Unveiled (Torn #6)(9)

“You don’t know how it balms my soul, hearing you say that.” He sounded a bit broken, surprising me.

Still holding onto him, I asked, “What’s wrong, baby?”

Placing his hand over my entwined hands that were wrapped around his hips, he said, “I felt betrayed … when you didn’t decline Brody’s invitation to ‘talk.’ ”

Betrayed? His choice of words made me tense as my heart started pounding against his warm back. “I’m not going back to him. All he was asking was to talk to me. We never really had the chance, because I was too furious to even look at him. It was the first time we’ve spoken without me slamming the door in his face.”

The days and weeks after learning what had gone on between Amber and him had felt like they both were laughing at me. It had always been clear as day that I was so crazy about him back in high school. Well, pretty much all my life, until Dimitris taught me otherwise.

He took a few breaths, as if to calm himself down before choosing to respond to me. “I just don’t see the point in speaking about the past. It’s not as if you two need some kind of closure,” he expressed almost like he was getting angry, frustrated.

No. I didn’t need closure, but what was his deal? He was still hanging around his ex Claudine, and he didn’t hear me give him crap about it. So what the flying cockatoo?

“Dimitris, I might not need closure, but Brody does. The man is still completely hung up on me. Maybe speaking to him might help him move on. Besides, after seeing Carter tonight, I sure as hell don’t want this happening to Brody, too. I grew up with him, and even though he and I might not be together anymore, I can’t simply ignore him when it’s clearly apparent how hurt he’s been from my crass treatment.” Why was he being such a hardheaded fool about Brody? I mean, I got why he was getting aggravated, since I had been in love with Brody when I had decided to marry him in Greece. However, weren’t we past that? There was no need for him to be jealous, no need at all.

He growled, spouting some Greek words that sounded like he was cussing the gods above before he released himself from my grasp and started to pace across the room. It was amazing and alarming how hot and sexy he looked, even when he was about to erupt into a myriad of words.

“I hate that you still care for him. I shouldn’t care, but I f*uking do!” His bright bluer than blue eyes appeared as if they were coming to life. They gripped me. “I hate the fact that you’re here, that I have to fly across the Atlantic Ocean and across America to see you … and yet this bastard lives five—five—minutes from your house. How the bloody hell do you think that makes me feel, Lindsey? You walked out on our marriage because of this man. I saw you … as good as naked … with him … days after you left me. Do you—” he paused, letting his anger flow through his eyes, reaching into my own heart. “Do you know how worthless it made me feel, seeing my wife—my f*uking wife—leave me for another man?”

“Dimi …” I begged, but he wasn’t done.

“And tonight, you acted as if none of that happened to me,” he said accusingly. “You pretended as if he was the only injured party, caring only for his wellbeing. But when are you going to put my needs before anyone else’s, Lindsey?”

What was he talking about?

I frowned at him. “I put your needs above mine! Don’t say that. We both know working this out would be difficult. Don’t do this. Don’t accuse me of putting you last. You’re the most important thing in my life—you must know that.”

He paused, breathing heavily as he gazed at me with sadness in his eyes. “You’re right … yeah.” He shook his head. “Yeah … maybe I’m just being bloody selfish.”

I was rendered speechless. How was it that we were even arguing about this? We had missed each other so much, and these precious minutes and hours were always so limited to us that spending them fighting was a total waste.

However, something was nagging at him. For him to even say those things, something must be bothering him. I just couldn’t put it aside, or it would eat at us. It was the last thing I needed. We already lived worlds apart; having trust issues would tremble the very foundation he and I had carefully built. It was best that we both let everything air out before this thing became too difficult to control.

“Since we’re on this subject”—I licked my lips, bracing myself for a confrontation—“mind enlightening me on why there are photos of you exiting Claudine’s place five hours after you went inside it?” My voice shook, afraid of what he would tell me. Although, I was already in too deep, and whatever happened, I was willing to work it out with him. My heart, my soul, and my very existence were on the line. I wouldn’t give him up. I’d rather die than let that happen.

If he was caught off guard by my question, he didn’t appear to be. “I was there for five hours to discuss business with her and half that time was spent consoling her.” He didn’t bat an eyelash nor did he blink; he simply delivered it as if it shouldn’t matter.

However, he was wrong. It mattered major big time to me. That bitch had tormented everything I had with Dimitris. She had always been in the background, ready to catch him whenever he and I fought.

“Consoling her?” My eyes turned to slits. “How exactly were you consoling that wretched bitch, Dimitris?”