He nodded and tapped his knuckles on the table.
“Did you kiss my woman, Masters?”
I said nothing as we stared at one another.
He let out a soft huff of laughter. “She told you she’s with me.”
“She did,” I said tightly.
“So did you kiss her?” he repeated.
“Yes.”
He laughed that dangerous laugh of his again. “Seems pretty fucking disrespectful if you ask me.”
“I know,” I replied. “I don’t regret it, though. She was mine before she was yours. The last time I saw her, I wasn’t well. I didn’t want her last memory of me to be that sniveling little bitch, sobbing and begging.”
He eyed me before sitting forward.
“We told her she could,” he said.
I blinked at that information. “What?”
“She loves you. Nothing has changed. Nothing will ever change when it comes to that. I fear that love may get her killed.” His voice grew softer. “Or already has.”
“She’s strong,” I said fiercely. “She’s fighting. We will bring her home.”
He breathed out, and it’s when I saw the first dent in his armor. He was hurting. He was scared. He… loved her so fucking much.
I watched as he dug around in his suit pocket, pulled a velvet box out, and opened it.
Inside was a pretty diamond band. It had to have cost him a fortune.
“I was going to add my ring to Evan and Anson’s,” he said, the diamonds sparkling beneath the overhead light. “Tonight. I was going to ask her to be my wife, too.”
I swallowed hard at his words.
“I love her,” he continued softly. “More than I’ve ever loved any other woman in this world. She is everything to me. She has a family.”
“Ellisandra,” I whispered. “Her daughter.”
He nodded tightly. “Ellis, Rosalie, Evan, and Anson are my family. I love them with every ounce of me there is. I would die to protect them. I would kill to protect them. The detective, Henderson, working her case, is no longer employed. I do not like incompetence or disloyalty. I am only going to ask you this one time. Do you know where my girl is?”
“I don’t,” I replied honestly. “I wish I did. I-I want her back, too.”
“You still love her,” he murmured.
I nodded. There was no sense in denying it. “I do.”
“Then help me bring her home, and we can discuss things… further.”
I stared at him in shock.
“A-Are you asking me to join…?”
“No. I’m saying we can discuss things further. Rosalie ultimately decides, but I think you’re a decent man, Ethan. She obviously cared about you. I would accept you as family if it meant we could form an alliance and bring her home. So… are you in?”
“I’m in,” I whispered. “I… I just can’t join, but I can help to bring her home.”
