Bellissimo Rilascio (Beautiful Release): The Family Series #3 by Leigh Ann Lunsford Page B
Authors: Leigh Ann Lunsford
Tags: General Fiction
Ads: Link
you ever would. Now you’re here, and I’m so damn scared of losing you again.”
“We all have secrets, fears. I can’t promise you what I don’t know, Heath. All we can do is hold tight through the storms thrown at us.”
“I can guarantee you’re going to hate me.” His eyes are crinkled, painfully staring at me. His voice off, stressed, and his jaw set hard.
Heart racing, I hold my breath. I want to flee, but I need to face whatever he has to say. Maybe he doesn’t love me. Maybe he’s moved on. I dart my tongue out to lick my lips, “Did you fall in love with someone else? Have you given up on me?”
“Never. I’d never betray you like that. Not what I always knew we had. What I did was much worse.”
I avert my gaze, not able to look at him. My stomach rolls and revolts against the words I have to ask. The questions I have to seek the answers to. “What did you do?” My voice is barely noticeable swallowed by the dread flowing through my body.
“Did you pass by The Bar on your way here?” I shake my head. “It’s gone.”
“You think it matters to me if you have your own business or not?”
He squeezes his eyes closed, “No, baby, I don’t. What should matter to you is the reason it’s gone. After Turks and Caicos, I never thought we’d be here. I thought for sure Dakota had won you back.”
I interrupt him not wanting what we are embarking on tainted with those memories. “Just tell me, please.”
“A few associates from another family came in shortly after I got back. Needed a place to launder their money.” All the air leaves my lungs. Anything but this.
“Please, tell me you didn’t.” I’m pleading. Begging him to tell me anything but this.
“I allowed it. It was stupid, and I have no excuses for it. It was reckless and the biggest mistake.”
“So, are you a part of this organization?” My stomach rolls. If I had eaten anything it would be all over his carpet at the moment.
“No. I wasn’t a part of their dealings. Just laundered money for them. The wedding . . . well when Lynsey came to tell me you were in the hospital, all I could think about was losing you, and I was lost. I was blinded with being lonely. They came knocking, and I turned on blinders to my morals. To what you would have wanted for me. My life without you had no meaning. I thought you were with him, and I lost my mind for awhile. When I learned you weren’t together I tried backing out, regretting the decision, but you know they don’t let you go until they’re ready.”
His thumb and forefinger reach my face and gently lift my chin, his stare penetrating mine, his messages all mixed. I know I hurt him, I know I allowed him to believe the worst and for almost a year I’ve had no contact. Here he is, still loving me, but this mistake isn’t one I can live with. I’ve had that life, the consequences of other people’s choices, and it’s not one I’m willing to go back to. “Say something. Anything, please, Bianca.”
I can’t. My voice frozen, my fears ever-present. I lean my head back, causing his fingers to slip from my face, refusing to look at him. I can’t bear to see the pain swirling in his irises. I’ve caused too much hurt for us. I step back and turn to escape. I take one step, and my limbs freeze. Not cooperating.
I can’t leave. I pushed him away once, denied what I needed. What I wanted. I let him suffer, and I suffered along with him. Too stubborn to admit it. I turn back to him, lift my chin, and meet him gaze for gaze.
“Are you totally clear of them?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“My dad. I was miserable. I believed I had lost you, and when Lynsey told me you weren’t with him, a piece of me was rekindled. I realized how easily you could be hurt by my association with the family.” He drops his head, closing his eyes. His voice lowers as he continues, “When she told me, I
“We all have secrets, fears. I can’t promise you what I don’t know, Heath. All we can do is hold tight through the storms thrown at us.”
“I can guarantee you’re going to hate me.” His eyes are crinkled, painfully staring at me. His voice off, stressed, and his jaw set hard.
Heart racing, I hold my breath. I want to flee, but I need to face whatever he has to say. Maybe he doesn’t love me. Maybe he’s moved on. I dart my tongue out to lick my lips, “Did you fall in love with someone else? Have you given up on me?”
“Never. I’d never betray you like that. Not what I always knew we had. What I did was much worse.”
I avert my gaze, not able to look at him. My stomach rolls and revolts against the words I have to ask. The questions I have to seek the answers to. “What did you do?” My voice is barely noticeable swallowed by the dread flowing through my body.
“Did you pass by The Bar on your way here?” I shake my head. “It’s gone.”
“You think it matters to me if you have your own business or not?”
He squeezes his eyes closed, “No, baby, I don’t. What should matter to you is the reason it’s gone. After Turks and Caicos, I never thought we’d be here. I thought for sure Dakota had won you back.”
I interrupt him not wanting what we are embarking on tainted with those memories. “Just tell me, please.”
“A few associates from another family came in shortly after I got back. Needed a place to launder their money.” All the air leaves my lungs. Anything but this.
“Please, tell me you didn’t.” I’m pleading. Begging him to tell me anything but this.
“I allowed it. It was stupid, and I have no excuses for it. It was reckless and the biggest mistake.”
“So, are you a part of this organization?” My stomach rolls. If I had eaten anything it would be all over his carpet at the moment.
“No. I wasn’t a part of their dealings. Just laundered money for them. The wedding . . . well when Lynsey came to tell me you were in the hospital, all I could think about was losing you, and I was lost. I was blinded with being lonely. They came knocking, and I turned on blinders to my morals. To what you would have wanted for me. My life without you had no meaning. I thought you were with him, and I lost my mind for awhile. When I learned you weren’t together I tried backing out, regretting the decision, but you know they don’t let you go until they’re ready.”
His thumb and forefinger reach my face and gently lift my chin, his stare penetrating mine, his messages all mixed. I know I hurt him, I know I allowed him to believe the worst and for almost a year I’ve had no contact. Here he is, still loving me, but this mistake isn’t one I can live with. I’ve had that life, the consequences of other people’s choices, and it’s not one I’m willing to go back to. “Say something. Anything, please, Bianca.”
I can’t. My voice frozen, my fears ever-present. I lean my head back, causing his fingers to slip from my face, refusing to look at him. I can’t bear to see the pain swirling in his irises. I’ve caused too much hurt for us. I step back and turn to escape. I take one step, and my limbs freeze. Not cooperating.
I can’t leave. I pushed him away once, denied what I needed. What I wanted. I let him suffer, and I suffered along with him. Too stubborn to admit it. I turn back to him, lift my chin, and meet him gaze for gaze.
“Are you totally clear of them?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“My dad. I was miserable. I believed I had lost you, and when Lynsey told me you weren’t with him, a piece of me was rekindled. I realized how easily you could be hurt by my association with the family.” He drops his head, closing his eyes. His voice lowers as he continues, “When she told me, I
Similar Books
