The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO) novel Chapter 266

I push the door open with one hand and pull out my phone with a heavy sigh, slowly inhaling as I inhale fresh air.

I’m okay, I really am okay.

I text Jake, asking him where he is, letting him know I’ll come to him. I need the air and the walk. I need the time to myself to let all that happened in that room sink in. I want to walk to him smiling, to show him that I’m so much stronger than I ever have been before.

She never fought for me, she never told me she loved me, but then she never did.

I’m not the one who is broken or unlovable, she is. Yes, I am scarred, but I’m healing, and I’ve finally found my way into arms I know will always be waiting for me.

Jake is watching me over a mug of coffee in the small café. My tears have finally stopped. I’m not heartbroken, just resigned and letting go of all that pent-up emotion; part of me is relieved. There really are no other words for it. His eyes never leave mine and his arms are aching to hold me, but he knows I just need a moment to let my body, emotionally, mentally, and physically, settle. I want to get through this without any outside help, it’s just something I need to do.

He listens, intently, as I repeat every word from my encounter, holding my hand and letting me cry. He has wiped my tears and been the rock he always is. My Jake, grounding me, always understanding what I need.

“You don’t want her at the wedding at all? No visits when the baby comes?” He’s watching me closely, trying to understand my decision, wanting to affirm what and who I want in our future. I shake my head.

“No, as far as I’m concerned both my parents are dead. I have my family and its surname is Carrero.” I link my fingers through his on the table and tug his hand closer to me, wanting him nearer now that I feel stronger. He lifts our linked hands up to his face, running my thumb across his jaw tenderly, always so caring, and there whenever I need him.

“You’ll be a Carrero soon, bambino. You’re the daughter my mamma has always wanted. She told me.” Jake’s fingers come to rest on my bottom lip as I smile at him and he smiles back. His adoring eyes locking on mine, mesmerizing me with their green beauty. I hope our child will have Jake’s green eyes, the kind that draw you in and steals your soul with love, compassion, and kindness like his.

“I love your family, even Giovanni.” I giggle to see Jake frowning at me, a look of ‘really?’ running across his face. He shakes his head as though I’ve seriously lost the plot.

“My father is … complicated.” He sighs, looking out across the small café, still no closer to seeing his father in any other light than the man who hurt his mother.

“Of course, because I know nothing about complicated parents.” I roll my eyes and giggle again when he tugs my chin forward leaning over to kiss me across the table. The gentle brushing of his lips quells any lasting hints of sadness inside me. He sits back down but doesn’t let me go.

“I know he’s the strong silent type who thinks it’s weak to show so many goddamn emotions, but he really is allergic to any sort of affection.” Jake frowns harder, a mild irritation passing over his sexy mouth. He doesn’t like talking about Giovanni in any way, if anyone has any allergy then it’s Jake and the topic of discussing his relationship with his father.

“I’m sure your mother disagrees; she was definitely manhandling him under the table ten minutes before you proposed.” I let out a stifled laugh at the mortified gaping expression startled across Jake’s beautiful face. He looks torn between being physically sick or hurting someone.

“No, she wasn’t!” He shakes his head, frowning and grimacing to remove the image from his mind, then lets me go so he can use both hands to scrub his face. “I don’t even want to know.” His voice is ridiculously cute. He sounds like a child completely traumatized at catching his parents canoodling.

“More of your daddy in you than you care to admit, Mr. Carrero. Your mamma and papa are obviously still very young when it comes to their libido.” I smirk at him wickedly, trying to contain the laughter in my throat at his obvious discomfort, and then jump when I see that mischievous grin coming my way. He rounds the table for me and I high tail it out the door. He is a little terrifying. We’ve already paid so he catches up to me quickly in the street, swinging me into his arms.

“I’m taking you back to our hotel to wash that mouth

out and apply some discipline for saying really

disgusting things.” He’s smiling but I think I may have scarred him for life. He still has a rather pale hue and an unamused expression on his face. I hope to God he never actually witnesses any of his parents’ shenanigans first-hand or Jake will need to join me and Daniel in therapy; that would be cozy.