“I think you or one of your men grazed my arm.”
I raised my gun to Santino’s face. “You shot him?”
“You know, I’m getting really fucking tired of your girl here, threatening my life.” He turned to me, a scowl twisting his features. “You mispronounced ‘thank you.’”
Silas pushed my arm down. “I’m kind of jealous, love. I thought that was our thing.”
I couldn’t help laughing as I pushed his tousled hair away from his forehead. “Oh, don’t worry. You owe me big for this. I think I aged ten years today.”
He pulled me close and whispered against my ear. “Give me just as much time to make it up to you.”
The pit of my stomach heated and fluttered as if an entire flock of birds had taken flight.
* * *
The air was cool against my skin, sending a slight chill with every gust. I leaned against the railing and looked out onto the city skyline. I’d been to London many times since I was a child, but this moment felt different for some reason. Eye-opening. A heaviness was in the air, a question hanging over my shoulders. Was it one I was ready to ask myself? Tonight was a defining moment. It had been three days since Cillian’s death. To clear my name and vacate my contract, I’d had to meet with Hades himself, or at least the voice of a man few have seen, including me.
It turned out my oath was invalid, the contract drawn up by Cillian without the approval of the Order. He was out for blood, a personal vendetta against the man who’d killed his son in self-defense. Not only was I cleared, but so was Silas. No more running or hiding. The news brought many possibilities which I had yet to explore fully.
Though there was still another threat out there.
A strong arm enveloped me from behind, his hard chest against my back. I’d never needed to feel safe with anyone besides my father, but I let that emotion weave into my heart while in the cradle of Silas’s embrace.
“It’s chilly, love.”
“Not anymore,” I said, resting my head on his shoulder. I couldn’t see his face, but I knew he was smiling, and I felt my lips curving as well. A companionable silence fell between us, the wind caressing my face, his body warming my skin, and his hips slightly swaying, dampening my underwear. It was the first sense of absolute peace I’d felt in over a month. And I wasn’t ready to let that go.
To let him go.
“Silas?”
“Mmhmm?” he crooned close to my ear, sending a shiver down the back of my neck. I felt my nipples harden as they brushed against the thin fabric of my t-shirt.
“Come back with me. To Philly.” A new team was assigned to take over Cillian’s faction, and Silas was extended a place in their ranks. But how would we part ways after everything? And was I really asking him to live with me?
“Okay.”
I froze, then spun around. “Okay? Just like that?”
He chuckled, his hand on my face. “Did you just ask me out of courtesy, expecting me to say no, or do you actually want me?”
“Fuck, Si, I always want you,” I said with a grin, pressing myself into his dick. It was hard and thick against my abdomen, and I suddenly wanted to drop to my knees on this balcony.
He kissed me slowly, tongue sliding against mine, drawing a moan from my throat.
“You know what I mean, Leni. Santino is considering relocating to Florida…There’s nothing left for me here.”
I closed my eyes and inhaled, suddenly feeling emotional. “I don’t want to be your last option.”
“Amor mío, you’re the only option.”
I smiled against his lips, my heart soaring. “You speak Spanish too, huh?”
“I do.”
“You look like you have some Latin blood in you.” I feathered my fingers across the bandage on his face. “There’s a whole life in there you don’t know about. Do you ever wonder if—”
“I used to. But not anymore. It’s pointless. No one has come looking for me, so I doubt they’re out there, and if they are, then maybe they’re not worth finding. But it’s not like I’ll ever remember them anyway.”
