Chapter 94
ALEX
After I showered, I called my brother and asked him to come to the house.
I waited with Luca on the front steps of the Salvatore Estate, realizing for the first time that this was now my home.
It had felt like a prison when I’d returned to Devil’s Creek.
But with our wedding approaching, it was time to settle into my new life and let go of the past.
Aiden parked his cherry red late sixties Mustang in front of the garage and rushed to us. I met him halfway, launching myself into his arms. The scent of mint and the sea lifted off his skin, and I drank him in.
“Aid,” I said with tears welling in my bottom lids. “I missed you so much.” Sobs escaped my throat, tears sliding down my cheeks. “I’m sorry I ran before you could explain.”
“No, Lexie. I’m the one who’s sorry.” He held me at arm’s length, staring into my eyes. “I wanted to tell you the truth. I shouldn’t have let you think I was dead.”
“Luca explained everything. I understand why you didn’t tell me. I wish I hadn’t spent the last nine months in agony.”
He blew out a deep breath. “I'm sorry. It was killing me not to see or talk to you.”
We’d never been apart for more than a day until his disappearance.
“I sold out another show this year.”
Aiden held out his fist for me to bump, and I slammed my fist against his.
He made a swoosh sound that made me laugh. “Way to go, Lexie.”
I glanced at Luca, who kept his distance, allowing us time alone. He gave me a genuine smile that reached his pretty blue irises. Luca was smiling a lot more, something he rarely did before my kidnapping.
“How have you been?” Aiden’s eyes traveled over my bruises. “Are you okay? Those look pretty painful.”
I nodded. “I’ll be okay. Just takes time to heal.”
“I’m more worried about the mental damage.” He slid his arm behind my back and pulled me into his side. “They put you through hell. You know you can talk to me, right? A lot has changed, but I’m still the same person you leaned on all your life.”
“I’m taking it one day at a time,” I confessed. “That’s all I can do.”
“Well, I’m back for good. Anytime you need me, I will be there.”
I smiled up at him. He was a foot taller than me, with the same deep blue irises and unruly blond curls. Even with the scar running down the right side of his face, Aiden was still handsome.
I raised my hand to his cheek. “You look badass with this scar.”
He laughed. “Yeah. You think so?”
“I bet Blair will have a stroke when she sees you.”
“I hate that bitch,” he snapped. “She’s worse than Mom.”
“Have you seen Pops yet?”
“Not since the night of your kidnapping.”
“We should have dinner with him. I need to tell him about the news.”
His eyebrows lifted. “Are you pregnant?”
I held out my left hand.
Aiden studied the diamond ring gleaming on my finger. “You’re getting married?”
“Mid-September. Pops already planned the wedding.”
“Is this what you want?” Aiden lowered his voice. “He didn’t force you?”
I shook my head. “No, I love him.”
He dug his teeth into his bottom lip. “Okay. As long as you’re happy, then I’m happy.”
I squeezed his hand. “I am now that you’re here.”
He looked like the same Aiden, yet he was so different. His blond curls were the longest they’d been since we were kids. A generous amount of hair covered his jaw, and his sideburns were grown out.
“You need a haircut.” I tugged on his curls and smiled. “And a shave. You look like a homeless person.”
“I’ll get my shit together by the wedding,” he promised.
“Speaking of the wedding. I want you to be my man of honor.”
He laughed. “Is that like the male version of a maid-of-honor?”
I nodded. “So what do you say? Will you be mine?”
Aiden hugged me so tight that the air drained from my lungs. “Yes, of course.” He kissed the top of my head. “Don’t make me plan your bachelorette party. I’m not going to a male strip club.”
I chuckled. “Like I would ever want that.”
“Do I still get to walk you down the aisle?”
“Yes,” I said with a smile. “I couldn’t imagine anyone else at my side.”
“How about a drink?” Luca asked us. “We have a few things to discuss before Kali arrives.”
I slipped out of Aiden’s arms and into Luca’s, walking into the house with my two favorite men.
We sat on the back patio overlooking the bay with Luca on my right and my brother on my left. I squeezed their hands, afraid of losing them. Someone from the criminal underworld would always have a bone to pick with the Salvatores.
“Drake and the Knights are working on rounding up Kurti’s men,” Luca told Aiden. “After we wipe them from existence, we’re proceeding with the ceremony to make Alex our queen.”
Aiden gulped beside me. “I don’t want to be there for the ceremony.”
“Because of the circumstances,” Luca said in a firm tone. “I have no choice but to make this one exception.”
If Luca were marrying another woman, Aiden would have participated in the ceremony. It was his birthright as the heir to the Wellington fortune.
“Miss Marx is here,” a man announced from behind us just as Kali strolled through the French doors.
She wore a pale blue sundress that complemented her blonde hair and tanned skin. I shot up from my chair and threw my arms around her. I winced when she squeezed me too hard and stepped out of her embrace.
“Sorry, girl.” Kali studied my face, then my bruised skin. “Oh, my God. Bastian and Damian told me they hurt you, but I didn’t know it was this bad.”
“I’m okay. Just sensitive. My ribs are pretty banged up. I should be better in a few weeks.”
Her eyes widened as I lifted my shirt sleeve to show her the damage.
“Oh, my God, girl.” She covered her mouth with her hand. “How did you survive those animals?”
“I knew Luca would come. I told myself it would all be over soon. It helped that they kept me sedated between beatings.”
She shook her head, eyes wide.
“There’s someone I want you to meet.”
Aiden rose from his chair, towering over me. Kali had a few inches on me, but my brother was still tall.
“You must be the twin brother I have heard so much about,” Kali beamed with a smile.
Aiden extended his hand. “That’s me. And you must be Kali.”
Instead of shaking his hand, Kali wrapped her arms around him. “It’s so nice to meet you, Aiden. I’m glad you’re alive.”
“Me too,” he said with laughter in his tone. “If it weren’t for Salvatore saving my ass, I don’t know if I would even be here right now.”
“So I’ve been told,” I chimed. “Seems your need for danger caught up to you after all. If only you’d listened to your sister, who is older and wiser.”
He smirked. “Some lessons you need to learn on your own. That was one of them.”
“Are you hungry?” Luca asked me.
“I can eat,” Aiden answered.
I nodded.
“How about a liquid lunch?” Kali suggested with a big smile plastered on her face.
Luca rolled his eyes. “Drink whatever you want, but Alex needs her strength.”
“Loosen your tie,” I fired back at him. “It won’t kill you to have some fun with us.”
Everyone stared at Luca, awaiting his response.
“Fine. I’ll get the wine from the cellar.”
I held out my hand. “Need some help from Betty Boner?”
My fake Bond girl persona.
Luca smirked. “Always.”
“What the fuck?” Aiden groaned.
Kali laughed. “Betty Boner? I want to know the story behind the name.”
“Inside joke,” I told her as Luca led me toward the house. “We’ll be right back.”