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The protocol was always to take the back exit up to his place, but I didn’t have the key, so I’d have to change my way through the front. I ran to the elevator, but a receptionist stopped me.
“Where are you headed?”
“Xander penthouse,” I said. There was no time to waste, but she was definitely dragging this entire experience out. The receptionist asked for my name, I told her, and she sent me up.
Ronan might have been annoying, but he wasn’t an awful person. He was just different. I couldn’t put my hands on why, but he wasn’t like the rest of Dillon’s friends. I could see myself actually being friends with him and not just friends of my boyfriend.
I got to the door and rang his doorbell. It felt so awkward as it was my first time ever doing ringing his doorbell, and it was also my first time seeing him in three days, which might I add, felt like three whole years.
As I heard the footsteps come closer to the door, my heart rate sped up. I didn’t know what to expect. Would he be happy? Sad? Angry? Disgusted? All of the above? Or would he even care? I should’ve thought of that before I came here, but the longing to see him was too much.
“Who is… Azzaria,” he said and stared into my eyes. It was captivating how my name just rolled so sexily off his tongue. There were hints of Latin in his voice, so it made everything more sensual than it should have been. His eyes told me everything I needed to know. I saw pain and sadness but most of all, I saw loss. He looked like he was hurting, and I knew it had to do with the fact that I went rogue for three whole days.
“Dillon. I’m sorry. There’s so much I have to say, and I don’t expect you to listen bu—”
He pulled me inside and wrapped his arms around me. I wasn’t sure what I expected, but it certainly wasn’t that. “I’m glad you’re okay. I’ve spent three days tearing this city searching for you, and I’m just glad you’re safe,” he muttered and released a sigh of relief.
I should’ve texted him back because he probably thought that Matthew had gotten to me. How stupid was I?
We walked inside to the living room, and I looked over his shoulder, seeing Ronan around a chess board, surrounding by a few bottles of scotch.
“This is what you had my boyfriend participating in? Damaging his liver?”
He looked at me, blankly. “It was either he drank or the set the city on fire, which would you prefer?”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re actually annoying.”
“No, I’m blunt. Anyway, what the hell happened?”
Though I was reluctant, I told him and he didn’t looked shocked which shocked me.
“You didn’t have to run, he would’ve handled it if you told him, but I understand why you did.”
I sighed. “I know but it already happened, I can only try to fix it.”
“Are you good?”
“Why?”
“We’re basically friends.”
I laughed. “I’m fine but I need to see him.”
Ronan nodded and I left to go find Dillon. He hadn’t gotten back yet, so I walked inside his study, and he was just sitting there, writing in his journal. I’ve been told by many people that he’s never gone anywhere without it.
“I think Ronan and I are friends,” I said as a conversation starter, and he looked up from the book. “Thoughts?”
“Where were you? Don’t give me any bullshit. I’m being very patient considering I could’ve reacted differently.” His grip on the pen tightened, and the lump in my throat thickened. As much as I wanted to hide from this, I knew I couldn’t. He deserved an explanation.
“I was at the gala, and I ran into your father. He basically told me that you’re never getting over Annalise and that she’s the only woman you and your family will ever love. He brought me through memories between you two, and as I looked up, I saw you and her hugging to take a picture. He called me a distraction and told me that the only reason you’re not with Annalise right now is because you’re distracted. I can work my way around women who want you or women who you’ve slept with, but not one you married. Not one who knows you or someone you almost had a life with. I couldn’t go around that, and all I felt was sadness, so I left and went to stay with my mom for three days. You wouldn’t find her house because it’s not listed. It’s basically a squatter settlement,” I explained.
He looked at me with his dull eyes and sighed. I couldn’t tell if it was a sad sigh, angry sigh, or a mixture of both. But it was definitely something.
“I’ll handle my father, but you didn’t have to run. You have no idea how worried sick I’ve been. To you, it was just running. But to me, it wasn’t,” he said strongly.
“What?”
“I searched every fucking building in this city. I had my men on the ground looking for you. I wondered if you’d be kidnapped or if I did something to make you run. I had people looking for Matthew because I thought he had you, and that scared the fuck out of me.” He was flaring, and his words were strong, filled with passion. I didn’t think of it that way, but I should’ve.
