“I’m sorry,” Tommy whispers. “You did what you felt was right. If she was already gone…”
I nod slowly. “There was no coming back from where she was,” I say quietly. “Trust me, if there was, I would have never given up.”
Tommy links his fingers with mine and we both look over at Tiberi.
“I believe you,” he replies. “You don’t have to stay here with me.”
“I’ll be okay,” I insist. We stand there for a moment in silence. Tommy lets go of my hand and sits down in a chair nearby. I can tell he’s in pain, and I sit down next to him.
“How are the Rose?” he asks me.
“We lost a few people, but most of us came back alive,” I tell him. I purse my lips for a second, thinking. “I’m still going to work with them. The Rose. Even though Stephan is dead.”
“Yeah?” Tommy looks over at me.
“Yes. I think what they do is important and…it gives me something to do with my life, I guess; but I want you to be a part of it. You Dresvanni’s in general.”
“Do you think they’ll agree to that?” Tommy asks.
“I’m not sure, but I think it’s a good idea that you all maintain contact with us, stay updated. As an ally.” I look back into his eyes.
He nods. “I’m here whatever happens. Whether you stay with them or not.”
EPILOGUE
Tommy
It’s around five in the afternoon when I pick up Alek from the Rose’s underground base. I know he’s telling them that he’s going on a job, not wanting them to think he’s spending all his time with me, but I doubt that they’ll believe him. Frankly, I don’t care what they believe. After everything Alek did for them with the Bianchis, they damn well better not keep him from me.
Maybe it’s just Alek’s paranoid mind that makes him lie to them, but either way, I park a block down the road and smile as I watch him walk up the street with a duffel bag over his shoulder.
It’s been two weeks since the showdown at the Bianchi estate. Two weeks since I was kidnapped and tortured in their basement. I’m healed up pretty good, but my leg is still tender and aches when I walk. I’ve taken worse, so it doesn’t slow me down none.
“There you are,” I say as Alek opens the passenger side door and slides into the seat. He stuffs his bag near his feet and pulls his seatbelt on.
“When I said park discreetly, I didn’t mean a mile down the road,” he complains.
“It isn’t a mile,” I insist with a roll of my eyes.
I start the car and head down the road in the opposite direction of the Rose’s base.
“Any news on Tiberi?” Alek asks me.
I shake my head. “Not really, he’s still in the coma, but he is recovering well. I’m hoping he’ll be able to be woken up in another week.” I sigh. I’m worried about my brother, but I don’t want it to get in the way of me enjoying my time with Alek.
“I hope so too,” he replies as I pull onto a side road heading away from Tessari.
“Where are we going anyway?” Alek asks.
I smile and turn down another road. “Where do you think?” I look over and see the narrowed and dark eyed look on his face.
“If you’re planning on taking me to a dungeon, I didn’t pack the right attire,” he croons at me.
My face and neck go hot, the heat flushing down into my stomach. It’s been way too long since Alek dominated me, and now I’m thinking about all of the things he could do to me in a dungeon—and not the kind where medieval criminals are held.
“Damn, I should’ve thought of that,” I mumble. “No, just a beach house about an hour away from here. I figured we could use some time away from home.”
“That does sound nice,” Alek agrees.
