"Yeah."
"When we first met. Four years ago." He paused, choosing words carefully. "If I'd told you then about my family, about what I did, would you have wanted to be with me?"
I stopped fussing with the flowers and really thought about it. Remembered who I'd been then. Younger, more naive. Stillthinking true danger was something that happened to other people.
"I don't think so," I admitted finally. "I don't think I would've been ready for it."
He nodded slowly, like he'd expected that answer.
"I was stepping away from the family business when we met," he said. "Trying to decide if I wanted to stay away from it. I'd been thinking about asking you to move in with me. Actually had a second key cut for my place. Was going to give it to you as a surprise."
My breath caught. "You were?"
"Yeah. Then I got the call about Daniel." His jaw tightened. "And I knew everything was about to change. I'd have to go back, take his place, prove myself to people who'd been loyal to him. Work my ass off to earn their respect and fill shoes I never wanted to wear. I knew I'd be unavailable, distracted, constantly dealing with threats and violence."
"I left the way I did to protect you," Eric continued. "To spare you from all of it. The danger, the violence, the constant looking over your shoulder. You deserved better than that life."
I turned to face him fully. "And now?"
"Now you're already in it. Because of your friends, because of me showing up again, because the Malatestas decided to target you." His hands clenched at his sides. "I can't protect you by staying away anymore. That ship sailed the second I walked into that bar and saw you."
My heart hammered against my ribs. "I think I'm open to it now. To your world, I mean. Because of everything else. Elena, Sofia, Meredith. I've seen what it looks like up close. I know the risks."
"Do you?" He pushed off the counter, closing the distance between us. "Because it's one thing to know your friends are with dangerous men. It's another thing entirely to be with oneyourself. To wake up some mornings not knowing if I'll come home that night. To have security following you everywhere because there's always someone looking for leverage against me."
"I know all that."
"You think you do." His eyes searched mine. "But theory and reality are different things. When I got the call yesterday that the Malatestas were going after you, I… I'm just glad I was already there nearby."
I swallowed hard, remembering the bag over my head, the rough hands grabbing at me. "You got there in time."
"This time." His jaw clenched. "But there will be other threats. Other families who think they can use you to get to me or the alliance. Are you really willing to live with that hanging over your head?"
"Are you willing to live with the risk of being with me?" I countered. "Because I'm not exactly low-maintenance, Eric. I've got trust issues a mile wide. I say things I don't mean when I'm angry. I make impulsive decisions like going on dates with random guys from apps just to feel something other than lonely."
"I know."
"I'm a wild card," I pressed. "I don't fit neatly into your world the way Sofia or Meredith do. I don't have their training or their calmness. I'm just me, messy and chaotic and probably going to cause you headaches."
A slow smile curved his mouth. "You're my wild card."
Something in my chest cracked wide open at those words. The way he said it, like my chaos was something precious instead of problematic.
"So you're asking if I'm willing to keep giving this a shot with you," I said slowly. "Knowing everything I know now about who you are and what you do."
"Yeah. That's what I'm asking."
I took a moment, really thought about it. About the fear I'd felt when I couldn't reach him today. The relief when I saw him walking through the Donatis’ door, whole and safe. The way my apartment felt more like home with him standing in it.
About how, despite everything, despite the danger and the lies and the four years of hurt, he was still the best relationship I'd ever had. Even now, even broken and messy as it was.
"You were the best relationship I ever had," I admitted quietly. "Four years ago. Even with how it ended, even with all the pain, those seven months with you were better than anything before or since."
His expression shifted, something raw and vulnerable crossing his features.
"And despite the risks," I continued, "I think it could be worth it. Us, I mean. Trying again." I stepped closer, until I could feel the heat coming off his body. "As long as you understand the risks with me too. I'm not going to be easy. I'm probably going to push you away sometimes just to see if you'll stay. I'm going to test your patience and your promises."
"I know." He reached for me, his hands settling on my waist. "I'm counting on it."
