor. I glanced toward the door but didn’t see anything. Cassio froze following my gaze. It had to be Daniele. Cassio released Christian abruptly and shot to his feet, hiding the knife behind his back a moment before Daniele appeared in the doorway. His hair was tousled and his face sleepy. He looked from Christian on the floor to me who knelt beside him up to Cassio. Christian was pressing his palm to his bleeding throat so Daniele couldn’t see anything.

Cassio kept the hand with his knife behind his back as he approached Daniele. The previous terrifying fury was hidden behind a pleasant mask. He crouched before his son. Daniele regarded me, obviously unsure what was going on. That made two of us. My heart raced in my chest and terror still clogged my throat, but I managed a smile.

“Why don’t you go to your room and play another game. I’ll take you to bed soon,” Cassio murmured in a forced calm voice. Daniele clutched his tablet then slowly trudged away. I heard the door of his room a few seconds later and Cassio turned back to us, closing the door. Christian stumbled to his feet, his body tense. I positioned myself between my brother and my husband, determined to stop Cassio from another attack.

Cassio’s eyes sent a stab of cold fear through me. He only looked at Christian. From the corner of my eye, I saw my brother pull his own knife.

“I’ll ask one last time. What. Are. You. Doing. Here?”

“Is that why Andrea disappeared?” Christian pressed out.

Cassio staggered forward. I tried to shove him away, but he was too strong. The men began grappling. “Cassio, please!”

A fierce pain burned my arm and I cried out. Cassio jerked back, his eyes wide as he peered down at me. Blood trickled from a long shallow cut in my forearm. “Did you—” he snarled at Christian.

“It was you, Cassio. You hurt me in your blind rage,” I lied. I wasn’t sure who had cut me, and it wasn’t that bad even if it burned fiercely. I clutched the wound with my palm, shaking.

Cassio took a step back. He looked at his blade, which was smeared with blood. It might as well have been Christian’s. My brother sheathed his knife but didn’t take his eyes off my husband when he asked me, “Should I take you to the doctor?”

Cassio’s jaw tensed.

“No,” I said firmly. “Leave now.”

“Giulia—”

“Leave!”

Cassio breathed harshly, his nostrils flaring as he watched the blood squeezing out between my fingers.

Christian slowly backed away, not turning his back to Cassio. “I’ll call you in thirty minutes.”

I gave a small nod, stunned by what had happened and completely at a loss why Cassio had reacted that way.

Before my brother could slip out, Cassio said in a low voice, “There’s nowhere you can hide if I find out you betrayed me, Christian. Even Baltimore won’t be your safe haven if I want you dead.”

“If you hurt Giulia, I’ll find and kill you, Cassio.”

Cassio slanted my brother a dark look. Christian disappeared.

Suddenly I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to send him away. Cassio had lost his mind minutes ago for no apparent reason. His wife had died… or been killed, and nobody knew anything about it.

Our eyes met and the terrifying fury lessened. What remained was blatant distrust and a hint of guilt. He sheathed his knife then moved closer. I tensed, unsure what to expect after what I’d witnessed.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” he rumbled, voice laced with regret.

He gently pushed my hand away from my cut and inspected it. I winced when he prodded the sore area. His brows pulled tight with worry. “Did I do this?”

“Does it matter? You were the one who started the fight. You lost control. You told me I’d never have reason to flinch from you. Today you proved your own words wrong.”

“I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“Only Christian.”

Cassio gritted his teeth. “Come. I need to take care of the wound.”

I followed him into the bathroom. Cassio didn’t say anything as he lifted me on the vanity and began cleaning my wound.

“What happened in there?” I whispered.

Cassio put a bandage on my arm then pressed a kiss to my palm. When he straightened, he no longer looked the caring husband but the bad cop starting his interrogation. “What was Christian doing up here alone with you?”

I frowned. “He came to visit. I haven’t seen him in weeks. I sent Elia home because Christian is capable of protecting me.”

Cassio cupped my neck. “Why did you shower before I came home?”

Was he serious? “I wasn’t aware that I had to ask you for permission to shower.”

He looked furious. “Why did you shower? Answer me.”

“No. This is ridiculous.”

“If you don’t tell me why, I’ll have to assume you had to wash away proof of what you did before.”

I flinched, then grimaced when I realized what he was insinuating. I shoved against his chest. He didn’t budge.

“Are you really saying what I think you’re saying?” I was so horrified by the mere idea, I wasn’t sure how to handle the situation.

Cassio grasped my thighs. “Then answer my question.”

I stared at him. He was really serious. “Simona puked all over me, that’s why I showered. If you don’t believe me, check the washing machine. I didn’t have time to turn it on yet.” He released me and actually disappeared from view. I couldn’t believe him. I hopped off the counter, and my legs almost gave out. The shock rested heavily on me. Seeing Cassio lose control like that, over something this ridiculous, it had shaken me completely. I walked into the bedroom, not sure if I wanted to spend the night here. When Cassio returned, he’d calmed visibly.

I shook my head slowly. “I can’t believe you thought I cheated on you with my brother. That’s what you thought, right?”

His expression was hard. He uncuffed his shirt, something he did often to avoid an answer.

“You should trust me, Cassio, but instead of doing that, you’re so blinded by jealousy that you even suspect my brother to have an affair with me. How sick is that? You are surrounded by beautiful willing women in your clubs all the time, and I never accuse you of sleeping with them, much less of sleeping with your sisters for God’s sake!”

“Why would I cheat with any of those women? All I can think about is you.”

I froze. “You think of me?” I’d never considered the possibility that he’d waste a single thought on me once he was at work.

Cassio watched me, a battle raging in his eyes.

“Why do you keep pushing me away, then? Why do you hurt me by not trusting me?”

Cassio reached for his tie, loosening it with a hard tug. Tension lingered in his body, and if Christian had still been here, he probably would have attacked him again. Cassio had seemed in control, so it came as a shock that he harbored so much unrestrained aggression. Of course, it only solidified that I’d been trying to ignore that side of him. His reputation was there for a reason.

“I don’t push you away. We share a bed and spend time together.”

“We have sex together, talk about what the kids did, but whenever I try to glimpse behind your mask, you block me, and now you almost kill my brother in a jealous rage. Tell me what happened.”

His jaw locked into place. I turned my back on him, needing a moment without his intense gaze. Dropping the towel, I grabbed a nightgown from a drawer. Cassio’s steps echoed behind me. “No. Don’t touch me. Not now. I need answers. If you refuse to tell me the truth, then I can’t have sex with you.” I slanted him a look over my shoulder.

Cassio began to unbutton his shirt—so calmly and precisely that for a moment I, too, wanted to roar and rage. I was glad when he moved to the door.

“I’ll take Daniele to bed.”

I sank down on the bed. I’d promised Cassio I wouldn’t move into another room, but right now I wasn’t sure if I wanted to keep that promise. I wasn’t sure if I could stay, not as long as he left me in the dark over what happened. I didn’t want to be scared of my husband, but right now I was.

Daniele’s cries rang out, and I stood then hurried into his room. Cassio tried to change him into his pajama bottoms, but Daniele fought him. Eventually, Cassio released him, and Daniele hurried toward me, hugging my legs.

Cassio appeared like a wounded animal as he straightened. “Can you—?” His voice was rough, his jaw tight.

I nodded and lifted Daniele into my arms. Cassio watched with sorrowful eyes as I dressed Daniele in his PJs then put him in bed. Cassio pressed a brief kiss on Daniele’s forehead before he and I headed out and turned off the lights.

Silence tightened around Cassio and me as we stood in the hallway.

“Tell me the truth. If you want this marriage to work, if I mean anything at all to you, tell me what happened,” I begged.

Cassio looked at my bandaged arm. His shirt was half unbuttoned, and he looked exhausted. “I need a drink. Will you join me?” He held out his hand.

I hesitated, but seeing the tortured look on his face, I took his hand and followed him downstairs.

Sybil lingered in the lobby, her expression worried. “I prepared minestrone. It’s in the kitchen. I wasn’t sure if you were going to have dinner…” She trailed off. She probably heard the fighting and saw Christian flee the house.

“We’re not hungry. Go home,” Cassio clipped.

Sybil sought my eyes. I smiled. “Thank you for making us dinner. Have a lovely evening with your husband.”

She hesitated then grabbed her purse and coat before slipping out. Cassio squeezed my hand and pulled me into the living area. A fire burned in the hearth as it did every evening. Usually the sight warmed me from the inside, now it did nothing to dissipate the cold feeling of dread. He released me to head for the liquor cabinet. I sank down in one of the armchairs, stretching out my bare legs, relishing in the warmth the fireplace put out. “Fix me a drink as well.”

Cassio made a low sound, voicing his displeasure, but after a couple of minutes, he held out a tumbler with about an inch of amber liquid. I took it and sipped at it.

Cassio sagged down on the armchair beside mine, rolling around the ice cube in his glass. His eyes were on me. “I knew it would come to this. It couldn’t be any other way. It had to end like this.”

“This isn’t the end of anything,” I said. “Not if you don’t let it. Do you want to lose me?”

Cassio took a gulp then smiled bitterly. “Haven’t I already?”

“No, but you will if you don’t stop hiding the truth from me. What happened today… I can’t get over it unless you tell me what made you act that way. Help me understand.”

Cassio downed the rest of his drink. He stared into the flames and smiled bitterly.

My phone rang, making me jump. Cassio’s expression darkened, but I picked up. I didn’t have to check the screen to know who it was. “I’m fine, Christian.”

“I contacted a few of my loyal men in Baltimore. Dad won’t interfere, but I will if you need me to. Just say it and I’ll free you of him.”

That was betrayal. Considering how bad things were in the Famiglia at the moment, and how volatile Luca was, I couldn’t allow Christian to entertain these ideas. “No. I’m fine, honestly. We can talk tomorrow.”

“Giulia—”

“Tomorrow.” I hung up. “That look needs explaining, Cassio.”

He raised an eyebrow as if he didn’t know what I was talking about. I didn’t believe that for one second. His eyes practically burned with angry jealousy when I talked to Christian. It was something I couldn’t even begin to comprehend.

“How can you even consider that I’d have something with my own brother?” Downing half of my drink, I got up and knelt before him, touching his clenched fist resting on his thigh. He opened it so I could link our fingers. Behind the anger and suspicion in his eyes lingered a deep pain and vulnerability. It was the latter that hushed my own fury over what he’d done. “Please, tell me the truth.”

Cassio bent down and kissed me sweetly.

I frowned. This wasn’t the moment for physical closeness. I wanted answers.

“I needed that last kiss before you’ll always look at me the way you looked at me when I attacked Christian.” He leaned back, looking off into the flames once more. “I killed my first wife.”

The ground dropped away under me. Slowly I pulled my hand away from his, wishing I had misunderstood him and terribly certain that I hadn’t.

Cassio smiled darkly. He took his time tracing my horrified expression with his eyes. “Not with my own hands. She killed herself, but she did it because of me.”

Relief almost knocked the breath out of me. If Cassio had actually killed his wife, I couldn’t have stayed with him—not that he’d ever allow me to leave him.

I knew suicide was more common than people liked to admit in our circles, but usually it was the result of abuse and despair. What had Cassio done to his wife? He was good to me and to his kids. I couldn’t imagine him abusing his late wife, unless her death had made him change his ways. Even the cut on my arm… even if that hadn’t been Christian’s doing, it hadn’t been his intention. He’d looked guilty afterward.

“Why?” I asked, half scared to know the truth, but I wanted to be rid of the past’s dark shadows and shedding light on what happened was the only way to do it.

Cassio smiled without humor. The flames created shadows on his sharp face. “Because I killed the man she loved.”

I was shocked into silence.