Chapter Thirty-Two #3
“Shit,” Upper said, drawing our attention. “They went together. There’s a picture of the private jet—and … there’s Elio.”
“This motherfucker,” Dog gritted out.
Seeing the picture, I looked away, feeling betrayed.
Cheated.
Used.
“Zahra—” Milk was rushing to me, but I quickly raised my hand.
“I’m fine. I just need a little—a little space; I’ll be back.”
I walked out of the kitchen area and down to Elio’s bedroom. Only when I was inside, locking the door behind me, did I breathe. It was heavy, and my heart was breaking.
I didn’t want to believe it. I knew how fucking hard my senses had tried to tell me about this, but I had ignored it because I trusted him in that respect—in that respect and more.
I didn’t think he would do this. He had preached about his respect for women and how he wouldn’t want to repeat what his father had done to his mother.
But apparently, that was fucking bullshit. Elio was no different.
I wouldn’t cry.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and blinked away the stupid sting and burn in my eyes.
No. I wouldn’t cry.
This wouldn’t be the first time somebody used me. No. But I would make sure to fucking hell it was the last. The last time I would open my heart to someone and let them hurt me.
If he hadn’t wanted me—if he had wanted that perfect fucking Barbie—why did he lead me on like this? Why would he make it seem as though I was the only one that he wanted?
My vision blurred, and I shook my head with a frown, whipping out my phone as I paced the length of the room.
Anger came next. Mixing with the hurt as I opened his chat box and started typing.
I deleted the rubbish line of questions and typed out another again, but deleted it. My fingers were unsteady, and the anger inside me wanted me to say the meanest fucking thing my brain could come up with, but each time I typed it out, I ended up deleting it again.
I didn’t want to hurt him.
But he had hurt me. He had hurt me, so why was I sparing his feelings?
Fuck this.
Me:
We found ur little yellow-wrapped gift from ur sweet Gemma Parisi.
I don’t kw what to say because I never thought u would do this. After all the crap examples u gave of ur father, u turn out to be no different.
I sounded like a fucking fifteen-year-old, but my angry fingers kept typing. I wasn’t thinking, wasn’t stopping, just typing and sending, spamming.
Me:
I don’t kw what gave u the impression that u could cheat on me and get away with it like I’m some easy fuck by the side that u could sway with stupid words that mean absolutely fucking nothing.
Even knowing how guarded I am about relationships, u still did this to me, made me look like a fool the day she came to ur suite on the cruise. U were fucking some other woman while trying to rope me into a relationship with u for some fucked-up reason.
I’m pretty sure u were laughing at me in ur fucked-up head when I told you I couldn’t have kids. u already have someone who can give u kids.
Why are men like this? Why the fuck did u see the need to lead me on when u know u have someone even more perfect on the side?
I can’t believe I didn’t see it. You’re good, I’ll give u that.
Always acting like some innocent fucking freak who
would never switch pussies when he gets bored.
You’ll pay for this; I swear to u I won’t rest until I find u and fucking gut u until you’re nothing but blood and body parts. Not before I cut off ur fucking dick and feed it to u.
I’ll also find that Gemma bitch and tell her that her baby daddy is out there, lying and hurting other women for fucking kicks.
In case you didn’t get the memo, we’re fucking done. Piece of fucking shit.
I threw the phone on the bed after sending that last one, not even remembering what I typed out. I dropped to the edge of the bed, covering my face in my hands as I tried to tame my breathing, anger, and hurt.
“I’m so fucking stupid,” I whispered to myself. To think I wanted to ruin a mission that had been in play for more than six fucking years. For him.
I shook my head, replaying the day Gemma had come to his suite … he didn’t say anything, pretended he didn’t know her, but they were there together. I believed her lie, I trusted him.
“God, I’m such an idiot.” I dug my hand into my eyes, trying to hold back the sting.
I didn’t know how long I sat there, but I knew I was too ashamed to face Street. Not after knowing they knew I wasn’t good enough for Elio—and I was probably being played this whole time.
Even Angelo knew about Gemma.
“Fucking idiot,” I whispered, letting my eyes grow wet, unable to stop the emotions swirling around my chest.
Now I knew why Upper, Devil, and Dog had shared that look. They knew how bad it looked, they knew, and they probably pitied me.
Pitied the foolish girl.
I was indeed foolish—I dared to step out of my comfort zone because my heart had led me down the wrong path again.
Except this time, my anger wasn’t just anger.
My heart thumped abnormally, each beat accompanied by hurt, loss, and disappointment.
Feelings that made my limbs weak. How quickly I let myself fall for Elio—thinking he was possibly the sincerest man I’d ever meet when it came to relationships. I should have known better.
Trusting someone this much was something I strived hard not to do.
The one time I decide to give in, I get cheated on. I still can’t believe it.
“I’m so stupid,” I whispered again.
The vibration from my phone got me out of my thoughts. Sluggishly, I flipped over the device.
My heart cut.
He was calling.
I watched it ring, wanting nothing more than to answer and hear what he had to say. But I couldn’t.
The call cut off, and the phone started vibrating almost immediately—his nickname flashing on the screen.
I declined the call and switched off my phone as I got to my feet, pocketed the device, and rushed out of the room.
Reaching the kitchen, the hushed conversations stopped when they spotted me.
That damned box was still on the table.
“We’re going to find the bitch.”
Devil sighed. “Maybe you shouldn’t jump right to conclusions. I know Elio; he would never hurt you like that.”
“Do you really know him? Is it written on the fucking forehead of every man to grace the earth, who would cheat and who wouldn’t?”
“Z, just—”
“We’re going to find her,” I said, looking around the group. “Anyone who doesn’t want to come with me, that’s fine. I’ll go on my own.”