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mind for weeks. Did you drug me that night? She d asked him once on the phone, but he d laughed it
off. But she d had to ask him again, now that she could look him in the eye and see his reaction. Because
it was the only explanation that made sense. She couldn t have been that drunk. She couldn t have risked
her security and the love of her life for a night with this piece of scum. Could she?
No. I didn t drug you. The sly grin came back.
Her heart dropped. He hadn t hesitated even a second. She didn t think she could trust him, but
he seemed to be telling the truth. He took immense pleasure in the denial. Which meant she had
willingly&
Sabrina shook her head. I m done with you. I m going to tell my husband you called me again,
and we ll figure out what to do about you and those photos.
Mateo looked over her shoulder. Why don t you tell him now?
Dread forged a path down Sabrina s back. She turned to see Renaldo making his way toward
them. He wasn t smiling and the look he sent her made her want to wither away.
Mateo. Sabrina. He spoke calmly enough, but his face was dark, and his eyes were black and
stormy.
How did he know she was here? How did he know Mateo s name? Renny, I can explain.
He didn t give her a chance. He just slammed his fist into Mateo s face. Sabrina gasped as Mateo
slid to the floor, dazed. Smeared blood covered his upper lip, and his nose looked painfully twisted.
Renaldo pulled him to his feet.
Renny
The second punch landed in Mateo s gut, forcing him to double over as air was forced from his
lungs in a painful huff. Renaldo caught him by the throat and forced him upright, pushing him into the
wall. His head bounced against the brick.
Renaldo got up close, intimidating, towering over him. Stay away from my wife, he said in
deadly calm Portuguese so Mateo couldn t misunderstand. For your own sake, don t ever let me catch
you near her again. Or I will personally break every bone in your body.
He shoved Mateo to the floor with a look of cold disdain. Then he took Sabrina s hand and pulled
her toward the exit.
She looked back at Mateo, who was on his knees with one hand covering his broken nose. Their
gazes connected, and his was filled with anger and malice.
The message was clear. He wasn t done with them yet.
Chapter Sixteen
I can explain.
Renaldo didn t respond. His face was set as rigid as stone as they rode the short distance home in
the taxi that he had waiting outside the market.
Say something. Still he didn t speak.
They entered the penthouse and he tossed a blue envelope onto the table in the entryway. He
remained silent all the way up to the master suite. She followed close behind. Fear of the unknown
filling her.
Renny?
What is there to say? He practically tore his tie off and tossed it to the chair near the bed. I
cannot trust you.
That s not true.
He paced away from her and laughed, the sound pained and unnatural. He ran his hand over the
back of his head and kept moving, as if he couldn t stay still.
Suddenly he stopped, and he looked at her. Before she had a chance to read the expression on his
face, he arced away and swung his fist into the wall. The sheetrock popped and gave way. A large hole
appeared.
Sabrina inhaled sharply and started to tremble, but she couldn t move. She was rooted to the spot.
What were you doing with him? he asked, talking to the wall.
Not what you think. You have to trust me.
Trust, he muttered. What good does trust do when nothing changes? You want me to trust
you? He turned to face her, stabbing his finger in the air. You were supposed to be at home, but
instead I find you in a corner with him. His coal black eyes condemned her.
I was trying to negotiate the original photos from him. He threatened to share our& my& what I
did, with reporters. I couldn t risk it. I had to talk to him.
Without me and without my knowledge?
I know. I wasn t thinking. But before you came I realized what a mistake I d made. I was going to
tell you everything.
Save it. His hand sliced through the air. I cannot believe you are still communicating with
him.
I m not. She rushed through an explanation about the phone call and the conversation at the
market, but the look of doubt never left his face. How did you even know where I was?
His eyes narrowed. How do you think?
Her stomach bottomed out. You re still having me followed? She hadn t noticed anyone
keeping an eye on her, but then, she wouldn t. He only hired the best.
Luckily, I am, he bit out. You couldn t even wait one more day, could you? The probation
period is over tomorrow, but you couldn t wait.
No, I was trying to fix this mess. He threatened to go public with the photos. I was protecting
you. Protecting us. Honey, you have to believe me. I did not want to meet with Mateo for any reason
except to get those photos. You and I have been moving forward. Don t let this take us back.
I also thought we were moving forward, but I was wrong.
No, no. She didn t know what she felt at the moment. Anger, disbelief? Her life was falling
apart for a second time.
I told you I would not be blindsided by you again.
So what do you plan to do? Keep tabs on me forever?
What choice do I have? You ve proven you can t be trusted.
You don t mean that. We ve grown closer. Sabrina took a quivering breath, trying to be strong.
I can t live under a microscope, treated like a child. I refuse to do it.
You refuse? You re my goddamn wife, and as long as you are my wife, I will know where you are
at all times. And if I ask, you will tell me.
Sabrina couldn t believe what she was hearing. What does this mean for us? That you ll never
trust me? That you ll never really forgive me? She wanted him to deny it, to tell her no, she was
mistaken, but he remained silent. I was trying to repair the horrible mess I d made of our marriage. I
know I should have told you. I realized it too late, but I was going to tell you. I only talked to him.
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