Incriminated Read Free Page A

full lips, his sculpted arms that peeked out of his t-shirt, the hints of his beautifully toned stomach—It had been a long time since I looked at him this way. By the time I looked back to his face, a smirk was prominently placed, his eyebrow raised.
    "See something you like?" he mumbled in a husky tone, causing my breath to hitch.
    I took a deep breath and shook my head, stepping out of the doorway so he could close the door behind him. I motioned towards the breakfast bar and began to brew him coffee, realizing I still remembered exactly how he liked it.
    "Your apartment looks really nice, Brie." I nodded a thank you before placing his coffee in front of him, taking a seat next to him after.
    "Mrs. Genovese found me last night," I said abruptly, cutting the small chat out of the way.
    "Excuse me?! What’d she say?!" His eyes were wide but he sat there in silence as I re-capped the whole conversation for him.
    His face took on a grim expression once I finished, and I could see the gears turning. Finally, after minutes of me doing everything I could not to stare at him, he spoke.
    "I'm going to take care of this for you. I would never let her hurt you. I'm so sorry," he tried to finish, but his voice broke at the end. I looked up to see his eyes were rimmed with red as if he were doing everything he could to keep the tears back.
    "I think of you every day, you know. I wonder if you're happy, if you miss me, if you'll ever give me a chance. I thought I was dreaming when you called this morning. Even now—sitting across from you—" he reached up, sliding his fingers over my cheek before I could pull away. "I feel like I'm in a fantasy, instead of reality. You don't know how remorseful I am. How much I wish I could take back everything I did.”
    I sighed and looked away, the full weight of being here with him finally becoming real. It had been easy to keep my feelings locked away when he wasn't around—I had constant distractions, and lots to focus on. But with him here, with me in such a vulnerable position once again, I felt myself swaying towards him, relishing in the scent of after-shave, coffee and Irish Springs soap.
    "Michael. I don't know that I could ever fully get over what you did. I've often thought of you, thought of what we shared—the intensity to our relationship—sometimes I wonder if it was more fueled by the situation then by actual feelings that we had for each other. If you felt for me what you think you do, I doubt you could've let me walk into that trap," I mumbled sadly, turning away from him.
    Surprise rippled through me when I felt the arms I had secretly longed for wrap around my small waist. I stiffened as he pulled me into his lap, his face warm against my neck.
    "My feelings were fueled by you, cara mia- by your scent, your smile, your laugh, your intelligence, your attitude- all you. I was just too blind to realize what I was ruining. I would do anything just to see your face flush the way it did after I kissed you, to see your body swaying slowly to Sinatra or Dean Martin while you work away in the kitchen."
    I pulled myself out of his lap and backed away, making sure I was out of arms-length.
    "For now, can you just focus on getting rid of this psychotic woman? I've done so much to get my life back to normal, and here I find it spiraling down all over again. I don't want to live in fear—and I believe that's something you promised I would never have to experience." I crossed my arms over my chest and bravely stared into his eyes, trying not to get lost in the green hues that exuded passion for me.
    "I already know what to do to take care of her. Just do me a favor and get her out of your head. I'll update you in a few days when the situation is taken care of."
    "Just—don't kill her, please. No more bloodshed." I asked, frowning.
    "I'm not going to kill her, Brie. I told you; I've changed. However, that doesn't mean I'm not going to let her pay for her own share of sins. She was