My thumb strokes across my skin, gentle and reverent. “And that’s the only reason I’m not angrier. You saved him. Again.”
She smiles at that. Her eyes started to drift closed, the medication pulling her toward sleep. “The alliance? You needed —”
“I needed to be here. Making sure you were alive, and Emmanuel was safe.” My other hand comes up to brush a few stray hairs from her face before cupping it to draw her gaze. I realize that those eyes have become all too familiar and comforting. “I made a choice tonight, Chloe.”
That makes her eyes open again, focusing on me with effort. “Basili —”
“I need you to understand that I chose you. When Omero called and told me you were hurt, I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. I walked out of what was possibly the most important meeting of my time as the Don of this family. Left Delan Tao and his perfect daughter sitting at that table without explanation.”
Her brows furrow, eyes wide now. “You did what?”
“I needed to be here.” A slight smile tugs at the corner of my mouth at her reaction, the anger beginning to subside. “With you and Emmanuel.”
A tear slides down her cheek. “You need that alliance, though.”
“I’ll find another way. There’s always another way.” My fingers stroke across her stomach gently. “But I can’t find another you. There is only one, Chloe.”
Her breath hitches, and I lean in and kiss her before she can say anything further. It’s gentle, careful, nothing like the desperate kisses in the kitchen or the gym. This is tender. Full of the fear and the relief that’s been tearing me apart since Omero’s call.
She kisses me back for a moment, her hand coming up to wrap around my neck before burrowing into my hair. Then she pulls away, her eyelids heavy. “I can’t — the medication — I’m sorry. I’m so tired.”
“Sleep.” I press a kiss to her forehead. “We’ll talk when you wake up. You need rest.”
“Promise you’ll be here?” Her words are slurring now, sleep pulling at her consciousness.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
Chapter Fifteen
Basili
“They’ve been dealt with, boss.”
Omero’s voice is careful over the phone, but I know what he means by ‘dealt with’. The thugs who attacked Chloe in the park won’t be threatening anyone else. Ever.
“Good. Clean cut?”
“Clean as a whistle. Nothing to show.”
“Good.” I lean back in the office chair, satisfied with the outcome. It’s only been three days since the incident, and Chloe is finally out of bed and moving again. The three days in bed gave me plenty of time to plan exactly how to deal with the men who had dared to put their hands on her and threaten my child.
“There’s something else,” Omero continues. “You’ve been invited to a charity auction tomorrow night.”
“By whom?”
“It’s being hosted by the Volkov family.”
That makes me go absolutely still.
“Excuse me?”
“Apparently, it’s a major fundraiser. Very public, legit on the surface. All the major players were invited. As a show of goodwill.” I can hear the skepticism in his voice. “But here’s the interesting part. No bodyguards allowed inside. Each attendee is allowed a plus one, though.”
My mind starts working through scenarios and implications of attending or not attending. “They want us on edge and vulnerable.”
“That was my take on it as well. Give the illusion of transparency, act like there’s nothing to hide.”
“Which means they’re hiding something big.” I tap my fingers on the desk. “This could be just the opportunity we’ve been looking for. If all the families are there, guards outside, everyone playing nice…”
