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My heart was pounding when I knocked on his door. What if he’d changed his mind?
He hadn’t responded when I’d told him I loved him. I knew he’d been drugged, and he’d passed out soon afterwards, but it still made me worry. I heard footsteps approaching, heavier ones than I expected. I tensed and reached for my gun.
The lock turned, and X opened the door. I expected him to tell me to leave. Instead, he stood back and motioned for me to come inside.
“I’m not going to follow your orders this time,” I told him when he’d closed the door behind me. “I always have. You’re the best commander I’ve ever had. And Vigilance has been exactly what I’ve needed, but I’m in love with Lane, and if I have to choose between being with him and following you, I choose Lane.”
X studied me for a moment. “How are you going to keep him safe? You put yourself in danger all the time. It’s your job.”
“I will do everything I can to isolate my life with Lane from my work. Look at how well the Marchesis have managed that.”
X ran a hand over his hair.
“No!” I heard Lane shout. “I’m going out there. I need to be part of this.”
My stomach knotted. I couldn’t tell from his tone if he wanted to kick both of us out or if he wanted to see me.
“You should be resting,” X said when Lane stepped into the living room.
“I’m not going to sit in another room and let the two of you argue over me.”
I needed to explain. “Lane, I came here to—”
He held up a hand. “Let me deal with my father first.”
“He told you?”
“I did.”
“He did.” Their words ran together.
I still wasn’t sure if Lane was angry with me or if we still had a chance.
“Dad.”
The word seemed to startle X. “Yes?”
“I love Giorgio. I need you to understand that.”
Tension left me so quickly that I sagged against the wall.
“You don’t need to protect me from him.”
X nodded. “You’re right. I don’t.”
Wait. That was it? He was done trying to keep us apart?
Lane looked equally shocked. “You… what?”
X sighed. “You’re right. I didn’t want you involved in this part of my life, but I realize now that was misguided.”
“Wrong. Stubborn. Idiotic,” Sandra said, stepping out of Lane’s room.
X glared at her. “Well intentioned. I know you may want nothing to do with me, and that’s your choice, but I hope we can get to know each other now. There are still things I can’t tell you, things from my military days, but I’ll answer any questions I can.”
“I’d like that,” Lane said. “But I might need some time to process everything first.”
“That’s understandable.” X turned to me then. “Take tomorrow off, but I expect to hear from you first thing the day after. I’ve got an assignment for you. We’ve gotten some intriguing information from the two men who were with Hendon. We’re going to be working some new angles to end the trafficking ring once and for all.”
I stared at him. “You still want me to work for you?”
“Vigilance isn’t just about me. It’s what the four of us have built together. I need you to be a part of that.”
“Thank you.” The words caught in my throat and came out strangled. X pulled me into a hug.
“Good work yesterday.”
I nodded.
He focused back on Lane. “I’ll wait for you to call me, and I’ll make myself available any time.”
“I’ll call when I’m ready.”
He held his hand out to Sandra. “Come on. Let me take you to lunch.”
“I’m not sure we should leave when Lane is—”
“Sandra, they need some time.”
“I promise I’ll take good care of your son,” Giorgio said.
“See that you do.”
Lane huffed. “I can take care of myself. I just have a headache.”
His mother dismissed his words, but X herded her out the door.
I took Lane’s hands as soon as the door closed. “I love you. I want to make this work.”
“I love you too. I heard what you said when you first came in. You’d really choose me over Vigilance?”
I wasn’t sure I could keep my voice steady, but I had to try. “I’d choose you over everything. I never imagined I would feel the way I do. After I lost Thomas, I didn’t think I could love anyone else. Now I know that what I had with him was nice, but you… You’re everything I need.”
“You’re what I need too. All of you. Just as you are. This sweet caring side is nice, but I fell in love with a controlling asshole, and I’ll expect him to make an appearance sooner or later.”
I growled and pulled him tight against me. “And I expect a sassy slut who fights and struggles before surrendering and letting me give him everything he needs.”
