The city blurs past the windows as he drives, keeping a steady hand on my knee all the while. His presence is constant and warm next to me, even while neither of us speaks.
With my head tipped back, leaning against the headrest, I close my eyes and let the drive pass, feeling his eyes on me every so often.
I don’t open them again until Wyatt pulls into his usual spot, parks, then kills the engine. Even then, he doesn’t say anything for a beat, letting silence linger.
Finally, he glances at me, and his voice comes out quieter than usual. “You scared me.”
“Then we’re even,” I say, allowing just enough amusement to slide into my tone, hoping for levity after everything.
Wyatt’s mouth pulls slightly, but the smile soon turns a little more serious. He lifts his hand from my knee and carefully reaches for mine. “I meant it before…I won’t let anyone take you from me.”
It isn’t the first time he’s said it, yet the statement soaks in differently now. Rather than a threat or some kind of primal possession, it feels like a promise.
“This doesn’t end here. You know that,” I murmur, feeling a tug within my heart. “There’s always going to besomething. More rivals, more fallout, more worry.”
“I know,” he admits without letting it crush him.
I turn to face him fully, allowing myself to be as open as possible. “And I’m not going to pretend I’m not angry or scared, or that this is what I wanted for myself.”
I can tell the words sting a little, but he doesn’t resist them. His jaw tightens, and he nods. “I don’t expect you to.”
“But,” I begin, giving his hand a deliberate squeeze. “If we’re going to do this, then it has to be done together. You can’t leave me in the dark, even if something comes up. I need to know that you’re alright too.”
A touch of guilt shifts within his expression, and more vulnerability cracks along the edges of his usual composure. “What I do is ugly, and dangerous, and it isn’t going to slow down anytime soon. Sometimes it feels easier to hide it than to make you shoulder it with me.”
“But?” I prompt him with a lifted brow.
He takes a breath. “But, I’ll do better, and I won’t try to do it all alone. So long as you want to stand with me.”
I soften as he adjusts his hold on my hand, fingers lacing with mine, letting my mind drift to the fear, the chaos, and the uncertainty that will follow. I think about how my life will never be simple again.
But, if I’m being honest, it never has been.
The way he stormed the rooftop without hesitation comes to mind, followed by the way he held me like a silent oath in itself.
He could have anyone he wanted, yet Wyatt has never once made me feel expendable. He has never wavered in his desire to keep me safe.
I take in his eyes again, allowing myself to surrender completely. “I’m already standing with you.”
“Even when I don’t deserve it.”
With a gentle breath, Wyatt shifts closer until his forehead rests against mine, leaving us both painfully aware that this shared decision doesn’t make things easier, but it makes us honest. Committed.
“We’ll figure it out, regardless of what comes our way.”
Closing my eyes, I nod, soaking in the feeling of his thumb coming up to brush against my cheek. “Together.”
In the soft, intimate quiet of the car, I don’t feel the need to brace for impact. Instead, I’m choosing where I stand.
I’m choosing him.
Chapter 29 - Wyatt
Throughout my time of operating in secret, I never thought I’d be allowed this kind of thing again. I never thought something as simple as dinner with Elena’s family would be possible.
We’re tucked in a private room at one of Roman’s preferred restaurants, apparently. The lighting is low, the dark hardwood surrounding us somehow feels homier than other places, and despite being obviously luxurious, it isn’t suffocating. This is safe, neutral ground, and the kind of place where everyone can breathe a little easier.
Elena’s beside me, close enough that her thigh brushes mine under the table in a quiet sort of reminder that she’s here because she chose to be, and she wants me here all the same.
