Page 103 of Deacon

She needed a neutral, steady presence: someone free of judgment and ulterior motives as she leaned on me through the disaster.

It was clear she chose the wrong man in Max.

So what?

Neither of us had a clean record when it came to colossal relationship fuck-ups.

Still, I refused to walk away from her.

My heart had always been hers, and it always would be.

I still loved her.

It was as simple as that.

Later that night, I lay in my dark bedroom, staring at the ceiling beams.

I remembered how I dealt with the deep insecurity and rage that consumed me after the ink dried on our divorce papers and our marriage blew apart.

Therapy, wellness, and focusing on Raff shifted my mindset, but my love for Ana had never changed.

Now I refused to become the coward who left his woman stranded in a storm.

Regardless of what she felt for me, we shared a permanent bond.

I would stand as her shield until she emerged intact on the other side.

Those were the vows I swore when I married her.

I meant every word.

Right up to my last breath.

Chapter 20

DEACON

To take her mind off Massimo, I worked overtime to lift Ana’s spirits.

I cooked her favorite food, shared jokes and wild band stories that made her laugh, and took her on daily swims and long walks on the beach.

In turn, she was weaving her magic on me, making me fall even deeper in love with her with every passing day.

The fact was, she had me under a spell.

Our conversations were light-hearted; we joked around and strolled on the shore, with her leaning on me so her limp wasn’t as pronounced.

I rediscovered her and how at ease she made me, loving our deep conversations and teasing.

She was passionate about her career, photography, reading, her family, and friends.

Her banter was top-tier, and her attitude had moxie.

She didn’t take my bullshit and put me in my place if I pushed her boundaries.

She knew who she was and where she was going in life, and I admired her ambition and drive.

From her lush hair to her full lips, her style and grace made her freakin’ royalty, and I’d never wanted any woman more than her.