Because that ship sailed the night on the back deck when Hendrix watched Tristan go down on me while Constantine kissed the ever-living hell out of me. That night was the beginning ofus. And it was a relationship Syn went into with her whole heart. A relationship that Aleksander wasn’t a part of. Just because Aoife’s memories returned doesn’t erase the factthat Syn fell in love with Constantine, Tristan, and Hendrix first.And…I’m back to talking about myself in third person again. Great.
When Fénix starts fussing, I press a kiss to Constantine’s mouth and pick up my son. This is my heaven, this little bundle of warmth cuddled in my arms. Tucking him on my shoulder, I lightly pat his back and bounce him in a slow dance. “I guess I’m just struggling with how to process everything.”
Constantine’s onyx gaze bores into me, quietly searching for something, before he softly says, “Because he’s in love with you…or because you’re in love with him?”
My heart doesn’t plummet to my feet. It stops.
Literally stops beating.
“I…” Not able to control them, a flood of tears unleashes and streams down my face. “I loveyou.”
His expression softens. “Sweetheart, I know you love me. I know you love T and Hen just as much. Never once have we doubted that. And we love you, Syn. So fucking much. You are it for us. Always have been since we were kids. The four of us are forever. But Aleksander is a part of that past we share. We may have been young, but even back then, we saw the connection you had with him. And it scared us.”
Constantine is a man of few words. It’s rare when he opens up like this with a vulnerability he only lets me see. It’s a gift I cherish and don’t take lightly.
“Why?” I ask, wanting to allay his fears.
“Because what if you loved him more?”
“Never,” I reply vehemently.
It’s hard to explain how I love him, Tristan, and Hendrix equally. Alana still doesn’t understand how we’re able to make our relationship work. We love each other like fire loves oxygen. Without the latter, the former cannot exist.
Constantine folds me and Fénix in his arms. “Your heart is so fucking huge, sweet girl, there’s enough room in it for all of us.”
Did he just…?
“I don’t understand.”
A gust of wind sweeps across the floor when the front door opens and closes, Tristan and Hendrix’s rushed, mumbled conversation filtering into the living room.
“Why the fuck aren’t you answering your phones?” Tristan snaps.
Fénix’s little face scrunches at Tristan’s harsh tone.
“What’s going on?” I ask when he takes Fénix from me to settle him down.
“They’re moving on Viktor.”
“Now?” Constantine says.
My stupefaction is apparent. We were still in the planning phase. Viktor Androv isn’t an easy man to get access to. He surrounds himself with protection 24/7. Our plan had to be solid, every contingency considered, before we went after him.
“How do you know?”
“Pyotr.”
Unzipping the thigh pocket of my running leggings, I check my phone. Ten missed calls. Four from Tristan, two from Hendrix, and four from Pyotr. I never heard it ring or felt it vibrate.
“Have you talked to Aleksander?” I literally just left him on the trail about a half an hour ago.
Tristan’s concern comes through when he replies, “He won’t answer his fucking phone either. I thought he’d be with you. He isn’t here?”
Me: Where are you?
No dots bounce to show that he’s replying.
Pacing to the window, I try Pyotr.
