You will, baby. Goddamn it, you will. “Don’t underestimate me, sweetheart. You might know a part of what I do, but you haveno idea the lengths I’m willing to go to protect someone I love.” A gasp breaks free from her lips. “And fuck, do I love you.”
Our faces are so close together that we’re inhaling the same air, and it doesn’t take much for her to close the distance between us, pressing her lips to mine. I breathe her in, not wanting to take another without her. She tastes like heaven, her soft lips moving over mine. I taste the salt of her tears and make it my mission to wipe them away with this kiss. This one, and all the kisses to come.
We had sex over the last few days, but it was nothing like this. Nothing that ever happened between us was ever like this, not as vulnerable or as meaningful. She shared her story with me, and I shared my heart with her. The heart I held so close to my chest is now on my sleeve, exposed for her to either put me together or break me.
Both of our chests heave with racing breaths when she whispers, “Can we go home now?”
Home.Fuck, it sounds good coming from her lips. “Of course. Come on.” I take her hand and help her up. The sight of her in that dress hits me once again, but I stifle the desire. Tonight is more than sex. I want her to trust me again.
We enter the apartment, and Persephone greets us with more joy than she ever showed before. The typically stoic dog became a full-on teddy bear since meeting Alex, and I can’t deny I love it. Both of us lower to give her well-deserved cuddles when a phone call breaks the moment. I decline the call, placing the phone back in my pocket, but it starts again almost immediately. It’s Ivan. He’s hardly the ‘call twice to chitchat’ type, so this must be important. I think of the last conversation we had. “Shit, I have to take this,” I murmur.
“Sure,” she responds, paying me no attention.
“Yeah,” I say into the phone, stepping into the closest room.
“I thought you wanted to know Luka is back.”
“Luka is back?” A breath catches in my throat. “Where is he?”
“He’s at his place. He didn’t want to make a scene by coming here.”
“I’m going over there.” He clears his throat pointedly, so I add, “Thank you for letting me know.” My heart cracks as I step back into the main room, and realize I need to leave Alex just as we made some progress, if only for a night. “Something came up.” I scratch the back of my neck. “I need to go check it out.”
She glances up at me, her head drawing back. “You need to go?”
Fuck, I’m an asshole. I promised her the world, and I can’t even give her a peaceful night in, five minutes after the promise. But my brother returned after disappearing for months. “Luka came back.”
Her jaw drops. “Your brother came back? What about Sophie?”
“Erm, I don’t actually know. But I will probably find out after I meet him.”
She jumps to her feet, brushing the dog hair off her dress. “I’m coming with you.”
“I… This is complicated, Alex. He left me to think he was kidnapped, for months. I need to deal with this. I promise I will arrange for you to see Sophie tomorrow if she’s there.”
Alex rolls her eyes. “I can’t believe this. You think I’ll sit here and wait for you? That’s your brother who just came back, and Sophie is my best friend. There’s no way I’m staying behind. You’re mad at him? Drive a fist into his face and then hug him; he’s your fucking brother.” She grabs the first jacket on the coat hanger next to the door. It’s one of mine, and it swallows her whole. She looks adorable. And pissed.
Besides, she’s kind of right. “Fine. You’re coming with me. But change your shoes. I don’t want you to break an ankle.”
“Fine,” she repeats the word back to me, and I shake my head, a smile pulling at my lips.
This girl will be the death of me. But it will be so worth it.
CHAPTER 43
Alex
My heart pumps wildly as we reach the door to the elevator that leads to Leon’s brother’s apartment. Staying at home wasn’t an option. If there’s the slightest chance that Sophie will be here, then I need to be here too.
I let out a tiny gasp when the elevator opens straight into the apartment. Two dogs rush toward us, barking their hearts out. I recognize one as Sophie’s dog Alan, while the other looks like a bigger, but clumsier version of Persephone. Their feet scrape the granite floors of the modern, open-space apartment.
My gaze travels up, noticing a bigger, and more dangerous version of Leon. The man is only an inch taller than his brother, but his shoulders are almost as wide as Dominik’s. His biceps are covered in ink and fully on display in a tight black t-shirt. His dark eyes, identical to Leon’s, widen as he notices us, the muscle on his jaw doing a visible tick.
“Leon…” the man says, but Leon is already on his way to approach him. He unbuttons his suit only to punch Luka square in the face. The barking grows louder.
Luka’s head draws back with the force, a loud hiss escaping him. He covers his nose with his hand, letting out a loud sigh.Leon shakes his hand off a few times before wrapping his arms tightly around Luka, in an awkward, manly hug. He slaps his back, and my heart makes a little leap in my chest.
It’s obvious how much Leon loves his brother. It’s obvious how worried he was about him and how much he missed him.
