Only when we reached the elevator did I allow myself a breath. I thumbed the security fob and ushered Elin inside. The mirrored box sealed us off from everyone and everything.
I closed my eyes, leaned back against the steel, and let the silence stretch. Adrenaline drained away, replaced by an exhaustion that settled deep in my bones. I felt her watching me—felt her hand measure the weight I carried, the new shape of me.
“You okay?” she asked, mirroring my own question.
I managed a half-grin. “Not even close.”
She pressed her palm against my chest, as if she could steady my heart through skin and bone. I covered her hand with mine. In that moment, I found that the killing calm that flowed through my veins as the Owl’s Talon hadn't completely relented.As we waited to stop on the third floor, we held each other's gazes, knowing not to say a word until we were in my office.
The elevator pinged. Third floor. I caught Elin's eye in the mirrored wall, both our reflections speckled with drying blood. My hand found the small of her back as we stepped into the empty hallway, my fingers pressing just hard enough to guide her. At the door, my fingers danced across the keypad, muscle memory taking over. Inside, I moved with practiced efficiency: curtains drawn until darkness swallowed the room, the soft blue glow of the bug-sweep monitor casting shadows across Elin's face. The screen flashed green. Clear. My lungs finally expanded.
I peeled off my ruined shirt, the fabric sticking to my skin where blood had dried. Elin disappeared saying she was going to take a shower, returning twenty minutes later in fresh clothes, her hair damp at the temples. We'd barely settled on the leather couch when the door opened.
"What's the plan?" The fluorescent light from the hallway caught the red under his fingernails.
"Keep the girls safe."
Elin huffed out an irritated breath. “Dad trained me well. I can take care of myself.”
I looked at Harley, who rolled his shoulders.
“Elin, we aren’t talking about our local families.” Gavriel said softly, but when our eyes locked, he continued with more resolve. “This is La Legion Mexican cartel. Juarez is the San Diego contact. These guys are not to be fucked with. He knows that if he has you, he controls me.”
“You think I don’t know that? I understand what is at stake here, Gavriel.”
“Do you?”
She looked at me flabbergasted. “Seriously?” Both Harley and I just stared at her. “I recognized that the life and safety of Rhea is at stake. I recognize that the future of the Azzaro family is atstake. I also recognize that my revenge and justice for my father is at stake. Your father will die. If we can take out Juarez along with him, that would be ideal. Otherwise, we get Rhea the fuck out of the state and under protection so deep no one finds her ever again, until we do. Now, are you still on board for this, or am I going at this alone.”
“I’m yours to wield. I told you that.” She had to understand how completely I was hers to command.
Harley didn’t hesitate as he added, “And Don Azzaro knows that my loyalty is to Gavriel, so . . .”
“That doesn’t answer my question.” Her attention didn’t leave either of us.
“Yes. We are with you.” I said, going to my knees before her. “I just need you to understand that the cartels don’t play by the same rules we do here. It’s not uncommon for the cartels to destroy whole families to get their points across.”
“I understand.” She let out a long breath, leaning against the couch, feet tucked up under her as she chewed on her thumb. "Whatever happens, whatever we have to do . . . I need you to know something." I waited, watching as she seemed to wrestle with herself before continuing. "I've spent years thinking you were a cocky, petulant child, then hating you when I thought you were the man who killed my father. I planned revenge. And then I met you—really met you, beyond our history." Her eyes held mine, steady and certain. "I fell in love with you, Gavriel Azzaro. Not just the Pretty Boy who submits to me, but the man who stands beside me now, ready to sacrifice everything for thoseheloves."
Her words stole my breath as if I’d been kicked by a horse. We'd danced around this for weeks, both knowing but neither saying the words.
"Elin—"
"Let me finish." She turned on her knees, facing me, her hand moving to cup my cheek. "I need you to know, in case things go wrong tonight, that you are loved. Completely. Fiercely. Violently. I need you to be safe and come home."
I covered her hand with mine, turning to press a kiss to her palm. "I've loved you since the night you fell asleep in my arms," I admitted, my voice rough with emotion. "Maybe even before that. When you took control that first time in your office, something in me recognized you. Like my soul had been waiting for you."
Harley cleared his throat. "As touching as this is—”
“Yeah, yeah. You don’t like the mushy shit.”
Chapter 38
"Thanksboys.Youdon'tneed to go upstairs with me."
Gavriel had put three of his lieutenants on protection duty. I didn't even bother to remember their names. Gavriel's men always looked the same: thick-necked, scary as fuck, but neurotically polite to my face. The suits didn't fit quite right and the way they watched me sometimes made me want to sock them straight in the throat, but tonight, I was just too fucking tired for attitude. I swept past the three of them outside the club entrance. Didn't even break stride. My heels hit the concrete hard enough to make the closest one flinch. Nice. I could still make them nervous, then.
I needed water. Something sweet, and a shower.
