Strangers Ever After

"Francesca Conley! Who gave you the right to talk about her like that?"

Jase Conley's furious roar rang out as he grabbed the front of my shirt and yanked me toward him. "Apologize."

His grip was so tight I could barely breathe, but I still looked at him with open contempt. "She's your mistress. Why the hell should I apologize to her?"

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Jase ground out from between his teeth, tightening his hand. His eyes were razor-sharp, filled with murderous rage, bloodshot enough to make him look like something dragged straight out of hell.

Anyone who had ever crossed him knew that look. It meant he was seconds away from losing control. And when Jase reached that point, the person who provoked him usually didn't live long enough to regret it.

Instead of backing down, I laughed. "Go ahead. Choke me to death. Come on, Jase. Do you have the guts?"

He didn't.

Everyone in the underworld knew I'd fought beside him every step of the way.

I'd been there when he was nothing more than a stray dog anyone could kick around. I'd stayed through the bloodshed as he built Conley Global and clawed his way to the top of Belmont.

By the time he got there, my body was covered in old injuries, and I'd lost the use of one leg. If someone who had sacrificed that much for him could still end up dead at his hands, who would ever risk their life for him again?

Sure enough, Jase released me. He took the white handkerchief his assistant offered and slowly wiped his fingers, then smiled.

"Francesca, why would I kill you? You're my wife. But when you do something wrong, you accept the consequences."

He glanced toward his men. "Bring up every bottle from the wine cellar. Since Mrs. Conley likes throwing wine around so much, let her have as much as she wants. And add ice."

Freezing wine came pouring over my head, flooding my eyes and mouth.

Jase knew perfectly well that I was allergic to alcohol. My breathing turned ragged as angry red welts rapidly spread across my face.

For a split second, something like hesitation flashed in his eyes, but his expression remained cold.

"Apologize, and I'll have them stop right now. I'll send you to the hospital."

I bit down hard on my lip, forcing myself to stay upright, then gave him a cold smile. "That's all you've got, Jase? Compared to having my fingernails ripped out and nails driven through my knees by your enemies back then, this is nothing."

Whatever hesitation had been in his eyes vanished. He looked at me without emotion. "Then enjoy yourself."

He bent down and lifted Aria Crawford, who had fallen to the floor, into his arms. His expression softened instantly as he kissed her cheek.

"Hey. Don't be scared. I'll take you to the hospital."

But Aria caught his sleeve and pleaded on my behalf, "Jase, don't do this to Francesca. In my line of work, getting a drink thrown at you isn't a big deal. I'm fine."

Her eyes lowered. "It's my fault. I couldn't control my feelings. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop thinking about you. I even forced myself to date someone else because I thought it would help me forget you, but I couldn't do it."

She clutched his sleeve tighter. "Jase, just send me away. I don't want to destroy your marriage. Francesca was with you before you had anything. You shouldn't abandon her because of me. I don't want people condemning you for that."

Her voice trembled. "I'm just a cheap hostess. I've never suffered for you the way she has. I don't deserve to stand beside you."

"What are you talking about?" Jase cut her off gently. "You're the woman I love, and you're carrying my child.

"I don't need you to suffer for me. All you need to do is take care of yourself and the baby. Then you can become Mrs. Conley properly, and I'll put the whole world at your feet."