Things will start moving fast in the war now.I almost have everything lined up, all the allies taken care of, Moretti cowering in his big house.It won’t be long before I take everything he stole from me back.
Then the curse of Ruin will strike.
And if I can have Goldie looking at me the way she used to for just one night before I’m stuck down again, I’ll die a happy man.The look she’s giving me now is close.
Is that selfish?I don’t know.All I know is that I need her like I need to breathe.Maybe more.
Chapter24
GIANNA
He broughtme to a beautiful cove, sheltered on all sides by tall rocks, the ocean enclosed by them the color of moonlight— pure melted moonlight.The sand is still warm from the day’s sunlight and pleasantly soft against my bare feet and the breeze carries that fresh scent it only carries here in California.It looks so much like the little cove where I gave myself to him for the first time that I’m having trouble forming a coherent thought.Let alone speaking.
How different things could’ve been if he’d just trusted me and not attacked my family.
I’d have given him the army he needed.I’d have given him anything.
But would I have been able to do that?Truly?
My father wouldn’t understand that I love him.He wouldn’t have just let me marry him.
His way got him everything he needed and wanted, me included.And it gave me everything too.I can’t deny that.
“Do you like it?”he asks, and I realize I’ve just been standing here in the sand, staring at the ocean, not moving, hardly breathing.
I exhale and look at him.Even in the dead of night, the look he gives me is pure sunlight—hot, intense, all just for me.
“It looks just like the cove at my family’s beach house,” I say.“The one where…”
I don’t know how to finish that sentence.For so long, I saw him as the enemy, as someone I must hate.But I don’t know if that’s what I want anymore.And I don’t want to sound too harsh in whatever I say.Because it was false pretenses that brought us together—his false pretenses.But I’m starting to accept that maybe his feelings for me were genuine all along, despite everything that came later.
“Where I took your virginity, yeah,” he finishes the sentence for me, grinning like he’s a little embarrassed.“This is where I lost mine.So I thought I’d be fitting to bring you here.”
He takes off his jacket and lays it on the sand, motioning for me to sit.I do, and he sits beside me in the sand.
“You know your way around these beaches, don’t you?”I say.“I bet this wasn’t the only beach where you did it.”
He laughs.“No, not by a long shot.And yeah, I know all the beaches around here pretty well.From here all the way to Mexico, actually.I know all the best spots too.From when I wanted to do nothing but surf.”
“You wanted to be a surfer?”I ask.“Never would’ve guessed it.”
He grins wide and makes that surfer sign with his hand, the hang loose sign with this thumb and pinky extended, and the rest of his fist closed.“Not just wanted to be.I was pretty good.I could’ve done it professionally.”
“But you couldn’t because of you family and the obligations.”
He shrugs and looks out at the soft waves.His eyes are full of longing.And regret.“Yeah.I figured that between my father and brother they had it covered, and I could do whatever I wanted.My brother didn’t exactly like to share, and he was the main heir.I figured they wouldn’t miss me.But you know how it is, there’s no easy way out of families like ours.”
I nod even though he doesn’t see.“And now here you are, the only one left standing.And starting a war to get it all back.”
“I think I’d still prefer to be on some beach down in Mexico, catching waves,” he says.“I wanted to just go after my mom died.And I still think maybe I should’ve.”
“You have doubts about this war, don’t you?”I ask.
“Not that I’ll win it,” he says, stands up and starts removing his clothes.“But that’s enough of this depressing conversation.Let’s go for a swim.I haven’t been in the ocean since we got here.”
I stand up too and by then he’s already got his vest and shirt off and is working on removing his pants.He looks as excited as a little kid.But I’m watching the waves cautiously.
“You’re an almost pro surfer and all, but the way I see it, waves and rocks don’t exactly mix.”
