Chapter 20

Killian

My eyes opened gradually as I was woken up by a weight on my chest. I looked down to see it was rather a very welcoming weight. My wife peacefully asleep with her pouty mouth slightly open and a light bit of drool dripping on my pec. And her wild hair all over my face and neck. She never looked more beautiful than she did at this moment.

I lifted my hand to move her hair, when everything about last night came rushing back. I told her something no one ever knew. Dom and Jonah as well did not know the extent of what I endured. And it would stay like that till the end of my days.

I was hesitant and scared, something I would never admit out loud, that hearing about my past, she might feel differently. Disgusted even. But this woman was beautiful inside out. A smile lifted my face as I remember climbing on top of me and slowly showing me how much I did not disgust her.

Pressing a light kiss to her forehead, I slowly moved my arm from under her, not wanting to wake her up. I exhausted her yesterday and I would prefer her to be asleep. Today we were attacking that fucker Tonys shipment and I needed to get my head back in the game.

As I quietly slipped out of bed, I made my way to the bathroom, taking care not to disturb her peaceful slumber. The warm water of the shower helped clear my mind, washing away the lingering remnants of last night's revelations.

Dressed and ready for the day, I glanced back at my wife, still asleep in our bed. With a sense of determination, I made my way downstairs to the kitchen. The smell of brewing coffee filled the air, a comforting presence amidst the tension that hung heavy in the room.

As I sipped my coffee, I reviewed the details of our plan to take down Tony's shipment. It was risky, but we had been preparing for this moment for weeks, gathering intel and laying the groundwork for our attack.

With each passing minute, the anticipation grew, a mix of excitement and nerves coursing through my veins. But as I looked down at the wedding ring on my finger, I found solace in the knowledge that no matter what happened, I had my wife by my side. Yesterday sealed her faith. I was not letting her go ever. Even if she begged me too.

Jonah came in the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee while I had all the logistics for tonight running around my head. “Do we have everything ready?” I asked him.

He nodded “Yes. We will take twenty five men. Dom will look into the surveillance and attack. We have the time and location pinned and everything is ready.”

I smirked as I imagined the look on Tony's face after today. “I was thinking you should sit this one out.” I straightened at my brother's words. I slowly placed my cup down and moved to him.

“Why is that Jonah?”

“You have a wife now. Take care of her, while I take care of our problems.”

I shook my head at him. He was always trying to be the older one. Always the protective one. “Don't worry brother. This is my war until Tony's death. After that, I think it would be time to make all my problems yours.” He stiffened at my words and immediately jumped me.

I was slammed with his hand wrapped around my neck so suddenly and even then my smile didn't fade. I knew this was coming and he knew the only reason he had his hand even glaze me was because I allowed it. “What. Do. You. Mean Killian?”

“I said don't worry. Time will tell you. Now if you will please let go off me, I can proceed with Tonys end and my life.”

“Why Killian?” He said. He leaned his forehead on mine. “We cant lose you brother.”

I gripped the back of his neck tightly and gave him a little shake. “I am not going anywhere Jonah. But its time.” and pulled him back so I could look into his eyes. “I told her everything.”

It was amusing seeing my brother this shocked. His eyes were nearly out of his skull.

“You have changed, you know.” I tilt my head at his accusation. He smiled at my expression and justified his messed up comment. “You let Alex go because he had a kid. That would have never phased you before. You are lighter now, more comfortable. And you told her about the hellish past. You my brother are in love.” he ended his another fucked up accusation with a smirk.

I leaned forward and looked directly at his eyes to see if they were dilated. “How much cocaine did you take?”

He barked out a laugh and wrapped his arm around my shoulder as we walked out the kitchen. I realized we haven't been this carefree for years and something moved in my chest. After a while it was just Don and consigliere. But today we feel like brothers. I try to find the reason behind this change and I am not in the mindset to reach the conclusion now. Not until there is an end to Tony and Ana. But I could confirm one thing. I was immensely attracted to my wife. But it wasn't love. We can't have love in this life no matter how much we want.

My chest tightens at what Marcella will go through knowing Ana has to die. She is not the same sister Marcella raised and I know she will remain to be a danger for her until the end.

“We need to discuss tonight's attack.” Jonah says as we enter the living room, I noticed Dom and Marcella sitting close together, their attention fixed on Dom's laptop screen. Curiosity piqued, I moved closer to see what had captured their interest. On the screen, surveillance footage from Marcella's bakery played out, depicting the comings and goings of various patrons. A form of panic and anger swelled in me at the sight.

"What's going on?" I demanded, my tone sharp as I stared at Marcella.

Marcella flinched at my sudden outburst, her eyes wide with surprise. "Killian, I—"

“Dominic, Answer me.” I saw the flicker of hurt flash in my wife's eyes but I was far too gone. I did not permit anyone to give outside news to my wife yet. I was not ready for that.

“Marcella wanted to see how her bakery was doing. She was worried and I just helped.” He said all of that without looking up from the screen. I saw his eyes fixated on a girl behind the counter, but i was in no state of mind to question it.

“And you decided to proceed with an insignificant request over what is needed for tonight? I told you to keep an eye on Tonys shipment. Its fucking important for us to get this shit done today.”

He did not say a word knowing he fucked up. Nothing goes around here without my knowledge. Especially when it concerns my wife.

“Killian, it has been weeks and I have no clue what is going on with my bakery. I have never taken a day off and I need to know. This is not insignificant for me.” Marcella moved towards but still kept great distance between us.

“Leave!” I bellowed loud enough to make my wife cower. I knew she was terrified of me right now, her eyes were screaming at me of her terror but I could not possibly be thinking of this when we have a war on hands.

Dom quietly stood up and moved out the living room with Jonah on his tail not before getting a look from my brother whom just now I was having a normal conversation with. There was clear warning in his eyes telling me not to go too far and I had to take a couple of breaths to calm myself down.

I covered the distance between Marcella and I in 2 strides and had my hand wrapped around her throat in a matter of a few seconds. So much for calming myself down. “ Listen to me. And listen to me well. Just because we fucked, just because i tell you few shits from our childhood, that does not mean you can do whatever the fuck you want and distract my men and people as you wish. Fuck your bakery and fuck your outside life until i tell you so. Do you understand?”

Anger flashed in her eyes and she pushed me away. My arm fell from her neck and I had almost no grip on it. “Who the fuck do you think you are?” She screamed at me. I stood there and looked at her for a few seconds because I have never faced a situation like this before. “I did not see the damn surveillance for more than five minutes and you came barging in and ruining everything that happened? Why? Because it was getting too close to comfort for you? Were your feelings getting involved too much to scare the every loving fuck out of you that you had to dismiss everything that happened yesterday?”

She moved towards me again in angry strides and pushed me again. I stumbled back only because of the sheer shock I was in. “I did not ask for anything from you. I just needed to make sure Lexi was fine. I mistakenly thought that its fine for me to ask such a small favor because I thought i wasnt a fucking captive anymore. I mistakenly thought we were becoming something. I am in this mess because of my fucking ex and sister and i cant even have damn fives minutes where I can take a peek in my own life?”

“NO YOU CAN'T!” I roared at her. “We are in a war where your sister put you in danger. I need to be sure we are on top of everything.”

“But how is that related to me seeing a video of my bakery Killian?”

“Because you are distracting Dom with you stupid irrelevant requests when I need everyone's attention on attack we are doing tonight”

“Oh okay. I'm sorry you kidnapped me, I guess then. If you don't mind *Master*, Can I please have breakfast or will that too disrupt your attack which is not related to me?” With that sass she shoved past me and headed straight to the kitchen. But before she could leave she turned around. Her voice was weirdly calm now. “Please Killian. Stop giving me a whiplash. Stop being so perfect for me one minute and a complete monster the other. I promise you, from now on, I won't give you or anyone any opportunity to be distracted from your purpose. And all I want from you is to let me go the second you kill that fucker. Because as much as I wanted to. I can't live with a man who can't make up his mind about how he feels.” With that she left and I just stood there again in shock. What has my life become?