how I wanted it to be. There are things you don't know. We have to talk.”
“What is there to talk about? You lied to me…again. You tricked me,” I said in surrender, realizing what this could mean for me and my baby. “And now you’re going to take your revenge and m-make us pay…of course you’re going to do it! How could I have been so stupid?” I lowered my gaze in defeat and he swore under his breath.
Exhaling, he tilted my chin and forced me to look at him. I didn't fight anymore. I was shattered by the knowledge of what was about to happen. Something softened in his eyes once again.
“Tesoro, we’re going to talk, but first, I need you to calm down.” His pleading eyes beseeched mine. “Think about the baby...hmm?”
I shook my head, shrieking in despair. “I can’t calm down. How can I calm down when Broderick is beaten and tied to a freaking chair?!” I fought to breathe as panic settled in. “How can I calm down when I know I’m probably next?”
“Cara, you have to stop this,” he soothed. “I know you’re stressed because of what you saw, and I could kill Lorenzo for doing this, but I need you to trust me. I will never let anything bad happen to you. No one will touch you. I'll do whatever it takes to protect you. You and the baby come first.”
I let out a shuddering breath. “If that's true, then you’re going to let Broderick go.”
“Cara, it's not that simple. Perhaps, you were too taken aback to notice, but he was not the only one at the receiving end of Lorenzo’s fist. Now why do you think that is?”
I thought about the strangeness of it, but couldn’t come up with any logical explanation.
Alessandro gazed at me expectantly, and I admitted, “I have no idea.”
“Exactly,” he muttered. “But I do, so I need you to listen to me. It was my intention to break it down to you gently, but now it's too late for that. You’re not going to like this, but your charming bodyguard is not who you think he is.”
I swallowed, unprepared to hear something so incredible. “What do you mean?”
Alessandro released a harsh breath and hesitated. “What I mean is that he didn’t have honest intentions when he approached you, Olivia.”
I gasped a smile of sheer disbelief. “It's funny you should say that, Alessandro, because unlike you, Broderick was always honest. He respected me and was kind to me when you were anything but.”
Alessandro drew in a breath, as if to stop himself from losing his temper. “Cara, he only used you to get what he wanted.”
I shook my head. “You’re lying.”
His black eyes bored into mine. “I have no reason to lie.”
“Of course you do,” I accused with a pointed finger. “I know why you’re doing this. I overheard your conversation with Lorenzo in Italy when he told you about the accident and you said you would do what any other man would do in your place. You want revenge. Why won't you just admit it?”
Alessandro exhaled. “So, you were eavesdropping on me, Olivia? And you’re only telling me this now? No wonder you were so petrified that you ran around the house with a fucking knife.” He shook his head while I wrapped my arms around myself, seeking protection from his threatening presence. “Cara, that conversation was not about the accident. I’ve known about that way before I decided to confront you and reveal that I’ve regained my memory.”
“I don't believe you,” I persisted. “It had to be about the accident. What else could you have talked about that would involve Broderick?”
“Like I’ve said”—Alessandro asserted in a calm tone—“he’s involved in something much bigger than this and he used you to get to me.”
“That doesn't make any sense!” I said with absolute conviction. “Why would he do that when it was clear from the beginning what kind of marriage we had? You treated me like I was dirt under your feet. He couldn't use me for anything, when I was useless to begin with.”
“Cara, don't be fooled,” Alessandro's voice softened even further. “He knew how much you meant to me. He fucking knew. Everyone knew except for you.”
“It's not true,” I stressed the words. “You’re just trying to trick me into accepting that you’re about to commit a quite unjustifiable murder. It's not going to work. I'm not going to forgive you.”
He raised his hands in slight frustration. “Olivia...”