I nodded somberly. “You’re right, but there’s no rushing going on here. And I’m taking it a day at a time. Kian has been…” I searched for the right word and failed to find it. “I don’t know, Kristoff. I just feel good with him. There’s no drama.” Aside from the dead man he punished, but that was beside the point. “He’s so calm, put together, and protective. I feel safe. Like the only girl in the world.”
“Ahhh.”
I paused my makeup application and turned to look at his face on the screen. “What does that mean?”
“It means exactly that, and that I’m happy for you.”
“Okaaay,” I said slowly, unsure how to take it.
“Although, now it makes sense why he’s been wiring me funds back,” he stated matter-of-factly.
My brows scrunched. “What do you mean?”
“I hired him and his team to ensure your safety,” he explained. “It seems Kian’s taking your safety very personally.”
Turbulent emotions swirled in my chest. Jonathan never made me a priority, while Kian seemed to always do so. Jonathan hated my chaos, Kian calmed it. And unlike Jonathan, who tended to shout from the roofs when he did something for someone else, Kian was the exactopposite. He was more of a results than words guy, and I loved that about him.
Their differences were stark, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I was blind—or simply stuck in the first crush phase—the entire time I was with Jonathan.
“Soph, are you okay?” Kristoff’s voice pulled me from my inner monologue.
“Yes, of course. I was just… flabbergasted at a revelation.”
“Well, do share it.”
I sighed. “I just realized how different Kian is from Jonathan, and I’m wondering whether I was projecting what I wanted in my relationship with him since we got back together.”
“Possibly, but dwelling on the past never does anyone any good. Focus on the future. That’s what matters.”
“You’re right,” I agreed. “You’re still keeping extra security on Sienna, right?”
His expression darkened. “Yes, but how do you know that?”
“She messaged.” I swallowed the familiar lump of guilt in my throat and looked away, staring at the imperfect lines on the marble tile. “I just wish… that I could take back time and prevent her kidnapping.”
“Sophie, look at me.” When I didn’t, he growled. “Cuz, look at me.” I slowly turned my head, meeting his gaze. “That’s on Jacqueline, not you. She might have used your relationship with Jonathan as an excuse to hurt our family, but it’s more than that. She’s always been a vindictive bitch, and the fact you’remyfamily was probably a big factor.”
“I just wished she’d taken me instead,” I muttered.
“The outcome would be the same, and she’s still a bad person,” he stated firmly. “That woman needs to be eliminated. Besides, Sienna survived it. Let’s focus on that.”
“She’s strong. A badass girl.”
“And she’ll probably give us all a run for our money very soon,” he retorted dryly.
“Probably.” I smiled affectionately. Maybe Sienna wasn’t my bloodrelative, but she was as much my family as Kristoff.
“Okay, you go get ready for your wedding and have fun. If anything happens, you call me. You need someone to kick Kian’s ass… You call me for that, too.”
I chuckled. “You got it, cuz.”
We hung up and the day was looking a lot brighter already.
We arrived at Amir and Dina’s reception giddy with excitement.
Kian opened the car door for me, and the heat of the day rushed in, carrying the hum of voices and distant music.
“Bright and early for a wedding,” I remarked as I took his hand to step out, the gravel crunching under my heels.
