Rage burned, mixing with the acid in my stomach. Fucking Callum Brown thought he could come to London and threaten me?
“I did what I could for her, and she knows that.”
“He hit her, bruised her, scarred her for life, and you ‘did all you could’? You’re clearly not all there. If that were my brother, he wouldn’t have had a chance to lay a finger on her. I would have killed him myself.”
“Let’s not forget the reason she ended up with Jason in the first place. Didn’t you abandon her? If anyone’s to blame, it’s you,” he taunted.
Fog raged through my mind as I lunged, trying to grab him, but he pulled the slide of the Glock—a warning that he had no issues pulling the trigger here and now. I wanted more than anything to fuck him up, but Aria ran through my mind. She needed me, and there was no way I’d leave this earth without her.
“I didn’t come here to start a war, but I will if that’s what it takes. I just needed to know Aria was safe.”
I clenched my jaw, those flames deep inside trying to ignite, but I had to stop them before I lost control.
“The only reason she’s safe is because she’s with me, and I’ll do everything in my power to keep it that way.”
He tilted his head, his eyes roaming over me like he’d got his answer, then his lips parted. He hesitated before he spoke.
“Was it you?”
“Was it me what?”
“Was it you who killed my brother?”
I narrowed my eyes. There was no way I’d ever tell him it was Aria. I’d protect her in this life and the next. No one, not even Callum, would ever find out.
“Yes. Now, get the fuck out of my car. If I ever see you in London again, I’ll kill you.”
1
Aria
Present
Candlelight filled the bathroom with a soft, calming ambience. The bubbles shimmered on the surface of the water as my back rested against Sebastian’s chest in the bath. His lips traced down my neck, sending goose bumps over my skin.
We were in Italy for Serfina’s birthday. Sebastian and Hayden had rented private suites in San Marco, Venice, and the staff were on hand when needed. This place was stunning. It was like stepping back into the sixteenth century. Copper slithered through the white tiles like lightning in the night sky, hitting the basin and fully merging into all metal, and every stroke of paint in the artwork on the walls was pure perfection. The French-style draped curtains were a silver kind of silk that had crystal beads hanging from the header, and you could feel everyintimate carving over the hand-painted headboard of the four-poster bed. God, it was like sleeping in big, soft, fluffy clouds. Well, at least I imagined that’s what they’d feel like. Either way, sleeping on it was like heaven.
“Imagine waking up every morning to that view of the Lagoon.”
“You can see the Thames every day from work, but if you want me to buy you a penthouse overlooking the river, just say it.”
I elbowed him playfully, and he let out a silent laugh. “You’re not even funny, do you know that? How can you possibly compare the Thames to the Lagoon?”
“I wake up every morning with you next to me. Nothing could compare to that. It’s everything to me.”
“That’s why I love you.”
“Oh, you only love me because I find you beautiful?” he teased, and started tickling me just above my hips.
I let out a half-scream, half-giggle as my body jerked, trying to stop him, water sloshing over the side of the tub.
“You know I love you. All of you,” I said between the giggles.
“Ok, I’ll let you off. For now.” And so he did.
We were in such a good place. Everyone always said that the honeymoon phase would fizzle out. It was different with us. This rooted connection we had just pulled us closer, and neither of us could get enough of the other. I was completely his, and he was fully mine. Two souls tethered together for a lifetime.
I never thought I’d find love like this with anyone, not after everything I went through. Sebastian was the one person I trusted fully with every part of me. He’d always be the one who held my heart with such protection and care, making sure it was safe and loved with every fibre of his being.
