Frightened.
I hold his face in my hands, “I'm already yours, remember? I'll stand by you.”
His eyes widen. His face contorts with pain.
His fingers are bundled so tightly in my hair.
“I... I did something stupid,” he forces the words out. He looks like he's in pain, “I took someone’s place—”
The sound of the elevator pings through the suite and my eyes narrow.
Christian stiffens beneath me. His energy seizes and I feel his pulse start to race. His breath stutters and I scowl, irritated by the intruder.
“Reuben!” Aster’s voice actually sounds desperate. Frightened.
I'm the only one who knows it’s a practiced performance.
When he runs through the door, three men are there beside him, guns at the ready. I stand to position myself in front of Christian, but he grabs my wrist tightly, afraid, and Aster's eyes narrow.
“Reuben, get away from him.” His gun is trained on Christian, his expression unwelcoming, and my irritation is hot beneath my skin.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I snap.
“He’s not who you think he is,” Aster instructs me calmly. “He’s a fraud.”
I hear when Christian stops breathing behind me. When he becomes paralyzed.
‘I took someone's place.’
Baby…
What did you do?
Christian releases my wrist slowly, as though it takes every bit of his will. Every bit of his bravery.
I don't move.
Energies never lie.
I've watched Christian for months.
I know more about him than I think even he does about himself.
I've watched him convince himself he doesn't deserve anything… but his energy has always been honest and pure and beautiful.
It's the reason I fell in love with him.
“I know exactly who he is.” My eyes narrow and my next words are slow, “More than I've ever known about you,hermanote.”
For the first time in twenty-eight years, there's a ripple in Aster’s energy. An emotion that almost wants to exist but still doesn't get the chance.
He doesn't even lower the fucking gun. He glares at me, reaches into his jacket and pulls out a white envelope, which crosses the room with a skilled flick of his wrist and smacks into my chest.
I grab it before it can hit the floor, keeping one eye on Aster as I pull out the photos inside.
And when I cast my eyes over it, my pulse stutters.
Fuckinghell…
