The Tyrant (Banker #3)(67)

“That’s pretty obvious.”

“But it’s not obvious why you aren’t being the man she deserves. A man can’t say he loves a woman unless he’s willing to give her everything she needs. That’s why a man is so choosy when looking for the right woman. Because a real man knows the sacrifices he’ll have to make once he says those words. We won’t sacrifice just for anyone. Only someone we can’t live without. Siena is clearly that person to you, yet you won’t do the right thing. That’s irresponsible, if you ask me.”

This guy had a lot of nerve. “Siena said you were going to share your life story, not provoke me.”

“You know my life story. You know I sacrificed everything the second my wife became pregnant. I knew we would never be safe until we gave up everything. And we were happy for a long time. When my son grew up, he got involved in the bullshit I tried to protect him from…and then the cycle started all over again. Men are easily attracted to ambition, money, and power—but nothing good ever comes from it. I was exactly the same way when I was your age. All I wanted was pussy, money, and power. But once I met that right woman…it all turned to bullshit. I wouldn’t trade my quiet life in the countryside for all those years of power. Never. It’s hard to make that transition, I understand. But your family will always be at risk until you do. You’re arrogant enough to think you can keep them safe, but you can’t. Someone will outsmart you someday…and you’ll lose everything.”

I loved my daughter so much, and I would die if anything ever happened to her. She couldn’t even talk yet, and I already had a connection with her. When I stopped by Siena’s home to see Martina, I was nearly brought to tears when she was in my arms. She stopped crying the second I held her—and I knew that was because of me.

“Is it really worth the risk, Cato?” This man had walked through the door and immediately patronized me, but there was something about him that prevented me from retaliating. “You miraculously found the woman you love and have a daughter together. Does anything else really matter?”

“You’ve made your point, Crow.”

“I hope I did. Siena is a good kid. She’s been through a lot. I used to be friends with her father, and I saw him make the same mistakes you’re making now. He thought he was invincible…until his luck ran out. You could ask him if he has any regrets…but he’s stuck in a grave with his wife.”

I couldn’t even contemplate the idea of Siena being dead, because it made my hands shake. I loved her more than I loved myself. I loved Martina more than anything else in the world, including Siena.

Crow stared at me for a while. “Money doesn’t matter, Cato. When you’re sitting at the dinner table with your wife and kids…you’ll see that it doesn’t make a difference. Family is the only thing that matters.”





I arrived at Siena’s house later that evening. All the lights were on in the windows, and my men were spread around the perimeter to make sure no one crossed the property line without permission.

My eyes lingered on the front door, and I remembered all the nights I would stop by unannounced. I’d pick the lock and help myself inside like I owned the place—like I owned her. Then I’d take her body well into the night, coming inside her as much as I could because it gave me more pleasure than anything else in life. Her home was cozy and comfortable, possessing a charm my estate could never replicate.

Probably because it was filled with her presence.

I walked up to the door, and instead of letting myself inside, I knocked.

“It’s open,” she called from within.

I stepped inside and heard Siena washing the dishes in the kitchen. The faucet turned off, and she walked back into the living room to greet me. She didn’t seem surprised to see me, like she’d been expecting me all night.

“Where is she?” I wasn’t here for Martina, but I wanted to ask anyway.

“She’s asleep in her room. You can see her if you want, but try not to wake her up. It took me forever to get her down…”

Because she didn’t like it here. She wanted to see both of us together, to see us happy again. She was just a baby, but she picked up on the moods in the room. I’d promised her I would never leave her, that I would come home every night. I’d already broken that promise.

Siena didn’t come close to me. She purposely kept space between us, like we were strangers rather than lovers. “I’m sorry I asked Crow to stop by. I just thought…maybe he could give you his spin on things.”

“You really want me to quit, then?”

She sighed, like the question pained her. “I just want us to be safe.” Her hand moved over her stomach, just the way she did when she was pregnant. “This is the only way to accomplish that.”

My eyes lingered on her hand, the way she clutched herself.

“I love you.” She said the words with watery eyes. “I miss you. I want us to be a family again. But I can’t risk anything happening to our children. If that ever happened, I would never forgive you…”

I wouldn’t forgive myself. I stepped closer to her, still looking at her stomach. “Baby?”

She lifted her gaze to look at me.

My hand moved over hers as my pulse quickened in my throat. My breath came out shaky as the possibility popped into my mind. “Are you pregnant?”