"Perhaps when you are done with her, you could send her to work at the Cat House. Offer her up as leftovers to any man who might use her for a few minutes of pleasure. That would surely be a dagger to her father's heart."

"Enough!" I stagger to my feet, pacing toward the fire as I fight to rein in my temper. "I know what you're doing."

"I'm doing what you always said you would," he replies calmly. "You said you wanted to torture her. You wanted every Moreno to pay."

"I know that's what I said," I snarl.

"So, what is the problem?" he presses. "Make your plans and be at peace with them. Unless there is a reason you can't or won't."

I turn to glare at him, and when I do, there is a small hint of amusement on his face. He gives me a moment to come back to myself, to regulate my breathing and calm this strange new beast living within me.

"It would not bother you if you didn't care," he observes. "You can only live in denial for so long. This was always going to be a possibility, whether you saw it yourself or not. Mercedes sees it too. There are rumblings through IVI how your wife has softened you. Changed you."

"No." I shake my head. "I don't accept that."

"At some point, you must. It's the only way to move forward. You can spend your time fighting it or implement a solution to both your problems. You're in it now. Find a way to satisfy your revenge and keep her, or you will lose it all."

"That isn't a solution," I scoff. "When I kill her father and brother, Ivy will never get over it. She isn't like me."

"So, don't tell her." Judge shrugs. "Keep it to yourself and let your wife be happy in her ignorance when she puts her grief behind her."

Doesn't he know I've already considered that? I've considered every option. But I can't. Already, I know I won't. There is no room for emotions in our marriage. We have too many secrets between us, and there is always the potential they would come out later and poison her against me. Why allow something to bloom only to have it snatched away when the truth inevitably comes to light?

"Ivy could never be satisfied without answers. She wouldn't stop until she had them."

"And you couldn't live with yourself if you kept them from her."