Chapter 35 #2
I want to wrap my hand around her face and whisper whatever she needs to hear to make the shadows go, but instead I share my reservations, which are pretty much all based around my need to protect her from everything.
“Layne’s husband and their pack are involved in the Mob, which is only part of the reason I’ve got reservations.”
She watches me carefully. “You’re not a fan of Valentine De Luca?”
I shouldn’t be surprised Quinn is aware of who is running the Italians now, but I am.
And then I share with her what very few people know.
“He’s a personal friend. We argue more than we sit around and enjoy each other’s company, but he’s one of only a handful of people I trust. And we just had a bit of an argument, so I’m probably wound up from that still and it's changed how I see him.”
Her pretty eyes are wider than usual in her surprise, and a knowing smile is playing on her beautiful mouth. “Let me guess, something you said came across as a threat to his wife?”
I’m stunned she reads the situations perfectly. It takes my brain a few seconds to catch up before I can answer. “Apparently.”
She laughs, and it’s so genuine, it chases away the lingering mood of my stupid snapping at the De Luca twins.
I feel better, more stable when I can see her, feel her, and only breathe her sweet vanilla scent.
Like a magnet, I’m closer than I should be, telling her where my thoughts are.
“Bebe, I wish I had you all to myself again. That time with you…”
“Keeps us all motivated.” She finishes my sentence, her eyes darkening in her honesty, but then as quickly as she was in my space, she steps out, putting distance between us again.
I back off, reading her need for privacy before she has to open her mouth and ask for it.
As opposed to calling Layne, she goes over to Aleksei and includes Kade in a quick discussion. I watch from a distance, and it’s hard not to trail behind her as she walks away from them and me to somewhere Aleksei pointed to, but I have to trust he knows this place better than I do.
She walks to a chair set on a small platform tucked against the rock wall, positioned so it overlooks the water.
It’s a good spot, isolated but protected too.
She won’t be in the open, which makes me feel better.
Leaving her bag on the seat, Quinn walks down to the water’s edge and stares out at the horizon for a long while.
My insides twist when she drops her head forward, like the weight of whatever she’s thinking is too heavy. Before I can take a step towards her, she lifts her chin and brings the phone to her ear and starts talking.
Kade and Aleksei spread out, and without speaking, we watch her like hawks. Nothing is getting past us.
Every now and then, I can feel her eyes on me.
And with each sensation, I turn and lock gazes with her, trying to convey to her how much support I have ready for her taking.
She might not have shared why she wanted to speak with a lawyer, and I’m not keen to jump to conclusions, but given how long she speaks to Layne, the legal advice she’s after is for something complex and convoluted.
I should have gotten some water for her. I grouse my carelessness. Guarding her is about making sure her well-being is prioritized, in all situations. Even when she’s making calls.
I’ve got water in the car, and I catch Kade’s attention, letting him know I’m moving out of position and for him to be extra vigilant.
Aleksei starts to move closer, and I think he’s adjusting where he’s standing, but he keeps walking until he’s in front of me.
“Sergey wants to meet for drinks before dinner. I have to interrupt her. We need to go.”
Kade must hear part of what Aleksei is saying because he doesn’t wait for an invitation to be the one to go to her. He moves to her without hesitating. She finishes her call as he approaches, and I cuss when he doesn’t hesitate to wrap her in his arms.
Aleksei steps into my line of sight, cutting me off from seeing them. He doesn’t pay Kade any credence; he doesn’t seem at all impacted by the lines being blurred again. But he is filthy fucking angry, and it’s directed at me.
“Yesterday, something happened. Before her heat, you got a call, and since then, you’ve acted like I am the enemy.”
I meet his challenge, not intimidated by him or by the conversation he clearly wants us to have. “You are the enemy.”
He laughs without humor and shakes his head.
Disappointment overrides his usual earthy scent.
He comes closer, invading my space and speaking quietly so no one else hears him.
“You don’t get it, do you? Whatever you think of me is irrelevant unless, of course, you’re going to deny her.
But if you choose to walk that path, Santiago, that is on you.
Although, a word of warning”—he grins takes another step, his chest knocking mine, a dark, glint in his eye—“I will kill you without any issues of honor or pride or how it would look holding me back. The reasons are black and white for me.”
I feel my control slipping as I rise to his bait faster than a snake. “Bullshit.”
He only shrugs at me.
“And your brother? Are you going to have that same speech prepared for him?”
A small grin on his face makes me pause. “I won’t be trying to be amicable with him.”
“What?” I laugh, not dropping my guard for a second.
This is the man who shot the head of the Irish. At fucking mass. On a Sunday. He has no morals.
Aleksei is smug as fuck but calm in his confidence. “I will walk up and slit his throat for the world to see. Only when the time is right.”
He’s good, I'll grant him that. I flick my chin up. “What the fuck are you waiting for?”
He takes a step backward, and his eyes move to her while firing question after question at me. “What is holding you back, Santiago? I know that look in your eye. Who is it you want dead? What is stopping you from acting? What is the one thing you want first?”
“Her.”
The shrug of his shoulders as he turns to face me again reeks of what an egotistical prick he is. “I’ve had her. She’s fucking majestic. But her safety takes priority over me wanting her pussy wrapped around my knot again. I would have assumed it was the same for you.”
Fast as fucking lightning, I lash out at his insinuation she’s not my priority. His head snaps back as my hit lands right in his smart fucking mouth.
Equally as fast, and without making a sound, he retaliates, sweeping my feet out from under me. I flail back, crashing down in a heap, but our bickering comes to a stalemate as we mimic each other—guns drawn and aimed at each other’s heart.
Neither of us move an inch, and a heavy silence descends.
I know, without question, Quinn saw everything pass between Aleksei and me.
A wave of regret hits, and I sense it in Aleksei too.
She doesn’t dissolve into theatrics, rushing over to tear us apart.
She doesn’t even glance at us as she walks past on her way back to the cars.
Kade is less subtle. He stops and glares. “Well done. Your fighting is exactly what Quinn needed to see. The moment you two started having your little argument, her walls shot up. Whatever chance we had of finding out what is going on with her is now done.”
He takes a quick breath before turning to face me. “I told you, Santiago, she is not like most women. And you”—he jabs his finger towards Aleksei—“you fucking claimed her, so you must be feeling the turmoil of her emotions. Yet you fucking ignored each and every one of them.”
He starts to walk off but returns to where we are. “You both screwed up so fucking bad, I’m a little surprised I haven’t shot either of you for being such Alpha pricks. Do fucking better.”
He chases after Quinn.
Aleksei reholsters his weapon, then surprisingly offers me his hand. He’s so random, it’s unsettling and hard to keep up with, which is probably his preferred method of screwing with people.
As soon as our hands touch, he pulls me up. He doesn’t let up, and he squeezes my hand aggressively.
This time, there’s no smile on his face.
His eyes are cold, which is the most authentic version of him I’ve seen.
“Don’t make me kill you. And I only say that because I don’t want to have to waste my time consoling her for what a fucking idiot you were.
You judge me all you need, and then you watch what I will do for her.
There is no middle ground. She is mine, and she will be forever. ”