Chapter 34
THIRTY-FOUR
Madi
“ P lus, Sam thinks I’m on his side. It will be easier for you to get to him if you have someone on the inside, someone he trusts.”
“Someone like you.”
Fire burns through my ears. I can’t believe what I’m hearing. We just went to New York City to figure out a plan to get Sam released from prison. A plan I fully support, having no desire to see my evil uncle in charge of this family.
But that was never Adrian’s real plan.
Adrian wants to set Sam free, just to watch him die. Guilt burns in my stomach.
And I thought I loved him.
I was about to admit to my husband that I love him and then let him fuck my brains out. How stupid of me to think I could ever trust Adrian. Heat blisters through my veins as I pace back and forth in the bedroom. Quickly, I slide under the covers and keep my face away from the door. The only plan I have right now is to pretend I’m asleep and hope Adrian believes me.
I hear his footsteps ascend the stairs, and I squeeze my eyes shut and even out my breathing.
“Madi-” He pauses at the entrance to our room, presumably watching me. He doesn’t speak again, but I listen as he undresses and uses the bathroom before crawling into bed next to me. A large arm wraps around my waist, and he pulls me close to him, pressing a kiss to my shoulder blade.
The lights turn off, and I wait until his breathing steadies beside me.
Tomorrow, I’ll have to come up with a new plan.
Madi
I need you to come by the studio.
Zoe
I have classes today. How urgent?
Madi
Pretty fucking urgent.
Zoe
Got it. I can stop by this afternoon.
Madi
See you soon.
The next morning consists of me drinking far too much coffee and pacing around my studio while texting Zoe.
If Adrian really is about to betray Sam, then I need to warn him, right? But telling Sam likely means that Adrian is going to get hurt…or worse.
I have a headache.
Logically, I drink more coffee. Which does nothing to soothe the pounding in my head, nor the spiral of thoughts whooshing through my brain.
I’m not ready to believe that Adrian is going to betray my family. But I heard him loud and clear. There’s no misunderstanding when he flat out told Damien that Sam would be easier to kill outside of prison. But I can’t ignore that he asked me which side I would choose, and when I said Sam, he told me he was going to get my cousin out of prison.
I need to talk it out with Zoe before I get my husband killed. But I also know I can’t let him get Sam killed either.
I drink more coffee, and when Zoe finally shows up at my studio, I word vomit everything.
How we went to New York and I saw Lana and it was amazing.
How I slept with Adrian. Many, many times now and the sex is better than I could have ever imagined.
And how I think I’m falling… No, scratch that, I know I’m in love with my husband.
And how I also know he’s about to betray us.