“You think so? I don’t tell it like my mom used to. She read it to my brothers and me all the time. I never understood it until the night she passed. For years, it haunted me. But after meeting you… I get it now. My mother wanted us to find happiness.” His voice deepened. “I just want her to be proud of me. And forgive me.”
It was so easy to fall into a pit so deep that all there was left to do was scream for help that would never come.
Not usually.
“Cezar, you do not need to be forgiven—” I started, but the car jerked violently off the road.
“Fuck, what are you doing—stop!”
Gravel hit the windows. The ditch caught us, shallow but jarring. My lungs needed a second to catch up, but he was folded over the wheel. Did he hit his head?
I unbuckled and reached for him, but he recoiled. “You have no idea what kind of monster I am, Lina.” His voice was barely a whisper, torn apart by something old.
I grabbed his face and forced him to look at me. The fear wasn’t fear of me. It was fear of himself. Something in his past had claws around his throat.
“Cezar,” I breathed, catching the tears on my thumb. “Whatever you’re remembering, you are not a monster. You did what you had to do. We all have. And certain moments… they were unavoidable.”
“Lina—”
I covered his mouth gently.
“Shh… Cezar…” I whispered and climbed onto his lap, one hand settling at the nape of his neck. His body finally relaxed beneath me as he collapsed into the back of the seat. I wished I could make him forget all the bad.
He held onto my legs, his grip tight and unsteady. I leaned in and kissed him. “You okay?”
Chapter 48
CEZAR
“My mom would have loved you.”
The words stumbled out, and judging by the look on Lina’s face, I probably should’ve kept them locked inside. Still… they were true. My mom would’ve adored her. Maybe that was why saying it felt like taking another bullet straight to the chest.
I wasn’t okay. Maybe I never would be. But being not okay with Lina felt like something I could survive.
“Yeah… glad I didn’t kill us. That would’ve been a dumbass way to die.” I laughed, reaching for her even though she’d already moved back to her seat. My hands were left burning with the memory of her thighs. One of these days, she wouldn’t get away with leaving me hanging like that.
“I’m glad you didn’t kill us either. Now, get driving. I’m starving. You know I need food, Cezar.” She nudged me, and I got the car back on the road.
Good thing I packed snacks. No way was she going feral on me mid-trip.
My excitement thrummed hard enough to shake me. I couldn’t wait for her to meet the twins. The drive had been long, and Lina slept through most of it, which I didn’t mind. I liked watching her rest. She looked peaceful, even with her menshadowing us at a distance. Protocol, I guess. As long as they didn’t get in my way.
I fucking wanted her. Every inch of her. And this time, I was going to have her.
“Wakey, wakey, sleepyhead.” I took the seat belt off my beautiful passenger.
Her eyes snapped open, and she shoved me back. “What the hell are you doing staring at me with your face that close? Jeez, Cezar. How long were you even like that?”
“Do you really want to know?” I laughed, grabbing the bags.
“No, I probably don’t want to know,” she retorted, her voice rising as she exited the car.
A wave of nerves washed over me. I wasn’t accustomed to this feeling, and it was certainly not something I enjoyed. I had called ahead to let Liana and Tudor know we were on our way. Despite my initial attempts to keep my distance from the twins, we had grown close over the years. I’d die before I let anything happen to them.
They were my family, and they were always so welcoming. I couldn’t have found a better fit for what those two amazing little girls deserved.
Before we even made it to the steps, the door swung open. Liana rushed out and suffocated me in her arms. I hugged her back, relieved to see her.
