Chapter 34
THIRTY-FOUR
LYKOS
After nearly two decades, the noose that had gripped my neck finally gave way.
I was finally free. I could breathe again.
And through it all, Violet was here.
The woman I loved stood beside me, her presence stitching me back together. The past still lingered like a fading shadow, but it no longer owned me.
Instead, it offered a new beginning that I probably didn’t deserve but that I would snatch with both hands and never let go.
I angled her face for better access and lowered my mouth to hers.
I kissed her deeply, our tongues tangling while my free hand roamed her back all the way down to her perfect ass.
She sighed into my mouth, making my insides burn with fire that was slowly but surely consuming me.
I needed her with the desperation of a dying man.
Her touch should have made me a saint, but I was about to tear us apart like the devil I was.
Her body pressed against mine, her soft curves molding against me. As if it knew it belonged to me. She was yielding to my desire while taking what she wanted in return.
My hands traced her slowly, memorizing her body all over again and reveling in her soft gasps. I couldn’t get enough.
I began to lift her, ready to carve a path to my bedroom. I planned on fucking her senseless until neither of us could remember the past nor present, and all we had was a future together.
Until Salvatore’s voice pierced through the lustful fog, shattering the moment. “Jesus, you two.”
Violet jolted, tearing herself away from me and flickering her eyes to our unwelcome guest. The warmth we shared instantly dissipated, now lingering only in the flush spreading across her cheeks and deepening as her breath hitched.
“Dammit, Salvatore,” I grumbled. “How many times have I told you to fucking knock?”
I knew the answer, but still the fucker had to say it, grinning smugly, “At least one more time.” He studied us with such a satisfied I did this look that the damn gods would envy his confidence.
“Besides, you called me. Remember?” he added. “Something about urgent business.”
“Well, I’ll leave you two to it, then,” Violet said. She sighed, then lifted on her toes and whispered in my ear, “No hurting your best friend. I’m going to go check on the kids.”
Then she disappeared down the hallway. I could practically feel Salvatore bubbling with excitement. It didn’t take him long to unleash it.
“See, didn’t I tell you it would all work out?” He was rubbing his hands together. “It’s all up from here, my friend.”
“Violet and I still have a long road ahead of us.” I pushed my hand through my hair. “I don’t understand how Amara got herself free. She almost killed us all.”
Salvatore sobered. “Yes, I wondered that too. You’re lucky to be alive. The whole of Athens is talking about that explosion.”
I let out a heavy sigh. “The chief is closing the case. He just needs to wait for the fire inspector. He didn’t bother with the children or Violet, which was good.”
Salvatore tilted his head pensively. “How in the fuck did Amara get out?”
“I’ve been wondering that myself. The guards were stationed in front of her room and the door should have been locked.”
“Do you think one of them—”
I shook my head. “No, they were good men. They’ve been working for me for a long time. I’ll ensure their families are taken care of.”
“That’s good, but the question remains, how did she leave the bedroom and almost kill everyone in the house?”
“The only thing I could think of is that Amara may have set herself free and escaped through the window.”
There was a small Juliette balcony off that bedroom that led to the roof terrace and Amara could have possibly re-entered the house that way. I was never particularly worried about that window with the so-called balcony because Amara was scared of heights. Obviously, she got over that fear.
“Do you think rubble will tell them anything?” Salvatore asked, shifting the subject back to the fire inspector and the investigation.
“I don’t think so, but that’s why I need you,” I said. “Well, that and one other thing.”
“Anything. Just name it.”
“I seemed to recall you had a cleaning crew.” He nodded. “Could you hire them to go to the explosion site and clear it?”
Maybe I was being paranoid, but it was best to be safe.
It would be difficult to explain if any remains of questionable evidence were found. For example, her restraints. I had no intention of divulging the entire history of Amara’s illness and drag the mother of my son through the dirt. This was a family matter.
“Done.”
“Thank you. Now, for this next thing, it’s something I need you to handle yourself.”
He arched his brow. “I’m intrigued.”
I smiled coldly. “I need you to go to Boston and collect Violet’s father.”