Chapter Six

Empty Hearts

Willow

I lay awake in bed long after my husband has fallen asleep. I listen to his deep breathing, remembering the moment he finally gave in to everything and allowed himself to grieve, to break open and let out everything he had been holding in.

My heart aches for him but my words from the car remain true. I'm not the kind of woman he thinks I am. I'm not what he needs. And that perfect clarity only serves to break me a little more inside.

Rafe has been unsupportive as I try to find myself now that I am out from beneath my uncle's thumb, preferring to focus on only his issues. I get it, I was lost when my parents died but I still made sure Roman came first. The love between Rafe and I is tainted by outside forces. We need a clean slate and that can't happen with everything else still in limbo. I need to take charge of my own life and destiny before I can start building a life with him.

I'm not sure how any of this will work out in the end but the one thing I am surer of than anything else is that I am more broken than I ever knew. The things Sebastian put me through, both physically and mentally, have damaged me beyond repair.

Rafe deserves a woman that he can be proud of, not someone who needs to hide her scars from the world. My scars run deeper than what is written on my skin and the fact that I shut down in the car when Rafe spanked me only solidifies my decision. I need to find out who I am without him before I can start being with him. I need to correct my past sins before I can move forward in life.

Slipping from beneath the covers as the sun rises, I slip on yoga pants and an oversized hoodie before creeping along the hallway with my cellphone gripped tightly in my right hand. I wait until I have slipped out of the patio door in the downstairs library before calling the only person I can think of to help me right now.

"Willow?" The sleep-filled voice filters across the line.

"I need you." Beating around the bush isn't necessary.

"Where are you?"

I can hear the rustle of fabric as he shifts the phone around.

"On the back acre of the Gallo compound. I'm headed toward the back entrance." My breath leaves me in rapid puffs, adrenaline surging through me.

I know that Rafe is going to be livid once he realizes what I have done but once he takes a moment to think this all through he will know that this is for the best. I won't hold him back and I sure as fuck won't be the downfall of everything that Armand and Rafe have built.

"What's going on? Did something happen?"

"Just hurry, Seamus."

I end the call and stuff my cell back into my pocket. Standing behind a tree, I force my breathing to calm, listening for any sounds that don't belong. Taking a fleeting glance back at the house I just ran from, a single tear tracks down my cheek.

This is what it feels like to love someone. When you are willing to break yourself wide open, lay your soul on the line, and make the hard decisions to ensure the person you love has the best future possible.

I make my way through the trees, the leaves and twigs beneath my bare feet making me vividly aware of exactly where I am. It takes me the better part of fifteen minutes to reach the back wall even though it feels like hours. I can't go to the front gate because Rafe will be alerted to what I am doing and I need this head start for my plan to work. Instead, I search the wall for an area that has a tree close enough that I can climb to help me over.

That's the easy part. The landing is what hurts. My ankle gives way and I end up on my knees.

"Fuck, Willow," Seamus says as he helps me up. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." I shrug out of his grip, not wanting to have another man's hands on me. "We need to leave."

"Willow," Seamus starts but I cut him off.

"Are you here to help me or do I need to call someone else?"

He nods with a frown before leading me to his forest-green Mustang, holding the passenger side door open for me.

I can't help but draw comparisons between Rafe and Seamus as we drive away from the Gallo compound, leaving my heart and soul behind those high walls. I won't ever be able to look at another man without thinking of and comparing him to Rafe. He will forever be the pinnacle that no other man can compare to.

"Where are you taking me?" I ask after long moments of silence.

"I didn't exactly have a plan, Willow," he replies with a sigh. "I am headed toward the Hennie's compound because that is where I live. But I can take you wherever you want to go."

"I need to have a word with Konnor, so the compound is fine."

Hopefully, I can defuse the situation with Regina before it turns into the perfect storm. Konnor is more likely to listen to reason even though he is insanely volatile on the best of days.

"Are you going to tell me what is going on? Did that prick hurt you?"

I glare at Seamus. "Rafe didn't do a damn thing," I hiss.

Seamus stares at me in disbelief. "You're crying, Kitten."

The old nickname falls from his lips and I want to scream that he has no right to call me that anymore. My hand goes to my face and I feel that it's dripping wet. I didn't even realize I was crying. Goddammit.

"Talk to me," Seamus implores as he pulls to a stop in front of the double-story brownstone the Hennie's call home.

"Later," I reply, stepping from the car. I use the sleeve of my sweatshirt to dry my face before marching up the stairs.

I can feel Seamus following me. I also know he isn't happy to be my accomplice without any answers to his questions. I honestly can't say if I will ever be able to give him the answers he so desperately wants simply because it has absolutely fuck-all to do with him and because it hurts. But I will have to tell him something sooner or later.

The heavy oak front door swings open revealing Konnor Hennie. He is wearing a pristine tailored charcoal suit and I can see why the man is so popular with the ladies. His green eyes dance with mirth as he assesses me.

"Mrs. Gallo. To what do I owe the honor of you darkening my door at this hour in the morning?"

"Do you want me to shoot you again, Konnor?"

He holds his hands above his head with a chuckle.

"What can I do for you?" he asks, stepping aside and granting me entrance to his home.

"We need to have a chat about Devon."

Konnor's gaze turns sharp. "What did my idjit little brother do this time?" His Irish lilt becomes more pronounced.

I scan the foyer, noting two large men I don't know before focusing on Konnor once more.

"This is a conversation that might be best done in private."

He nods before leading me down a long hallway, his hand on the small of my back. Upon entering his home office I take it all in and smile at the vast difference between his and Rafe's spaces. Konnor has papers scattered across his desk, novels stacked beside it, and a half-eaten burrito sits on its wrapper on the corner of the wooden structure. Rafe would lose his fucking mind if he walked into this chaos.

"Am I going to need a drink for this conversation?" he asks, taking a seat.

"Probably, but let's wait until I've told you everything. It's just after six in the morning, after all."

Konnor grunts before gesturing to a deep-red leather seat in front of his desk.

I don't wait for him to ask any questions, I just hand him the problem in its entirety.

"Regina Gallo is pregnant. Devon is the father. Seems they have been seeing each other in secret for quite a while." My hands are folded in my lap, keeping me from fidgeting.

A kaleidoscope of emotions flits across Konnor's face. Shock, disbelief, and sadness before settling on anger.

"And Raphael sent you here to keep the peace. A woman?" He raises an eyebrow.

"First, I am here of my own volition. I want to make sure that neither Regina nor Devon gets hurt. The shit between the Hennies and Gallos shouldn't affect them," I say leaning forward. "Second, we've known each other our whole lives, Konnor. I may have been born a woman but I know more about you than most of the men who work here. Don't be a cunt."

A laugh slips from between his lips before he shakes his head. "Fair enough. Anything else?"

"Rafe doesn't know."

I fold my arms across my chest, Konnor staring at me in shock.

"What is going on, Willow?" he asks, genuine concern coating each word.

"Nothing to worry about, Kon. But I need a place to stay for a couple of hours."