“My life is very different than yours or your brother’s. It’s not even my own. With my father dead, I’m not even sure where I will fit. Who I’ll answer to. What I’ll have to do.”
“True,” Declan muses. “But mine isn’t what you imagine it is either. Alex can attest to that.” He sits forward and braces his elbows on his knees. “If you want to be with Sera, then you just have to commit to keeping her safe. No matter what it takes. Even if she doesn’t always understand why you do things… And if she’s anything like our wives, she’ll fight you every step of the way.” He smiles. “But it will be worth it.”
I want to believe what he’s saying with every ounce of my being, but this is crazy. “I don’t even really know her.”
Even if it feels like I do.
Alex scowls. “Why do you have to make it so complicated? Get to know her.”
“What does she do?” Declan asks. “What are her hobbies? Her friends? You could find a way to spend time with her through those.”
“Listen to you.” Alex snorts. “You picked up your wife in a bar.”
“You met your wife the same way,” Declan growls back.
“Technically, it was a restaurant opening.”
“Why am I taking advice from the two of you?” I groan.
Alex’s icy blue eyes bore into me. “Because we know what it’s like to meet the woman you are meant to be with.” He lifts a finger when I stare at him incredulously, thinking of how long it took him to admit to his feelings for Madison. “Even if we weren’t ready to admit it to ourselves right away.”
“We’re trying to save you some time.” Declan smirks.
“It’s not that simple; she’s young, and it’s complicated.”
Declan lets out another laugh. “We understand complicated. The decision you have to make is whether you want her. And if you do, what are you willing to do to make that happen? If you’re worried she’s young, take your time. But don’t bow out, because someone else will be more than happy to take your place.”
The thought of another man with my Little Warrior sends fury coursing through me.
“Look at his face,” Alex chortles.
There is entirely too much amusement in this room for these dour assholes to not be drunk.
“I’ll admit I already looked into her today.” I ignore their smug smiles. “All she does is work. She doesn’t go out or have many friends. There’s only one she has gone out with, and she only met her recently.” At her group therapy, but I’m not sharing that with them.
“It probably needs to be through her work, then.” Alex observes.
“That’s easier said than done.”
“Particularly since she works with her brother,” Declan agrees.
“You’ve got some free time now,” Alex looks thoughtful. “You won’t be able to convince her you need to hire a bodyguard, but there might be another way…”
“Liev,”Sera begins but then coughs, her hand rising to her throat.
“Your voice sounds worse than earlier.”
“Too much talking today. I just need some water.”
I follow her to the kitchen and wait until she’s taken several sips before I ask, “Talking?”
Sera stares at me for a long moment and then takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “Last night I reacted when you asked… I know you know what happened with…” She shakes her head. “Anyway, I finally told the truth about everything at therapy tonight.”
Alarm spikes hot and immediate. “The truth about?”
“No,” she blurts out. “Not about last night. About Aaron, my ex. About everything he did.”
I exhale slowly. “Did it help?”
