13. Massimo
Chapter 13
Massimo
I t’s one in the morning by the time I head for bed, the quiet of the house making my thoughts louder than ever. We’ve had to change around our operations since the attacks and inevitably this has led to more work. It doesn’t help that I have the heads of the other four families in the tri-state area up my ass about debuting my fucking wife. I plan on putting that off as long as possible and at least until Margot is less… hostile .
I cross the threshold into the pitch-black bedroom, leaving the door slightly ajar to guide me as I move through the space. There’s no denying that she’s in here this time, even though I can barely make out her sleeping form. Her sweet fragrance fills the air, reminding me of our wedding night.
Scrubbing a hand over my face, I smother my yawn before quietly undressing. Exhaustion has become a constant in my life these past few weeks, but it doesn’t mean it gets any easier.
Folding my clothes, I leave them on the chair in the corner, my aching body begging me to fall into the comfort of my bed. I know as soon as my head hits the pillow, I’ll be asleep.
Pulling back the covers, I go to climb in, my knee resting on the mattress when Margot’s phone vibrates across her nightstand. I freeze as the screen lights up, illuminating the room and her sleeping features.
My eyes remain locked on the device long after the screen has gone black and it’s only when it lights up again that I move around to her side. She’s my wife now. My responsibility. If someone is texting her at one in the morning, I need to know what it’s about. My eyes dart to Margot before I pick up her phone and wake up the screen.
ETHAN
New Message
Every muscle in my body tenses, my jaw grinding as I think over my next move. I consider dragging her to the basement and making good on the threats I’ve given. She should have heeded my warnings because now she’ll only have herself to blame for the consequences of her actions.
And she will pay for this betrayal.
I don’t need to see what he has said to know that. The simple fact that he’s still communicating with her is enough. Still, I tap on the message and when the screen requests the passcode, I enter it. Any ounce of guilt I carried at having Callum get it for me is washed away.
With the message thread filling the screen, I scroll up to the messages they’ve exchanged since she broke it off with him, the date engrained in my memory.
ETHAN
I don’t understand what’s happening, Margot. Are you in danger? Is that why you did what you did? I thought you loved me.
MARGOT
I’m so sorry, Ethan. I wish I could tell you more.
ETHAN
Talk to me. We can figure this out. Whatever is happening, I’ll help fix it if it means we can be together.
MARGOT
That’s not possible. Please, don’t make this any harder than it has to be, Ethan. You’ll find someone else and forget about me.
ETHAN
I never thought, when you made me promise to remember how much I loved you, that you’d rip my heart out seconds later, M.
It’s been less than twenty-four hours since you did and I miss you like crazy. There isn’t a universe in which we both exist that I could ever forget about you.
Before reading on, I glance at Margot, her features softened by sleep and her lips parted as she draws in quiet breaths. She looks untouched by the chaos she’s caused, her betrayal lying still beneath the surface like a dormant volcano.
Does she know I’m standing here, fighting the urge to wake her and demand answers? Is she dreaming of him and the life she could have had? I grind my teeth together at the thought, a hot burning sensation burning through my chest as I try to contain my anger.
Redirecting my focus to the phone in my hand, I tighten my grip and read on.
MARGOT
I wish I could tell you what was happening. I wish I didn’t miss you as much as I do. I wish we’d run away.
His response is almost instantaneous, like he’s still holding on to some form of hope that he can say the right thing and get her back.
ETHAN
We can. Wherever you want to go, we’ll go. Just tell me when and where to meet you and I’ll be there.
I love you, Margot. If you’re in danger, I’ll do everything I can to protect you.
MARGOT
I wish it was that simple, but there isn't anything you can do.
I scroll through more messages, each one only fanning the flames of my fury. The beast inside of me, the one that I only unleash on my worst enemies, fights to be released. I reach the end of the chain, reading over her last message.
MARGOT
I don’t deserve your forgiveness or your support, but you’re the only one who really knows me. My wedding is on Saturday, at St. Bart’s on Park Avenue. The ceremony starts at 12 noon. I really would like you to come.
I sigh heavily, continuing to scroll until I reach the bottom of the thread, ignoring the messages that he’s sent to her without a response. Her only saving grace right now is that it at least looks like she’s not been speaking to him since the wedding, but I’d be a fool to not have Callum pull her phone data. I won’t put it past her to be deleting messages.
ETHAN
Please call me, I need to know that you’re okay. That he hasn’t done something to you. I love you.
I just need the address and I’m there.
Deleting the last two messages, I lock her phone and slide it back onto the nightstand. I stare down at her sleeping form, barely illuminated by the light spilling into the room from the doorway.
The anger simmering in my chest doesn’t dissipate, it only heightens as the seconds tick by. Tomorrow, Ethan will learn what happens when you try to take something that belongs to me.
And Margot? She’ll understand that there’s no escaping this.
No escaping me .