23. Aleksandras
I wake up to the soft warmth of her body curled into my side. The morning light filters through the curtains, and the soft glow makes me feel like I’m finally at peace. Katie’s arm is draped over my chest, her breathing slow and rhythmic. It’s the best feeling in the world, waking up beside her like this.
Two years ago, when Victor pulled me back into his orbit, I never would’ve thought this was how my story would turn out. I thought I’d lose myself in the chaos forever, that there’d be no way out. But somehow, through all the hell and all the mistakes, I found her. I went through the fire and came out with an angel on the other side.
Her lashes flutter, and then those sharp, intelligent eyes I’ve missed for so long open and find mine. Her hair’s a mess, her cheek creased from the pillow, and she’s still the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen.
“Good morning,” she murmurs, her voice groggy but sweet.
“Morning,” I say, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Sleep okay?”
“Mmm...” Her lips quirk into a sleepy smile. “Better than I have in two years.”
I chuckle softly. “Same.”
“Are you hungry?”
“I could eat.”
But neither of us leave the bed. We fall into easy conversation, talking about nothing in particular. What we’ll have for breakfast. How we’ll spend the evening after we get back from work. An itinerary for the weekend. It’s boring, mundane stuff, but I love it because all those plans are set in the future, a future we now have together.
The sun is barely up when she starts making lame jokes, but I love that, too. It’s light and simple, so far removed from the dark place we started. It’s more than I ever thought I’d deserve.
“I’m a serious guy,” I say as a response to one of her jabs. “How did I end up with someone as goofy as you?”
She shifts slightly, propping herself up on one elbow, her sleepy smile turning playful. “You? What about me? My grandfather is probably up there wondering if I learned a damn thing he taught me. After all his lessons on being moral and righteous, I’d ended up with an ex-con?”
Her words hit me in a way she probably doesn’t expect. Something stirs in the back of my mind, and I sit up abruptly, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed.
“Hang on,” I mutter, scanning the room until I spot my jeans crumpled on the floor.
“What are you doing?” she asks, her tone a mixture of confusion and amusement.
I don’t answer, too focused on my task. I rummage through the pockets, my fingers searching for the small, familiar object until I feel the smooth metal.
“I was so excited to see you yesterday I completely forgot about this.”
She giggles. “You have an odd way of showing excitement because I picked up on none of that.”
Turning back to her, I hold out my hand. In my palm rests her grandfather’s compass, the brass glinting faintly in the morning light.
Her eyes widen, her breath catching audibly. “Is that?” She covers her mouth with her hand to contain her shock. “Where...Where did you get this?”
She sits up fully now, clutching the blanket to her chest as tears well up in her eyes. She reaches out with trembling hands, taking the compass from me like it’s the most precious thing in the world.
“Smith stole it,” I explain, watching her reaction. “When they tore apart your grandparents’ house, he pocketed it. When I saw he had it...” I pause, swallowing hard. “I stole it back. Hid it in one of the vents at the warehouse so no one would catch me with it when the cops came.”
Her fingers trace the edge of the compass, her tears spilling freely now.
“I went back,” I continue. “Before I came to Boston, I went back to that dingy warehouse in West Oakland to get it. I figured...I don’t know. Maybe it would mean something to a sentimental fool like you.”
She looks up at me, her eyes shimmering with emotion. “Alex...” Her voice cracks, and she can’t seem to find the words.
I sit down beside her, my hand brushing hers as she holds the compass tightly. “All jokes aside, I couldn’t leave it behind when I know how much he meant to you. How much this means to you.”
“But you risked so much going back to California. All for this?”
“No...For you. ”
She doesn’t say anything else, just leans forward and wraps her arms around me. She lets out a shaky laugh, wiping her tears as she pulls away from me. “You know, you told me you’re in love with me last night, and I didn’t believe it because you’re so hardcore...but now...I think this proves it.”
I know the playful tone, and I know exactly where she’s going with this. “I take it back. Everything I said, I take it back.”
“But you can’t...because now it’s out there, and I guess we have to go shopping for New Balances.” She giggles when I do nothing but glower at her. “It’s going to go great with your golf shirt.” She waits and throws her hands up when she gets no response from me. “Oh, come on. Just admit that you’re a big ol’ teddy bear now. I’ve softened you.”
I toss the covers off us both, then shove her onto the bed, crawling over her as I use my knee to spread her legs apart. “I can assure you, not a single part of me is soft.”
She gasps when she feels me hard and ready, slipping into her slick heat. She moans when my mouth takes possession of her. Her kiss is sensual and tumultuous at the same time, reminding me of all the scattered moments that led us to this point.
Our relationship was nothing short of a battlefield. Pushing and pulling. Fighting and forgiving. Joy and suffering. But somehow, through all of it, we found our way back to each other. And it was all worth it. Every mistake. Every scar. Every moment that felt like too much.
Because I’m here now. And she’s mine.
I deepen the kiss, losing myself in the feel of her. My chest tightens with something I can’t put into words. She looks up at me, her expression soft, and I know she feels it too. I hold her tighter. This woman didn’t just save me from prison time or Victor’s clutches. She saved me from myself. This strong, vibrant, stubborn woman somehow captured my heart. And now I’m never letting her go.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING the time to read this book. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.