Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
Fabien
The Present
Sienna’s seated cross-legged on the floor of her workspace. Next to her, on a pink frilly dog bed that looks ridiculous with an imposing Cane Corso, Lacey snoozes.
My wife—love those two words together—is weaving an intricate pattern pinned to a silk pillow, her brow furrowed in complete and total focus. A strand of hair escapes her messy bun, and she blows it out of her eyes, only for it to fall right back.
By the time I’ve crossed the room, Lacey’s gone from asleep to on guard, growling at me softly. “Good girl.”
“You say that now,” Sienna taunts, blowing the strand out of her face only for it to fall back.
I squat down beside her, tucking the strand behind her ear. Her eyes meet mine with simmering anger as she shakes her head, causing that piece of hair to fly free.
Oh yeah, my wife hates me.
“Come on, it’s time for our date,” I tell her with a grin.
“I’m busy.” She dismisses me with her gaze, returning to her bobbins.
“Bring your project and work on the plane.”
“Plane?” That gets Sienna’s attention, her eyes meeting mine with curiosity.
“You want to see how this plays out just as much as I do,” I tease her.
She bristles, armoring up against me. “‘This’ played out a tragedy; I can’t imagine a second time would be any different.”
“It’s different because we’re different,” I argue.
“You don’t know me, Fabien, not really,” she says dismissively. “We shared a brief history, and that’s it.”
It’s my turn to bristle. “That’s not it—”
“We were too much. Too fast. Too young. The cards were stacked against us,” she argues, having clearly rehearsed this speech. “It was inevitable our relationship was going to crash and burn.”
“We’ve been dealt a new hand this round,” I counter. “I’m free. You’re free—”
Sienna cocks her head. “But I’m not free, am I?”
“No,” I answer her truthfully. “But I’ll give you everything, as long as you're mine.”
“Then I’ll never have everything.”
It’s my turn to growl as I scoop her up into my arms and toss her over my shoulder.
“Hey!” Sienna cries.
Lacey hops up with a snarl.
“Heel,” I order.
“Attack,” Sienna orders.
My head of security appears, flashing a hand signal for Lacey, and she bounds to his side. “Mr. and Mrs. Calvani, conflicting commands will only confuse her,” he says gently. “Perhaps I could work with both of you and Lacey when you return from your trip.”
“Yes,” I say.
“No,” Sienna says.
“Um, alright. Well, have a nice trip.” He and Lacey disappear.
“What happened to Lacey being my shadow?” Sienna points out.
“That’s when I’m not around. Tonight, you’ve got my undivided attention.”
“And that’s supposed to be reassuring?” Sienna scoffs.
Ignoring the jab, I warn her, “We’re going to be late, and I promise you, you don’t want to be late.” That’s the only hint I’m giving, because the surprise will be worth it.
“Don’t tell me what I want.” Sienna begins pounding my back.
The palm of my hand lands on her ass cheek with a firm whack, and she hisses with anger as I carry her to the door. Why that does it for me, fuck if I know.
“Saint, grab Sienna’s project from the work room.” He’s waiting for us at the car, sandwiched between a convoy of SUVs. A safety precaution, only until a cockroach named Kirksey has been exterminated.
“Saint, don’t you dare make a mess of my bobbins!” Sienna cries.
“Mrs. Calvani, I don’t know what that means.” Saint hesitates, looking unsure.
“Get Jermaine to help carry the pillow, and you hold the bobbins,” I instruct him.
He hesitates, still confused.
“The wooden stick-looking things. Do not unravel them from their positions,” I explain.
“Yes, boss.” He disappears inside.
Having saved Saint’s balls, mine are still at risk as I place a fuming Sienna into the back of the vehicle, sliding in beside her. “Stop making my cock hard in front of Saint. I’d hate to have to kill him,” I warn her, adjusting myself and leaving my hand there as a shield.
“I refuse to take responsibility for you murdering anyone.” As soon as the words are out of her mouth, she realizes her mistake.
“Nor should you,” I tell her softly. “Ringer wasn’t your fault. What happened to you wasn’t your fault.”
She examines her nails, refusing to make eye contact. “And my client?”
“Former client,” I correct her. “Not your fault, and not everything’s bigger in Texas.”
That gets me Sienna’s undivided attention. With fire in her eyes, she spits, “Surprised you didn’t whip it out and measure.”
“No need to measure.” My shoulder lifts. “We both know mine’s bigger.”
“Your ego?” Sienna clicks her tongue. “That’s true.”
I chuckle softly. “How did you become the madam? You told me it was a long story. I’ve got the time.”
She narrows her eyes. “Why would I give you my jugular?”
“You want mine?” I reach inside my jacket, producing my ice pick. Loosening my tie, I extend it handle-side out.
She accepts the weapon, getting a feel for it in her hand. “And what if I call your bluff?” The cool kiss of metal is now positioned against my skin.
“Lower.” With my hand wrapped around hers, I reposition the ice pick on my neck. “You want to be right here on the vein.”
“Don’t mansplain to me how to slit a throat,” she snaps. “I know how to slit a—”
“You killed Jade.”
Her grip on the weapon never falters, but I can see the vulnerability flash in her eyes before she hides it.
“You’re wrong.” Bold statement considering she’s pressing the pick harder into my vein. “I know you, and if you killed Jade, then you had your reasons.”
“And if I kill you, do I have my reasons?” Sienna challenges.
My eyes never leave hers. “If I have to convince you, then sorry, baby, but you don’t.”
She lowers the ice pick, tossing it at my chest. It bounces off me, falling to the floorboard.
Saint and Jermaine approach the car, and another guard opens the trunk for them to place Sienna’s pillow and bobbins inside.
Saint joins us behind the wheel, clearing his throat. “Ready to go?”
“Yes,” I say.
“No,” Sienna says.
I’m ignored by my wife as we make our way to the airport. Not ideal, but at least I get to sit next to her and look at her pretty face. It’s still a win.
“Our souls have always known each other,” I murmur, loud enough for her ears only.
That elicits an acrid laugh from my wife. “You have a soul?”
“Dark calls to dark.”
She doesn’t comment, returning her attention to the window.
My arm spreads out over her headrest, my knees parting and grazing hers. So what if I’m doing it intentionally because I’m starved for Sienna’s touch; I’ve never claimed to be a saint, and I’ve only ever been a gentleman for her.
“Pull over,” Sienna leans forward and instructs Saint.
“Why, Mrs. Calvani?” He eyes us in the rearview.
“Because I’m moving to the front seat.”
“Sorry, you’re safer in the back,” I tell her, not sorry in the least.
She goes to crawl through the console, and I grip her by the hips, slamming her sweet ass back in her seat.
“Do you want to know the biggest lie you ever told me?” Her words are tinged with fury. “That I was safe with you.”
It’s like Sienna’s pulled the pin from a grenade and flung it at my face.
The rage I harbor toward myself needs an outlet, and the passenger seat headrest is the only option. My fist connects, and it goes flying into the front floorboard.
“Oh, did I hit a nerve?” Sienna taunts. “And then to add to your abysmal track record, you allowed Angelo to kidnap me from what should have been a safe place.”
“You’re right. I fucked up with your security at school, but it won’t happen again; I swear it,” I plead to her.
“Whatever you say, current husband,” she says in a mocking tone, returning her attention to the window.
With a frustrated breath, I run my hand through my hair. Everything I’ve been dreaming of for nearly a decade is mine: my freedom, my wife, and as soon as Angelo and I can hammer out the details, my rightful place as boss.
And yet it feels all wrong, because my wife is in name only.
My hand falls to my burning chest, giving it a rub as I watch her profile. Sienna loved me before; she can learn to love me again.
I’m still a persuasive guy.
Hopefully.