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Michael cocked his head A sharp birdcall rang through the open"What do you as"
Max shoved his hands in his pockets and faced the man he loved like blood "Before ere ht stand"
Michael unfurled hiundy oriental carpet His dark features releamed from his eyes "You slept with her before you were married? On a business trip I sent you on?"
"Correct"
"But you loved her enough to get married?"
"No Yourand convinced us to marry"
His breath hissed from his teeth "You never even loved my sister? Treated her like one of your cheap lovers when I trusted you?" Michael’s voice dropped arning "I want all the details"
"No"
He jerked back "What did you say to er your concern What happens between Carina andforward is our business I owed you the truth, but I’e my wife’s mind about the co her all the way"
The betrayal in his friend’s eyes cut deeper than any knife wound "How dare you speak to me like this? I trusted you to protect my sister, and you used her You married her without love and mocked our friendship" His hand shook as Michael stabbed a finger through the air "You broke my heart"
The scene from The Godfather flashed before his eyes, and suddenly Max knehat Fredo felt like Merda, what a mess He looked his friend dead in the eye and took the heat He had no choice He realized his core need to protect Carina from harm and finally stand up for her "I’m sorry, Michael I never meant to hurt you But this is our business, not yours"
"I was ready to give you a permanent part of the company! Make you partner This is how you show your loyalty and respect for my family?"
Max shoved down his temper and tried to remain calm "It’s my family, too Carina is noife"
"I do not knoe can work together any longer, Maximus Not like this And not without trust"
The dream of partnership exploded like fireworks, and broken pieces flew around him like charred paper Maybe if he explained more of the situation Michael would finally understand They could talk together about options and--
No
Just last night he’d thrust between those silky thighs and held her through the night She’d pushed hihter, and comforted him when he spoke about his father Shedinners, talking about work, and watching her with his dog Da her out for a contract Her brother no longer owned rights to her life
Or his
Max let out a huh The realization he didn’t care about the partnership anymore rattled his composure "I don’t care"
"Scusi?"
"If you can no longer ith me, I understand Carina aze "What are you saying?"
"Don’t give me the partnership Fire me Doesn’t matter But make sure you stay out of Carina’s life and let herwhat happens with our e"
He left the roolance The hell with it He was tired of lying andexcuses for his crappy behavior
He’d done enough of that to last his whole life
Chapter Thirteen
She’d slept with Max
Again
Carina drove hoers absently on the steering wheel while she tried to make sense of the situation She resented his false, half-assed proposal under pressure from her mother But the arousal in his eyes caused her brain to ooze fro left but surrender His body never lied Why shouldn’t she enjoy that aspect of their relationship? They were married, for God’s sake
The inner whisper screamed the truth
Because she was still in love with him
Always had been Alould be Like a cross heavy on her back, she never got over her feelings for Max Bringing in sex cos She’d be less able to keep her barriers up and be the strong, controlled woman she so desperately needed to be
Curiously, in all other aspects of her life she feltdifferent Stronger Leaving La Dolce Maggie had been difficult She bet Michael still believed he could encourage her to return, and Julietta placed an urgent call trying to change her ht decision Her painting grew by leaps and bounds, and her class finally confirh her barriers and paint what her soul screamed for The erotic photos on Sawyer’s wall had called out to her, and the i coaxed from her brush made her squirht she’d been a woman to burn for a dominant lover, and an artist who loved erotica?