Page 35 of The Don's Secret Heir

The words come out of my throat quickly. Because I’m not. That ended the day that Dario cheated on me. Am I still attracted to him? Absolutely. But love? Love isn’t real. It’s just a dream they sell you when you’re little.

“Then why are you doing this? We can get our own place, together.”

“I can’t ask you to do that, Beth. You have your own life. Besides, no offense, but if I’m trying to get away from Dario, living with his cousin isn’t the way to do it.”

She huffs out a breath, clearly offended, but she knows I’m right.

“I can’t help what family I was born into.”

I reach across the kitchen island to put a hand on her arm. “I know, Beth. And you’re my best friend and I appreciate you but... I have to do this on my own.”

And if he killed my father, I’m going to kill him on my own, too.

No matter how attracted to him I am.

I drink another glass of wine before heading to bed with Sonny, wrapping him up in my arms. He doesn’t snore, my hard sleeper.

I fall asleep easily, the room spinning slightly from the wine before I close my eyes.

“Who the hell do you think you are, showing up here drunk at three in the morning?” Beth’s screech wakes me up and I bolt upright in bed.

Sonny keeps snoring and I listen, shoulders stiff.

“I’m notdrunk, I just?—”

“Save it. I’m not going to forgive you for what you did to her.”

“And what did I do, Beth? Huh? Tell me, because she fucking won’t.”

I’d know Dario’s voice anywhere, and heisdrunk, or at least tipsy, his words slurring around the edges.

He’s here? Really?

My heart skips a couple of beats and I hate myself. Why do I care that he’s here? Why does it make me happy?

I get out of bed and head toward the door.

“You’re an asshole,” Beth spits out at him.

“Yeah, I am,” Dario agrees as I walk up behind her, his eyes moving to me and his expression softening. “Li. Li, just let me explain, okay?”

I walk out even though Beth tries to block me, crossing my arms over my chest.

His tie is loose around his neck, his dark eyes searching my face as he takes a step forward.

I don’t move back but I don’t lean into him, either.

“So do it. Explain.”

He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “I’m an idiot.”

“Yeah you fucking are!” Beth nearly yells. I take her hand and push her inside, shutting the door.

“She’s right,” he says quietly. “I shouldn’t have... I shouldn’t have done any of what I did tonight.”

“Yeah? You just now figuring that out?”

He lets out a sound that’s half a groan, half a growl. “Li, you don’t understand. You don’t get how hard it is, seeing you with someone else.”