PURPLE HEART - Soliders Of Fortune [BOOK TWO]

Chapter EIGHTEEN

Sunday 'Sunny' Santos

Later at breakfast, I poke unenthusiastically at my piled high plate of fluffy French toast and berries, looking around the immaculately clean kitchen and comprehensive spread, wondering where exactly it had come from.. "Did you cook?"

"No.." Max frowns, shooting a look at me as if I were loco for suggesting he was responsible for the beautiful feast laid out on the marble island.. "Mariya makes breakfast.." There is a cool edge to his smoky timbre and it ensnares me on tenterhooks of trepidation..

Is Max angry with me?

I can't help but ponder the question while dreading the answer..

I never can tell what he is thinking or how he is feeling, and that is his most disarming quality..
I can't anticipate anything around Max, making it impossible for me to ever know if I am doing the right thing or behaving as expected..

"Mariya?" My voice cracks as an irrational shock of jealousy shoots down my spine to settle low in my stomach.. I do my best to disguise my distress, but it is a weak and unconvincing farce.. "Who is she?"

Great job Sunday, so not subtle!

I have never been able to fake my feelings or hide them away behind a stoic mask the way Max does.. So I doubt that I can pretend to be comfortable eating a meal that was prepared by my husband to be's girlfriend..

That's a little too crazy, even for the circumstances..

"The maid.." He studies me as envy gives way to relief, seeming particularly annoyed when I set my knife and fork down.. Tattooed knuckles ball into fists, cracked one after the other and inky forearms flex with frustration.. "Should I have her make you something else?"

"No!" Guilty, I quickly pick up the discarded silverware.. "Esto es perfecto!" (this is perfect) Max watches intently, supervising me as if I were a problem child and him a sentinel supervisor sent to ensure I eat every last bite.. "It's just, I'm really not very hungry, Max-"

"I don't care.." With gruff indifference he sips on his mug of black coffee before barking out a forceful one word command.. "Eat."

Having already devoured two whole servings himself, The Loan Shark's attention is squarely set on me, and he is relentlessly determined to see my belly full..

Doctor's orders and all..

Battling on despite my ingrained instincts, I shove another mouthful of the sweet and savoury breakfast in my mouth..

Goodness, it tastes amazing..

My body craves the protein and sugar, yearning to be nourished.. But something in the back of my brain pinches in shame each time I lift the fork to my lips..

Javier would never have allowed me to eat this much..

But with The Loan Sharks unwavering stare on me, I don't dare put my cutlery down.. "Your friend Saint is nice.." I keep my eyes lowered to avoid triggering my shaky nerves, focusing on my plate as I cut each slice of toast into tiny pieces..