The bookshelf swung closed behind us. Concealing the space where Julian had spent six hours in isolation. Where he'd waited and trusted and believed I'd come back for him.
"Where are we going?" he asked.
"My apartment. You need rest. And I need to not be in this building for a few hours."
We took the private elevator down to the garage. Got in my car. I drove toward my apartment with one hand on the wheel and the other holding Julian's.
Neither of us spoke. We didn't need to. The silence was comfortable. Heavy with things we weren't quite saying but both feeling.
At my apartment, I pulled Julian straight to the bedroom. We both stripped down to basics—him in boxers and a t-shirt, me in just boxers. Crawled into bed together.
Julian pressed against my chest. I wrapped my arms around him.
"Thank you," he said quietly. "For protecting me. For keeping me safe. For coming back like you promised."
"I'll always come back for you. Always." The words came out rougher than I intended. More emotional. "You're mine to protect, Julian. That's not changing."
"Good. Because I don't want anyone else protecting me. Just you."
I kissed the top of his head. Held him close. Let myself have this moment of peace after six hours of controlled chaos.
He was safe. I'd kept him safe. That was all that mattered.
"I saw Valentino on the monitors," Julian said after a while. "Outside filming. Did you know he was there?"
"Yes. We spotted him during the raid. Tried to grab him but he got away."
"What was he doing there?"
"Don't know. But Luca's going to find out. He volunteered to make contact. Handle the situation."
"Handle it how?"
I thought about the cold look in Luca's eyes when he'd seen Valentino's photo. The intensity with which he'd studied the footage. The certainty in his voice when he'd said Valentino wouldn't publish.
"I don't know. But I trust Luca to handle it without making things worse."
I hoped I was right about that.
Julian was quiet for a long moment. Then: "Elio?"
"Yeah?"
"I need to tell you something. I realized it today. In the safe room. Watching you on the monitors and being terrified I might lose you."
My heart rate kicked up. "What did you realize?"
He pulled back to look at me. His eyes were serious. Vulnerable. Full of emotion.
"I—" He stopped. Shook his head. "Never mind. It's not the right time. We're both exhausted. It can wait."
"Julian—"
"It can wait," he repeated. But he smiled. Kissed me softly. "Just know that you matter to me. More than I can put into words right now. And I'm grateful you came back for me. That's all I need to say tonight."
I wanted to push. Wanted to know what he'd been about to say. But he was right. We were both exhausted. Both running on adrenaline and fear and relief.
Whatever he needed to tell me could wait until we'd both had rest.
