Hope blooms in my chest. "Do you think… Can we maybe start over?"
Raffi takes my hand and brushes his lips over my knuckles. "Yeah," he says. "Yeah, let's start over."
We grin at each other, and I ask softly, "What now?"
"Now..." Raffi leans in closer, our faces mere inches apart. "Now I'm going to kiss you again, if that's alright."
"More than alright," I breathe.
He closes the distance between us, leaning over to capture my lips in a kiss so different from the ones we've just exchanged. This is soft. Heartfelt. I respond eagerly, sliding my hand over his shoulder and into his hair, barely daring to believe I have permission once more to touch him like this. All that matters is Raffi and the feel of his lips against mine, his body pressing close.
"I wish I'd told you the truth," I say between kisses. "Wish I'd never made all those problems between us?—"
"Doesn't matter anymore," he murmurs. "None of that matters, D. Just this. Only this matters now."
"But…" I venture tentatively, "maybe we should tell Don Castellani? Own up to it?"
Raffi's arms contract around me, hard. "No," he says, pressing his mouth to my ear. "And you need to stop talking about it, like I said.Especiallyhere in Redwood."
"But—"
"Please, D. I chose you over the Family. Just—let that be enough. Okay?"
He snuggles into me, forehead pressing against mine on the pillow, and I stroke his back slowly. He falls asleep soon after, and I'm pleased. He never sleeps well, but in my arms he does, breathing deep and steady, all the cares and worries erased from his face.
And now I know what I need to do.
I know how to make it up to him.
CHAPTER 38
RAFFI
The next morning,I wake feeling happier and better rested than I have for alongtime. It takes a second for the previous night to come back to me, but when it does, I smile into my pillow and roll over to put my arms around?—
Nothing.
The other side of the bed is empty. I rub the sleep from my eyes and glance at the clock—nearly eight-thirty. Good thing I'm onsite or I'd be hella late instead of just a little late. Darian must have gotten up at his usual time to attend to his duties. But I'm anxious all the same, anxious to make sure that he still feels the same about everything in the cold light of day.
I haul myself from the bed and into the shower. And when I get out, I realize that everything is going to be okay, because when I search around for my clothes, I find them all laundered and folded up on the dresser, just waiting for me, with a note on them in neat cursive handwriting:
I didn't want to wake you.
—D xx
I grin and I don't stop grinning the whole time I'm getting dressed, or as I make my way upstairs to the security room to check in for a briefing. The guards in there all snap to attention as the door opens and then relax at the sight of me.
"Why so nervy?" I ask with a chuckle, looking over the reports from last night.
"The Boss is here," Simmy says.
"Sandro? He's in early. Hey, you seen Darian?" I try to sound casual, but I only sound like a lovesick fool, based on the knowing look Simmy gives me.
"Yeah, I saw him. He's the reason the Boss is here. Darian requested a meeting."
I frown a little, staring down at the reports. Darian wanted a meeting? Darian wanted a… Oh, shit.
Oh,shit.
