“How long?” I ask, regretting it in the moment but still saying it anyway.
“How long what?”
“Do you both want me for?”
She sighs. “Rafe…”
“I meant what I told your father,” I say fiercely. “We’re bonded now, Ava. Forever. Me and you and the little man.”
“Just come home.” She swallows audibly. Is she trying not to cry? Am I putting too much on her? “We can figure out the rest later.”
“I can’t come back yet,” I tell her. “There are things to do.”
“You said you were almost done,” she points out.
“I know. But I was getting too excited. I shouldn’t leave now. I need to be here until the end.”
To send the right message:Rafael Bellini sees a job through to the end. Plus, it would be irresponsible not to follow up with the Hungarians and ensure they’re not planning anything else.
“How long, then?” she demands.
“A day, maybe two. Just sit tight. Please. We’re almost there.”
“Almost where?” she murmurs, then hangs up.
I let my head fall back on the rest, grinding my teeth, a bad habit I never seem to be able to quit. I’ve told her where I want to be,but she doesn’t want to talk about it… but then she ends the call like that.
She’s got my head spinning.
I step from the car, walk across to the remaining body, and pick him up. It’s one of the twins. He’s big and heavy. I carry him toward the car, aware of the men watching me.
CHAPTER 26
AVA
Ilie back with Theo on the bed, my hand gently rubbing his belly. He gargles and turns to me, a goofy smile on his face. I love the way his eyes meet mine, then light up in delight like he’s shocked it’s me next to him. It’s been a day and a half since the phone call, since Rafe told me he had business to settle.
“It’s to make us safe,” I whisper, walking my fingers up his body and making him giggle adorably. “Whateverusmeans.”
Part of me regrets ending the call like that. I don’t know all the specifics, but it’s obvious he had to do some bad, violent things to end this. I could hear the cold deadness in his voice, even when he was being nice. I should’ve supported him.
But it hurt, how heavy he was coming on. It made me want to run. And yet I can’t imagine running from him either. He’s proven he’ll do anything for us, and yet I’m still clinging to this scrap of independence. It’s the only thing he left me when he disappeared last year.
Theo starts to cry, as if sensing my mood. I sit up and rock him gently, rubbing his back, humming in his ear. I stand and start turning in a circle. He likes that, the motion, the rhythm.
My circle leads me all the way round to the doorway. Rafe fills it, shirt messy, collar undone, a shadow across his face. He approaches us, breathing heavily. He looks like a man breaking apart. He comes to a halt inches from us, like he’s afraid he’ll break us. Then gently wraps his arms around us both.
I lean against him, blinking away the tears in my eyes.
“I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner,” he says, voice husky, kissing the top of my head. “I wish I could have, Ava. But I had to make sure. There’s nobody left, nobody who will stand against me… against us.”
Us.
There’s that word again.
I look up into his amber-gold eyes. “Kiss me,” I whisper.
He claims me gently, aware of Theo between us, his rough lips caressing mine. Then he leans back and brushes his hand along my face, all the way down my neck, then gently caresses Theo.
