“What I think is that I thought I could trust you. You fucking lied to me.”
“No, Dominic,” Alecia says, as she lays her hand on my arm. I look down at her hand and then into her face, and she immediately pulls away.
I glare at both of them and pace away, pushing my hands through my hair.
“What, exactly, are you accusing me of?” Alecia asks angrily. Her brown eyes are on fire, her cheeks flushed, as she props her hands on her hips and glares at me.
“You’re about to lose your towel,” I say, trying to keep my voice calm.
“I don’t care. Just say it.”
“That’s right.” I shake my head and laugh humorlessly, pacing her living room. “Why should you care if you lose your towel? We’ve all seen the goods, right?”
“Hey,” Blake begins, but I turn on him, hands fisted at my side, and suddenly Alecia is between us, hands on both of our chests.
“We didn’t—”
“This isn’t my first rodeo, Alecia. I’ve walked into this before, only last time it was my fiancé and my cousin.”
“What?” Her face pales as she stares up at me. “And you think I would do that?” Her face reddens with anger. I simply shrug as Blake swears under his breath and paces away.
“You know what?” Alecia stomps to the door and opens it wide. “I think you should go.”
“Say you didn’t fuck him,” I reply and advance on her.
“Jesus, Dom—” Blake begins, but Alecia interrupts him.
“I shouldn’t have to! I want you out of my condo. Now.”
“This isn’t the end of this,” I say, staring down into her angry eyes. I’m just as pissed off. I want her to say no. Of course I didn’t sleep with him.
And if she hadn’t, that shouldn’t be so fucking hard to say.
“I’m not talking to you right now.” She shakes her head adamantly.
“We will finish this later.”
When I step out into the hallway, she slams the door behind me. I hurry to my car and drive blindly north, through Tacoma, to the airport, getting angrier with each mile. She fucking played me.
I want to turn back and confront her again. Kick Blake’s ass. But there’s no time. I’m needed in Italy now. My family needs me.
I need Alecia.
Or I thought I did.
She just practically admitted to fucking Blake by not denying it.
Read the writing on the wall, man.
My cell rings, showing Gianna’s name.
“What.”
“Gee, that’s a nice way to answer the phone.”
“What do you want, Gianna? I’m on my way to the airport now.”
“I want to say thank you again. I’m excited to see you, and I wish it were under different circumstances.”
I sigh and rub my hand over my face.
“I’ll be there by tomorrow night.”
“Also, I just spoke with Liliana, and I might have mentioned that you’re coming.”
I shake my head and swear under my breath at the mention of my former fiancé.
“Gianna.”
“She would love to see you.”
“I’m not interested, Gianna.”
“It’s been a long time, Dom. I’m not suggesting you marry her. Just talk to her. She’s missed you too.”
She fucked Marco, is all I can think, but I’m too fucking pissed to argue.
“Fine.” An idea begins to form. “Actually, Gianna, I will speak with Liliana. Invite her for dinner on Friday.”
“I was hoping you’d say that! I already invited her.”
“Good. I’ll see you when I get there.”
I hang up and tap my lips with my fingers, thinking about the two women that I’ve ever been stupid enough to give my heart to. One betrayed me with my own cousin, not even bothering to try to be discreet. I’m quite sure she intended for me to find them the night before our wedding.
It worked.
And thank Christ I discovered the truth before I married her.
But when I think of Alecia, it’s a physical ache in my chest. How could she do this? Why?
Chapter Eighteen
~Alecia~
“I can’t fucking believe him!” I shriek and stomp into my bedroom to throw on clothes—any clothes, I don’t even bother to see what I’m throwing on—and march out to the living room where Blake has pulled his shirt on and is staring out the window. “I can’t believe I was going to tell him I love him!”
“You do love him,” Blake says calmly, and turns to look at me. “And he obviously loves you.”
“Loves me? He loves me and he accuses me of screwing around with my best friend?”
“Look around, Leash.” His arm sweeps around the room. “Your clothes are everywhere. I was half naked, and you came out of the shower. If it had been me walking in on this, I would have killed him. I’m lucky my jaw isn’t broken right now.”
“He should trust me!” I yell in response. “I would never do that to him!”
“I agree, but did you know about the ex-fiance?”
“No.” I shake my head and pace to the kitchen to open some wine. “And that’s another thing that pisses me off. He was freaking engaged? How has he never mentioned that little tidbit before?”
And why in the hell does the thought of another woman wearing his ring make me homicidal?