Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 65104 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65104 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Damien pulls me into him, closing the space between us. His anger is gone now, replaced by something much more intimate.
“I would never push you away,” he says as he strokes my hair. “But I need you to understand that being with me means living with this. The danger will always be there in some form. I can shield you from most of it, but I can’t erase it.”
I feel the sting of tears but keep my voice steady.
“I know,” I answer honestly. “And I’ve been trying to decide if I can live with that. Not just for me, but for our child. And the truth is, I don’t want our baby to grow up without you.”
His grip around me tightens slightly, and I can feel his heartbeat quickening.
“I don’t want that either,” he says. “But I need you to understand that this is who I am. And I have to kill a man to keep our baby safe. Do you think you can handle that?”
I nod slowly, the knot in my chest easing just a little.
“Only if you let me in. If we’re going to do this, then I have to be your partner. Not just in parenthood, but in everything. No more secrets.”
Damien pulls away just enough to search my eyes. For a long time, we sit there, staring at each other. Then he moves in to kiss me, and I let him.
“I think I can handle that,” he says, smiling against my lips.
22
DAMIEN
Her lips are still warm from that kiss as I lean back just enough to take her in. The air in the apartment has shifted; it isn’t charged with pent-up stress anymore. Peace settles instead, like a breeze after a storm. She watches me, unsure if I’ll raise my walls again or keep them down.
“I trusted you,” I say, my voice steady. “From the moment I met you at that restaurant. Faster than I should’ve. That’s why I gave you that coding project. It’s why I’ve given you more of myself than I’ve ever given to anyone. So when I found out you kept this from me, my first reaction was betrayal. It felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me.”
Her shoulders lift a fraction, her brows rising as if she’s about to jump in, but I raise my hand. “I understand where you were coming from,” I say, meaning it. “It stung not to hear it from you first, but I get it now. And we obviously have a lot to discuss.”
All the fight in her eyes drains away. The tension eases from her shoulders, and I know we’re on the right track again.
“Trust is really important to you,” she says.
“It’s the most important thing,” I say. “Especially because of the world I’m part of. If you can’t trust the people around you, you might as well sign your own death certificate. Lyra, I need you to know that I trust you. And I hope you trust me.”
Her eyes go glassy again, and she swallows hard. She nods quickly before whispering, “I do.”
With those words, I remember my conversation with Alek. I think about the future I want with her, and I realize I can’t keep this to myself anymore. If I want to show her I really trust her, and that she can trust me, I have to be honest about the most important things.
“I love you,” I tell her.
I thought it would be terrifying to say the words out loud, but they come out easy. The moment they hang between us, all I feel is happiness. I’m not afraid of her reaction or nervous in the slightest. I feel calmer and more grounded than I probably have in my whole life.
She gasps in response and starts crying.
“I’ve never let myself think about things that seemed like a liability, like marriage and kids,” I say honestly. “But being with you has shown me they aren’t a liability at all. Having someone on your side doesn’t make you weak, it makes you invincible. And I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about asking you to marry me.”
“Damien,” she gasps again. “Are you serious right now? I won’t be able to deal if you take it back.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” I chuckle, pulling her in for another kiss.
The kiss is salty and shaky as she tries to calm herself. But she kisses me back with fervor, holding me like she’s afraid I might float away.
I finally pull back and put some distance between us.
“I was serious about the marriage thing,” I tell her. “Maybe it’s early, but I don’t care. That’s where I see this going.”
Her lips part, still swollen from our kisses. “You really mean that?” she asks.
“I absolutely do.” My thumb brushes the side of her hand. “But it’s not just about being with me. It’s about the life that comes with it. Can you live as the wife of a Bratva boss?”