Chapter 38
I’ll meet you in bed
Dina
We could’ve used more medical care than the quick patch-up job that my poor, stressed-out nurse gave us as we made our way out of the hospital, but we couldn’t stay any longer.
Besides the new reporters, the cops, and the public crowding around the place, the medical staff couldn’t get in or out of the hospital, and that was a problem nobody wanted.
Today, Declan and Connor wiped out Selnoa’s underworld. Ivan fled, the chief of police is dead, people from the Tavala district are back, and, judging by the conversation Declan had with one of his uncles, the bosses who wanted to take advantage of Massio’s death have backed off.
The Crossbow throne has been secured.
Now the people involved in corruption might get exposed. We’re already getting news of leaks and families fleeing persecution. This is a mess that’ll take months, if not years, to sort out.
In my apartment, Declan sits at the bar watching the news, nursing the second beer. The first one, he opened the moment he walked into my apartment and drank in a few gulps. I grabbed a vodka with some orange juice. I mean…beer just won’t do.
Connor walks out of my bedroom. “This whole apartment is the size of my bathroom.” He snatches the drink from my hand, sips it, likes it, and downs the entire thing. When I open my mouth to protest, he moves to the kitchen and grabs the juice. “What did you put in the juice?”
“Vodka. You’re welcome, by the way.”
“Thank you.” Connor makes us two drinks. At least he made me a fresh one.
“There’s a room on the other side of the wall. Has two exits. One on the terrace, one in the bathroom. That’s where you’re sleeping, Con.” Declan hands the empty bottle to his brother, who tosses it into the trash.
Declan stands and looks at me. “I’ll see you in bed.” With that, he walks down the hallway into my bedroom and closes the door.
I stare after him, hear the shower turn on, then look down my body, noting the dirt and blood smeared all over me. I hook a thumb over my shoulder, “I’m going to use the spare shower, if you don’t mind.”
Con shakes his head. “I’m going to drink all the alcohol and pass out.” He walks to the wall and knocks on it. “Good insulation. Old buildings out here have thick walls. Don’t scream too much.”
“Pfft. I don’t scream.”
“Ever?”
“Not in that context, no.”
“Then you haven’t been properly fucked yet.”
“Excuse me?”
He cocks an eyebrow. “You heard me.”
I don’t know how to defend my sex life without admitting I’ve only ever slept with Sergei. He was my first, and when he left, I was pregnant, then I raised a child on my own, which took up most of my bandwidth until he returned.
Now, I’ve got a man a decade my junior in the bedroom waiting for me. Oh my God. I’m not prepared for this. Not at all.
“You look petrified. I’m not going to walk into the shower or anything.
Please believe me when I tell you Declan wouldn’t share his marbles with me, while I would lose all mine on the playground.
I’m familiar with the twin fantasy and all, but we don’t share.
Gross. I wouldn’t put my dick where his dick wants to go. ”
“Thank you for sharing that, Con.”
“Welcome. Any other sharables you’d like to fetch out of my wisdom well?”
“I’ve only ever been with one man.” I swallow. “There. I said it.”
Connor scratches his head. “I don’t understand what that has to do with anything. What are you worried about?”
Well, now, I did open the proverbial faucet, but I’m not going to let all the water pour out of it. “Nothing. Just saying.”
Connor sits on the couch with a groan. “Whatever you are worried about, Declan will fix it. You have nothing to worry about. Nothing at all. In fact, if you surrender, I promise you, that’s the best way to enjoy yourself.”
Obviously, Connor is oblivious to my worries. How could he not be? He’s not a thirty-seven-year-old mom with extra pounds and not-so-firm breasts who really likes a man with the body of Adonis and the mind of a stoic philosopher.
“But also, if you insist on staying in the kitchen, can you fix us another screwdriver?” Connor smirks. “Pun intended.”
I make him a drink and head into the shower.