Page 109 of Obsessed by My Ex's Mafia Uncle

And another for the silence to return.

“What is what?” Atelia doesn’t move.

“What are you doing here?” I blink, forcing my breathing to even out, not because it wants to, but because I make it.

“It’s eleven in the morning. We’re supposed to meet the Chinese investors by twelve, and we still have contracts to go over.”

“Yeah,” I mutter, dragging a hand over my face, “But this is my bedroom, Lia.”

“You were screaming,” she shoots back, like that settles everything. “What was that?” She asks.

“Nothing,” I answer, already pushing forward, my hands braced against the sofa as I start to stand.

“Not so fast.” Her palm hits my chest before I get anywhere.

I look down at her, but she doesn’t move her hand. She doesn’t even blink.

“Sit.”

“I’m fine.” I start to argue.

“You’re not,” she counters immediately, pushing just enough to force me back into the seat.

I don’t resist because there’s no point.

I lean back again, slower this time, my jaw clenching slightly as I drag a hand over my face, trying to reset something that won’t fall back into place.

Atelia exhales, then lowers herself in front of me, crouching enough to bring us level. She drops her elbows loosely on her knees, her gaze unwavering, like she’s not going anywhere until she gets what she came for.

“What’s going on?” She asks again with a different tone now.

“I don’t know what you want to hear.” I look past her, my gaze perched outside the window.

“I will ask again…”

“And I’ll tell you it’s nothing you need to worry about.”

“Robert.” She clips, shaking her head. “Don’t fucking do that.”

“It’s...” I exhale through my nose, buying time I don’t actually need.

“It’s back?” She tries to catch my gaze but misses. “The nightmares.”

I don’t confirm or deny it.

“You haven’t had them in years,” she continues. “If you’re having them again, something changed.”

I nod.

“What changed?” Her brows furrow.

“Christine.” I let it out.

“For fuck’s sake, Robert!” She flares, throwing both arms in the air. “Get a fucking grip. What, you fucked her once and… What?”

“Are you going to fucking listen, or do you want to be a bitch about my sex life?”

“Do I have a say?”