My Forbidden Love

Chapter 57

Olivia's pov:

"Really I - I don't understand."

Kent sighs, grabbing me by the waist and pulling me against his body.

"I've wanted it since I was old enough to want. Ever since I saw my father being murdered. I owed - we owed - the Bianci's everything in exchange for what they did for me. And I gave it all to them. I gave them the business and the connections that they wanted when I came back to America. I made them more money than they've ever had, gave them a grandson to inherit it all, gave them my god damn heart when I married Lenai!"

I go still a little when I hear him mention her, when he finishes his words angrily through his clenched teeth.

"And Im still giving everything to the Bianci. Twenty years - twenty years of building everything. And I swear to god - I'm almost out."

Kent sighs, completely unaware of the stupid jealousy I'm feeling at the mere mention of his wife.

"I've almost paid my tab, I can feel it. Just...... a little bit more, and then I'll be free."

"Which is why they're pushing you so hard to marry Natalia."

"Precisely. But the marriage isn't on the table as a bargaining chip this time. Not anymore."

"Is that why you married Lenai, Kent? I - I thought you loved her."

"I did love Lenai, Olivia. I would never deny it - would never want to. She was incredibly important to me, and a good wife, and a great mother. But it was...... complicated."

It always is.

"Okay."

I don't push it, not sure I'll be able to bear it much longer, hearing him tell me about how much he loved another woman.

"Kent? You are sending guns to Italy now..... but you're not involved in the drug trade? At all?"

"No, I'm not. I leave that, ironically, to your father and your boy Ivan."

I let my hand drift to his shirt.

"I do trust you, Olivia. I wish you would trust me."

I laugh up at him then.

"Kent, when you say 'trust me' it often means 'let me take charge of your life'."

He slides a hand up my arm and lifts it above my head, stopping only when my wrist is pinned against the mattress.

"Yes, that would be preferable, Olivia. For you to relinquish complete control to me."

"Well, too bad for you that I'm never giving you control over me. But I will give you one chance to try and make me cede control."

And, laughing darkly and shaking his head at my continued resistance and negotiation, Kent kisses me.

And I let it go - all of it. And I let him take control.

**************************

I wake up blinking to the chirping sound of Kent's phone and I groan a little as I turn over in Kent's arms.

He's still sleeping.
I smile as I take in the sight of Kent's handsome face in response.

"What's so funny?"

"You. I'm going to have to send you through the passage now, Kent. Very busy day ahead of me. Take your coffee and go."

Kent smirks, giving me a half-hearted little smack on my ass before turning to reach for his phone.

"This is a lie. You're not allowed to have coffee in your room, Olivia."

He sighs, wrapping his arms around me again, pulling me tightly against him.