HEY WATTPAD READERS! IM SO SORRY FOR THE DELAY, IVE HAD A LOT ON MY MIND TO WRITE. PROMISE THAT ANOTHER CHAPTER WILL SOON BE READY 😘

So, what's our next move?" Eliza asked so innocently, lying her head on my chest.

I barely knew myself. The moment my world seemed to be falling apart kept playing around in my head. The moment their hands touched and my heart dropped to the floor.

"You have to meet with Konrad. Go over the details of the deal," I told her, the words hard and cold on my lips.

I felt her head move up and down against my chest, but no words left her mouth. I guess she didn't know what to say either. What can you say when you've agreed to go on a date with another, even if she plays it down as business.

"I want you there. I don't want to make any decisions without your approval," she stated, out of the silence.

It was a little too late for that.

"This is your deal Eliza," I reminded her, "I can't make these decisions for you."

"I know, I just -," she sighed, entwining her fingers in mine.

For the first time since last night, my mind began to slow down. It was a much-needed relief.

"I don't want to do this alone," she finally confessed, breaking my heart in two.

I had refused to see it from her point of view, ignoring the fact that I would have made the same decision if I were in her shoes. But it was easy to ignore those feelings, and be furious at myself for putting her in that position.

"It'll be Friday," she stated, sounding more like the business woman, "and won't go past twelve. I don't need to be with that creep any longer than that."

I couldn't help but snort at that, letting it bring a small smirk to my lips. Perhaps I shouldn't give up on my wife so easily.

"No touching, of course. And he'll have to pay for dinner," she rattled off, like reading off a list in her head.

She jumped suddenly, rolling onto her side before I barely had time to react.

"We will get through this, won't we?" She asked in a panic, fear filling her eyes, "I won't let it ruin us."

I sighed, shaking my head hopelessly. No matter how hard I tried to consume the anger, I just couldn't keep hold. The old me would have used it as an excuse. Torn the place down and shifted Eliza off with it. But like I had feared, my love for her had made be putty in her fingers. It caused me to soften with just the frighten look in her big blue eyes and the simple way my fingers played in the long strands of her hair.

"It won't," I tried to convince her, not sounding very sure, "you're going to get those shares, and come home and we'll watch a movie, just like we used too."

Actually, I can only remember one time we had done it. It was just after my father had died and I had thrown myself into finding his killer. Eliza had forced me into bed and put in the most boring movie I had ever watched. But it had worked in the end.

Eliza gave me the most comforting smile that she could master, beginning to draw circles on my chest. The motion soothed me, numbing my still tender limps. Silence settled between us, trying to force us to say what we were really thinking.

That this was stupid. They were just dump shares, they didn't mean anything. Not enough to ruin what we had built together anyway. I shouldn't have allowed it, but she can be just so stubborn sometimes. Not that I can talk.

"Well, I guess I better go have a shower," Eliza sighed, reluctantly rolling to the edge of the bed.

My eyes watched her intently, as she knelt down and picked up her pink silk rob from the floor and draped it over her shoulders. They continued to follow her as she made her way to the bathroom. Just as she was about to leave my sight, she looked over her shoulder at me.

"Want to join me?" She asked, her lips curling into a cheeky grin.

My shaft twitched at the thought, causing my breath to get caught in my throat. Everything inside of me screamed to follow her, sore body or not. But I couldn't.

I shook my head, ignoring the way her face dropped in my response, "sorry, darling. Still sore."

It was a pathetic excuse and she saw straight through it. It was written all over her face, as she dropped her head. Without saying anything else, she closed the door. Everything was still until I heard the hissing of water from the shower. Yep, I was a jerk.

After getting changed, I wondered down to the kitchen where the boys had been waiting. All of them were silent, their head and lips sealed. No one noticed my presence till I was standing at the bench, at which the lot of them, stumbled to attention like startled wild dears, caught by the lion.

"Boss," Alberto coughed, wiping his mouth with his mug-filled hand.

"Boss," the others echoed, following his lead.

I was use to people walking on egg shells around me, hell, sometimes I was even proud of it. But never by my closest comrades. And it caused my blood to boil.

"Is that coffee?" I demanded, nodding towards the kettle.

"Yeah, I-I just made it," Nickola stuttered snatching a mug from the cupboard and pouring the hot brown liquid inside.

Out the corner of my eye, I caught the other staring at me like I was some crazed animal about to explode. As soon as I looked in their direction, they turned away, hiding their glares.

"There you go," Nickola said to me, handing me the mug.

I couldn't up but glare at him, hearing the caution in his voice. Snatching it from him, I welcomed the relief from the hot stream running down my throat.

"Where's Eliza?" Garrick was the only brave one to ask.

I was grateful for how normal his voice sounded. Always the friend I need.

"In the shower," I muttered into the mug, not feeling in the mood to talking.

Alberto snorted, startling my nerves and shifting my fury to him. The others shifted uncomfortably, feeling the ground underneath us begin to shake.

"Something the matter?" I snapped, not being able hide the harshness in my voice.

"Patrick -."

"No, if Alberto's got something to say, he should say it," I snapped, ignoring Garrick's warn of calm.

Alberto didn't look afraid of me or ashamed of being caught. Instead, he straightened at the challenge, shrugging his shoulders.

"I'm just surprised you didn't throw her out," he told me, causing my face to drop with shock, "or string her up and cut her open."

How has it come to this? Has my reputation grown so wild that even my closest friends would think I would hurt the person I owed every to. If I wasn't surprised by Alberto's bravery to stand up to me, I would have thrown him over the bench and beat the crap out of him. 

"Eliza was forced into this decision, I know that," I growled, barely sounding convincing, "I never touched her last night, if that's what your thinking."

"Of course not, Patrick. None of us thought that," Antonio reassured me, nudging Alberto in the arm, "we'll go make yourselves useful."

Alberto glared at his brother for singling him out before begrudgingly following Antonio out of the room.

"Piero wasn't there something you had to show Nickola?" Garrick promoted, putting on the act.

Piero jumped into action, putting down his mug, "yeah, actually Nick -."

"Actually I need you to do something for me," I buttered in, leaving my manners far behind, "go to Verona's office and tell him if he wants to do a deal, he has to meet us at the downtown high rise at eleven. If he's one minute late, the deal is off."

Piero looked to Garrick for confirmation, panicked by my order. What did he think? That I was unstable, that I didn't know what I was doing, like I hadn't been doing this for ten years of my life? Why must the tone in my voice betray me.

Garrick gave the nod of approval, letting Piero and Nickola escape. It was probably for the best. Garrick was the only one that wasn't afraid to deal with the monster inside.

"So, what's really going on?" He sighed, just as the double doors to the void closed.

"What do you think is going on?" I hissed, finally allowing the words I've been thinking spill out of my mouth, "my wife is going out to dinner with another man. And you know what the worst part is, it's all my fault."

"Patrick -."

"Don't tell me I'm wrong because I'm not," I butted in before he protested, "Eliza made the deal to protect me. Because I was too stubborn and too proud to let some no body, walk all over me."

When Garrick didn't say anything else, I beliefs were confirmed. I was a useless husband. I should have stopped this long ago.

Hopefully she might bare a son that isn't such a disappointment

I shook my head, burying the memory. I hated it when he was right.

"If I was a better husband, she would never have -."

"What's this?" The sweet, familiar voice of Eliza froze my lips and drenching me in dread.

What has she heard?

"Nothing," I coughed, clearing my throat.

Instantly, i noticed her wet hair tired up in a ponytail, showing off her neck. She wore just her simple grey pants suit that made me regret my decision of refusing to shower with her.

She nodded, wandering with suspicion to my side of the bench. My eyes locked with Garrick, who scratched the back of his head as an attempt to hide our conversation.

"We're meeting Konrad at the office at eleven. We should probably get a move on," I told her when she met me, trying to change the subject.

"I'll go sort out the cars," Garrick quickly said, hiding his own involvement in our conversation.

With Garrick put of the room, Eliza's eyes narrowed in suspicion, trying to read me and beat me into submission. I couldn't keep telling her my concerns or we would end up like a tape on repeat. Her consistently repeating how much she loved me and me only half believing her.

"Are you sure your okay?" she asked with a hint of misgiving in her voice as she brushed my arm.

The tinkles that she brought to my aching limp alone was enough for me to want to forget about this whole thing. That I should take my wife somewhere far away where we could start all over again. No Konrad, no mafia, just us.

"Yes, of course," I sighed, not sounding very believable, "We should get going. There's no point putting it off."

I detached myself from her arms and circled my way around the bench. My stomach rolled, knowing that I had hurt her once again. Perhaps I was hurting her because she had hurt me. Some sort of revenge that I had little control over. I didn't want to hurt her but...it was my instinct too. Kill the ones that want to kill me. Wound the ones who had once wounded me. Sadly, that included her as well. No matter if I meant it.

10:50 and there was still no sign of Konrad. Eliza was growing restless, sitting down for one minute then pacing around the table the next. I think she had gone to the toilet five times since we got here.

For me, I continued to watch her. The entertainment had made me numb, or perhaps that was the cream that Mrs Phillips had given me before we left. I've been in this situation too many times that she had begun to recognise the signs when my sore muscles were making me irritated. Now it was Eliza's anxiety that was making me irritated.

"Eliza, stop," I groaned, rubbing my forehead.

"I can't," she growled through her teeth, looking at the door for the fifth time, "I don't know if I can do this."

That sent alarm bells through my head. Eliza had been through far worst than this, and now she thought she couldn't handle it. What had gotten into her?

"Eliza, you need to calm down," I ordered her, reaching out for her arms to hold her still.

Her eyes caught mine and for a second, all my hurt and anger flooded away and I became her husband again.

"this is nothing," I told her, "remember when we had to meet Eagle at your casino, you got through that, didn't you?"

"But that was different," she cried before her face instantly changed to regret, "I had you."

I sucked in a breath, feeling it get caught in the back of my throat. I had forgotten her struggle amongst my own selfish issues.

Clutching her arms tight, I looked deep into her eyes, "You have me. I'm not going to leave you. Okay?"

She nodded, but her uneasiness still hadn't disappeared completely from her eyes. I knew she could do this. She was strong, stronger than she looked. She had been through hell and back and survived. She can handle Konrad. Even if I didn't want to believe it.

Ding

Finally, he had arrived. And like the narcissistic prick he was, had three body guards in tow. If I was being honest, seeing the black and purple mark around his puffy eye did make me feel better. I hoped his whole body hurt after what he was putting Eliza and me through.

"I'm here," he shrugged, like he had no idea why he was here, "Let's sort this out."

Oh, I could have killed him right there and then. Digging my fingers into my arms was my only form of restraint.

"Konrad, how are you?" Eliza started with little emotion in her voice.

The business woman at work.

"Fine," he stated, his eyes flicking over to me.

Probably examining his own handy work.

"Well, in that case, lets get down to business," she ordered, with a strength in her voice that she didn't have ten minutes ago, "there must be rules to this 'dinner'. Number one: no touching."

"Is that your rule, or his?" he asked, nodding in my direction.

Boy, if I could wipe that dump smirk off his face.

"Mine, or course," Eliza growled, taking a step forward, "It won't go past ten o'clock, you have to pay for dinner and at the end, you will give me the shares to the docks."

I watched him like a hawk as he rubbed his chin and thought. What was there to think about. She was having dinner with him for christsakes. What more could he possibly want?

He was silent for what seemed like a lifetime. With each second my mind began to pound louder and louder. Will he agree? Or will he just make it worse.

"I have a few conditions myself," he claimed, making my eyes narrow.

Of course, he did.

"The dinner goes to twelve," hell no, "and your allowed to smile if you're having fun," absolutely not, "and we do whatever I plan."

Okay, this has gone too far.

"No, no," I interrupted, shaking my head.

"Patrick," Eliza hissed, under her breath.

"No, Eliza. This is ridiculous," I snapped at her, "those shares are rightfully ours. He shouldn't be forcing you to do this."

Eliza looked absolutely helpless, knowing that I was right. Come on darling, why won't you just give this up.

"You know, I have other offers," Konrad's cocky voice cut through our silence, setting my skin alight, "mostly off the grid but there is one that might interest you."

I frowned, shaking my head in disbelief. Once again, he was trying to manipulate us. Well, we weren't going to fall -.

"And who is that?" Eliza demanded, crossing her arms.

Konrad's sly smile curled at the corner of his lips, wearing a look like he had us exactly where he wanted. That was enough for concern to flow through my blood and an urge to take a hold of Eliza's hand and run.

With a simple shrug, Konrad said the name that set my blood on fire, "oh just, Paige Caivano."

My stomach dropped.

"What?" Eliza cried helplessly, "Patrick."

"Get out!" I ordered, taking a step forward while taking Eliza's arm to comfort her, "Paige left New York a year ago and would have to have a death wish to come back."

The fear and panic growing in Eliza's eyes did not go a miss.

"I knew that name would mean something," Konrad smiled, enjoying the growing power he had over us.

"You don't know anything about it!" Eliza cried, taking a leap towards him before I yanked her back.

"Oh, I know a lot more than you think," he snapped, "did you honestly think that I wouldn't do my homework on the New York's mafia's power couple. And believe me, what I found was quite a read."

Eliza took a step towards him again, causing my grip to tighten on her arm even more. My mind was working quickly, connecting the dots and following the information trail.

"Let me guess, The Mayor. Got friendly with the sewer rats, did you Konrad?" I growled, my skin burning under the fire.

"Perhaps that's your problem, Patrick. You underestimate the importance of the gangs in New York," he corrected me, growing my anger, "you have no idea how easy they can be bought."

Of course, when your desperate enough to give them what they want.

"So how did you get into contact with Paige?" I asked, feeling Eliza shake at the sound of her name.

Come on, Darling, hang in there.

"Old family friend," he stated, sharing little information, "she's very eager to get back in the game."

"Like hell," Eliza growled, "she'll be dead before she even steps foot back in New York."

Konrad snorted at Eliza's threat, causing my eyes to narrow. I would ensure it myself to make sure that Paige would pay for what she did, even if it costed me my life. I would protect her from anything.

"Paige will never be welcomed back into New York, I will see it to myself. You can not threaten us with her," I warned him, taking a step forward and forcing my superiority.

If Konrad was worried, he didn't look like it. His mask didn't hide the flash of fear as his eyes looked over my stern and deadly serious. He had forgotten who I was and what I had to do to become the Mafia king I was. Stalk. Chase. Kill. I was the constant disappointment of a father whose approval was difficult to achieve. I had spent hours in hell while my wife had been held captive by the devil and felt absolutely useless to do something about it. I knew what it was to walk on the coals of the lake of fire.

And that was why I knew, this was the right decision.

"You will take our offer," I growled, my voice deep in my throat, "dinner, Friday night. And you will give Eliza, your shares to the docks."

Konrad's eyes narrowed at me as he shifted on his feet. Did he honestly think that I would let him back out of this? He was going to give us his shares even if I had to tie him up and force him to do it. Perhaps I should do that anyway.

"So, what? Now you agree to this?" he asked in disbelief of my sudden change of heart.

I would do anything for my family.

"No," I growled, "But those shares aren't yours."

He cocked his head, rubbing his chin, "So you would let your wife go to dinner with me, for your business."

Hell no.

I swallowed, "Yes."

He chuckled, shaking his head like he disapproved. The bastard. He was putting me in this position in the first place. If he didn't come to New York, we wouldn't be here.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Eliza look up at me with regret in her eyes. Perhaps she saw through my lie and recognised the pain that I was hiding. I was giving up my wife for money. I was worse than my father.

"Okay then," Konrad chuckled, breaking my thoughts, "dinner, Friday. Goes to ten o'clock and you will get the shares."

Eliza and I were both silent, each of us waiting for the other to pull out of the deal. But this needed to happen. We needed to get Konrad out of our lives for good.

Taking in a deep breath, Eliza took out the