30. Adam
Adam
"I'm sorry… I'll clean it out for you, promise," Eliza continued to apologize despite my wishes against it.
"Darling," I chuckled, grabbing my bloodied shirt from her hands. "It's just a shirt." I reiterated, balling it up and throwing it back into the trash.
"But it's an expensive shirt," she remarked with a slight pout.
Rolling my eyes, I reached out and loosely wrapped my arms around her, swaying her around slightly. "And replacing it and twenty others would be nothing but pocket change for me," I threw back with a smug smirk, earning a flat glare from Eliza.
Shaking her little glare off with a chuckle, I leaned down and kissed her deeply. "Do you want to go back to the party, or do you need to call it a night?" I asked her with a concerned frown.
It'd barely been an hour since her encounter and attack with James, something I still beat myself over.
I was supposed to be there to protect her, and she was supposed to be safe in our home.
Yet, here she stood, looking like she'd been tossed into some fight ring with her beat-up face, scuffed-up arms, lacerated cheek, and banged-up head.
Also, she'd been rather reserved ever since my men whisked James off, and that concerned me quite a bit more than her physical appearance.
The doctor said she was fine, maybe a mild concussion at best, but other than that, the surface wounds would heal with time.
Mentally and emotionally, that's where I worried about her because those injuries could take forever to heal.
Knowing Eliza and how she could be, I worried that she might not ever heal, or if she did, then I was afraid of the impact it might have on her personally and on our relationship.
A small silence ghosted over us before Eliza's long sigh ripped it away. "I think I might call it a night." Her blunted words felt like a punch to the chest, especially with how she shrugged me off and turned herself away.
" Mia rosa , what's wrong?" I prodded with a concerned scrunch of my face. "You haven't told me what exactly happened with James out there…" Obviously, they got into a tiff. Otherwise, she wouldn't look like she went a few rounds with a kangaroo.
Also, did James just attack her, or did she attack him? Did he say something to trigger her? Or did she say something to make him snap? There were so many what if's that I had no answers to.
Silently, Eliza slipped into our bed, bundling herself up with the covers.
"I mean, there's not much to say about it.
James showed up, shoved a gun at me, ran his mouth about hateful things like he always did, tried to talk me back by telling me some lie about you being a part of mafia.
" She scoffed and let out a laugh of disbelief.
"I didn't believe any of it though because, well, I mean, come on.
" Shaking her head, she leaned up on her elbows, looking at me with a lopsided smile. "You? Mafia? Organized crime? No way."
Forcing out a stale chuckle, I shook my head in denial. "You don't believe him, do you?" If this wasn't a sign from the universe for me to spill my guts, then I didn't know what was.
Unfortunately, I never listened to signs.
This would bite me in the ass later, and I'd deal with the consequences then.
Besides, now would be the worst time to tell her the truth.
She just went through a lot of shit in such a short amount of time, so me showing her my walk-in closet full of bodies and skeletons was a huge no-no.
So, for her sake and mine, the truth would have to wait.
Rolling her eyes, Eliza shook her head. "No, that's just a ridiculous thing for him to accuse you of.
I mean, the only thing mafia about you that I can put a finger on is the fact you own some guns, but even then, that's a stretch because half the people on this planet own a few guns.
" Her dismissal made me let out a sigh of relief as I walked over to her and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Besides, you don't have a mean bone in your body.
I can't see you beating some man up for not paying you, nor can I see you ripping families apart and shit.
Honestly, you're just too wholesome of a man. "
Oh, my darling Eliza, if only you knew…
Keeping a smile on my face, I reached out and stroked her hair.
Neither of us said anything for a small while, just basking in the muffled silence.
"But, how are you, though? And I understand if you want to put off talking about things until tomorrow, but I need to know how you are doing.
" How much damage control did I have to do?
Taking a deep breath, she looked at me with hesitant eyes for a few seconds before scooting over to make room for me and patting the area lightly.
Usually, I'd make her use her words, but after her stressful night, giving her a pass wouldn't hurt.
Giving in to her demands, I laid down and pulled her into me, holding her securely.
Snuggling into me, Eliza took some controlled breaths for a long while, so long that I thought she fell asleep because her breathing became so rhythmic.
I almost opened my mouth to ask, but she spoke up before I could.
"I don't know… Kind of... I just… I don't know, a part of me is like exhausted because of the whole thing, but another is damn proud and satisfied that he's finally going to get his dues.
" Peeling her head away from my chest, she looked up at me with a thankful smile.
"Oh, can you tell Rowan thanks, and to keep me updated as much as possible with what happens to James? "
Of course, there was that other issue. Rowan might've taken James away under the guise of arresting him for assault, but that was the lie we told everyone who was there.
James wasn't rotting away in some holding cell right now.
No, he was tied up in my yacht, just waiting for me to take him out to sea the moment I could.
Soon, James would cease to exist, and I'd just feed the story of him getting sentenced to Eliza. If need be, then I'd forge up some fake articles and records for her to shift through if she wanted.
"We'll keep you updated about him, don't worry." A sharp pang to my heart made me wince a little.
Lying to Eliza has slowly become rather painful.
Hailee liked to call it growing a conscience and shit, and that probably was the case.
Unfortunately, I couldn't do anything about it.
Alright, well, I could do something about it; tell the fucking truth.
Too bad that wasn't the best option given what the lies covered up. So, a lifetime of heartache it was.
It wasn't as if I lied to her often or much.
I only omitted my mafia life and, I guess, this whole James situation.
But it'd all blow over eventually, right?
At the very least, James would be dropped sooner rather than later.
The whole mafia secret was a whole different story that I needed to sort out.
For my sake, I needed to figure that shit out much sooner and never later.
Hell, I was pretty sure if I held out long enough, then one of my parents would tattle on me.
"Tell me what's on your mind, little rose." Maybe hearing her dump everything on me would ease this guilt and pain. I mean, her voice was always so soothing to me, so it had to do the trick.
Her soft fingertips danced across my cheeks while her smile crossed my eyes, and we both admired each other for a long minute before more words came out of her luscious lips.
"It's finally over, or at least very close to being all over.
" Her whole body relaxed with her words.
Those little fingers of hers slowly flattened against my cheek until her whole hand rested against it.
"As long as nothing happens, then James ends up behind bars, and that's the end of that.
Well, I guess it'll be officially over once I file for divorce since I uhh am technically still married to him legally. "
"Oooh, my darling, is so scandalous," I teased playfully with a chuckle, earning a smack to the chest from her. "Scandalous." Kiss. "And dangerous." Kiss. "And so fucking sexy." The third kiss was dragged out until Eliza fought against me for some air.
Holding her firm against me, I looked down at her with a rather wild grin.
"Seeing you with a gun is probably one of the hottest things in my life.
" Discount the shock and all those iffy emotions on her face, of course.
"Maybe I should take you down to the shooting range sometimes or just shoot in the back with you. "
Also, I was low-key jealous of the fact Eliza had such a fond memory with James.
It peeved me a little how she recounted that moment with such nostalgia in her eyes, and my irritation didn't simmer out when James seemed to have a moment with her because of that recounting.
In a way, it was almost as if reality was reminding me of the possibility of losing Eliza, and I hated it.
Eliza is mine, and only mine!
We weren't temporary. We were forever for eternity.
A surge of possessive anger clouded my mind, spurring me to grab Eliza's face and kiss her hungrily.
"If you didn't need rest right now, then I'd screw you stupid until you're nothing but a moaning mess dripping my cum out of every hole on your body," I growled deeply against her lips, letting my chest rumble against her trembling body.
Her soft eyes fluttered shut for a moment as she let out a breathy moan.
Then, her whole body slumped a little with a weight to her shoulders.
"Alarm." I immediately backed off at the sound of that word—figuratively backed off, that is.
"Not right now. I want to, but I can't. I'm not up for it, nor am I in the right headspace for anything intense or intimate.
I just need you to hold me, so I know you are real and here for me. "
Cradling the back of her head, I pressed her into my chest. My other hand soothed her back with slow rubs while my lips spilled every sweet compliment and kiss to her head.
It was unusual for Eliza to use her safe word. Aside from when we tested her limits, I could count on one hand the number of times she uttered that single word. Usually, it was during moments when she was frazzled and overwhelmed beyond what she could comprehend.
Naturally and rightfully, like any decent partner and Dom, I immediately dropped everything at the single word. There was a time and place for everything, and when Eliza drew that line, that was that. No funny business, just sappy sweetness, support, and love.
"Do you want me to get you anything? Small snack? Drink?" She didn't really eat much during the party, but I chalked that up to her being so busy running around and mingling with everyone. Of course, before I could force her to sit and properly eat, she'd stepped out, and the rest was history.
Humming softly, Eliza shook her head lightly in response. "I'll be fine with my water. Besides, I'm getting really sleepy and just want to snooze." Her voice trailed in and out with her slow blinks.
With a curt hum, I kissed her forehead. "Alright, my darling. I'll stay until you sleep, then I'll head back to the party until it's wrapped up. I'll get Asher to bed and everything as well." I whispered lowly against her head before pressing another kiss to it.
"Good night, bub. I love you," Eliza mumbled against my chest with a smile, closing her eyes and getting comfortable against me.
"Good night, little rose. I love you too."