Chapter 37
37
“What the hell happened to you?” Antonio asks, sliding into the Range Rover’s passenger seat.
I’ve been parked in his driveway for the past hour.
I’m sure I look as sleep-deprived as I feel.
“I hope you don’t plan on driving,” he adds, eyeing the whiskey bottle nestled in the cupholder. It’s there, just in case, but I haven’t touched it yet.
I won’t because in the back of my mind, there’s hope Pippa will call, asking me to come home, and we’ll work shit out. I spent last night sitting outside the townhouse, making sure she didn’t flee to her apartment. Not that she could get inside it. I had all the locks changed.
“Pippa ended things,” I say.
He blows out a long breath. “Why?”
“Cernach.” I grit out his name in distaste. “This life. All of it.”
He nods. “This life is hard on women.”
Understanding flashes on his face. He didn’t love Sienna, but she was the mother of his child. Her death left his daughter motherless, and he blames this life for that .
“I won’t force her to be with me.” I grind my teeth.
“I wouldn’t judge you if you did force her.”
“Pippa wouldn’t go for that, and I respect her too much.” I could easily go to Cernach, and we could force her hand, lock her into a marriage with me until she came to terms that she was mine.
Antonio clasps me on the back. “You’re a good man, Damien.”
“I understand why she’s doing it. I’m just pissed.”
“Don’t go killing an Irish boss on me, okay? I already have enough headaches.” He opens the door and steps out, leaving me alone in my agony, my anger, my fucking madness.