ALEX

I knew it the second Luca dragged me into the damn restaurant, waving some bullshit excuse about trying a new steak, I''d regret it.

I was having a good week and was looking forward to seeing Athena. I had to leave the following morning because I had a work emergency.

But I hadn and Isabelle ensure she did her tests. The meeting turned to shit and I had to stay out of the country for some days till It was fixed.

Seeing it was only 7PM and Athena only got out at 10PM, I gave into Lucas''s annoying demand.

But nothing could have prepared me for this.

Her hand in his.

His thumb stroking over her skin like he owned it.

And that look, that look in her eyes when he leaned in.

I felt my blood freeze.

Then boil.

She was about to kiss him.

She was actually going to kiss Zayan.

I could have killed men for less.

The sight before me rips something open in my chest. All the progress I thought we were makingughed me in the face.

Was there ever progress?

Standing here, watching the woman I fucking love to death give someone else the softness that used to be mine makes me feel things I can''t exin.

But they all end with this fucker burried six feet under.

Luca''s voice breaks the air.

"Well, this is cozy."

Zayan freezes, turning his head. Athena stiffens in ce, her lips parting slightly in shock.

I step forward, my voice low but cracking like thunder through the restaurant.

"What the fuck are you doing with my wife?"

Zayanughs.

The bastard actually leans back in his seat, drapes an arm over the booth like this is funny.

"You''re delusional, man. Your wife? You''re divorced, you piece of shit," he sneers. "And she''s My girlfriend. So I''d say what we do doesn''t concern you."

Girlfriend?

The word punches me harder than I expect. My fists clench at my sides.

Luca apparently finds it amusing because he smiles as he asks.

"Girlfriend?"

My jaw tightens as I turn to face her. I hold back my anger and try so fucking hard

to keep my voice leveled. I don''t want to scare her off even though I''m so fucking pissed right now.

"Is this true?"My eyes never leave hers. "Are you with him?"

She doesn''t speak right away.

Doesn''t deny it either.

Just silent.

And that silence?

That silence fucking breaks me.

Because this is it, isn''t it?

This is the moment my biggest feares true.

She''s choosing him.

The man she calls when she''s scared. The man she clings to when she forgets

who held her. The man who got her yes.

That man is not me and it wrecks me.

Was this what she meant by epting his proposal?

I know I''ve fucked up so many times but won''t she give me atleast one more chance?

I swear I''d do anything to have her back in my arms again.

My hands curl into fists, the sound of my blood roaring in my ears louder than anything around me.

I can barely think past the storm raging inside my chest.

I need to hear her say it.

Even if it rips what''s left of me in half.

"I asked you a question,"

She finally looks at me.

"You have no right asking me that question, Alex. Who I date is none of your fucking business."

"Leave us." I announce.

My eyes fixed on Athena.

"You can''t just ruin our date!" Zayan protests and I turn to face him, anger and

ragebining inside me making one fucking grenade.

The only reason it hasn''t gone off is because of her.

"Alex, you''re starting to get people''s attention. What is wrong with you?" Athena snaps.

"You want me to leave?" I ask.

"Yes." She answers immediately and I hate it.

"Fine. But only if you promise to owe me a favour I can cash in." I ce my hands in my pockets.

"What?" She looks at me like I''m stupid.

"Don''t let him get to you, Athena. I can make him leave." Zayan opens his annoying mouth and I take a mental note to have a word with himter.

"No. It''s fine." She responds to him before turning to face me, "I''ll owe you a favour. Can you now leave?"

I nod.

"Take care of yourself, Sweetheart." I ce a kiss on her cheek and reluctantly walk away.

As we step outside my phone vibrates and shes Dad.

I slide right while I join Luca in the passenger seat. I hate riding with other people because then, they''ll be touching my shit and that I can''t stand.

But because I justnded, Luca picked me up so Ryan could pick up my son from the academy.

"Dad."

"Son. Are you back yet? There is something you need to see." He says and I frown.

"I just got back. What is it?"

He sighs.

"It''s about Zayan. I can''t say it over the phone. Check your encrypted email ande home for dinner. Your grandmothenis getting worse You need to spend more time with her"  s

"I''ll be there soon."

"Where to?" Luca asks as he lights a cigarette and I re at him.

Remember why I hate using cars with other people?

This proves it.

"Put that shit away and drop me off at mum''s."

He chuckles, "No can do. Just suck it up big guy."

"What the fuck?"

Zayan looks up from his desk, his brows furrowing in instant annoyance. He

opens his mouth, but I don''t let him speak.

In a blink, I cross the room and m the shit out of him against the nearest wall.

His chair scrapes behind me. Papers fluttering.

I press my forearm into his chest, pinning him like prey.

"It seems like you need to know me personally for you to stop running your mouth

in Athena''s presence, don''t you?" I growl, my face inches from his.

Zayan''s jaw clenches.

"I''m not scared of you."

Highly debatable.

I can feel him shivering as he tries to move my hands. His confidencees fromfn9b92 The rightful source is find?novel/fn9b92

the protection of his cousin.

But I wonder if he would still protect him if he knew what I now know.

And to think I envied the bastard for a second.

I lean in closer, my voice a low, icy threat slicing through the tension like a scalpel.

"The only reason your body is still intact is because of the woman I love. The

mother of my kids. My wife." I emphasize each word.

Divorce be damned.

Athena will be mine again.

"You think your pretty-boy charm can fool me? You think I don''t see through your

shiny exterior? I know who you are, Zayan. I know your secrets. All of them."

I let the weight of those words sink in before continuing, each syble dripping

with venom.

"If any of those secrets cause her

any harm, if they brush against Athena and hurt her or her career in the slightest... I swear to you, I will slice you up limb by fucking ling Slowly. For eternity Do you understand me?"  s

His lips part like he wants to fight back but nothinges out.

He just nods.

I release him, and he stumbles slightly, trying to recover thest pieces of whatever pride he has left.

I step back, adjusting my cuffs like I didn''t just threaten a man''s entire existence.

"I''m watching you," I say, my voice deadly calm. "And remember this, Zayan, I''ll

have her back. As my wife. Whatever it takes."

I pause at the door and nce over my shoulder onest time.

"And the next time you want a woman, be a man and make sure

you clean up your shit instead of leaving mummy to clean up you mess. She did a shitty job by the way."  s