Fucking sexy.
“Thank you, Adelina.” She knew what else I meant.
“All right. Burn it to the ground.” My head snapped up. Brutal finale. Somehow, it made perfect sense.
Dorin grinned and pressed something in his hand.
KABOOM!
The estate erupted behind us, fire swallowing every horrible memory. Heat rolled across the grounds as the remaining men stared at the flames in stunned silence. It was over. We could finally begin again.
I reached for her hand and threaded my fingers with hers. “Let’s go home, Petal.”
She tugged me in the direction of the waiting car. Dorin had the door open, and she pushed me inside.
The fuck.
“Come on, you two,” she called my brothers over with her hand.
Chapter 79
ADELINA
We arrived home. Cezar was forcing me inside with his brothers, cautiously following behind. Naturally, we went straight to the kitchen because he was hungry.
Should have thought about that.
“Nope, none of this. I want a good burger.” Cezar frantically searched for food.
“I’ll go grab one.” I turned to get my keys, but he stopped me.
“That’s ok, I will get it.”
I nodded.
I walked back to the brothers, who were standing in the middle of the kitchen. “You’re welcome here. If you stay, I could use your help to rebuild the Crimson Roses. If not, you’re free to go. Your choice.”
Codrin stepped forward. “I’ll stay. For him. And for you.”
I shook his hand.
Darius took longer. He looked at me, then at the doorway Cezar had walked through. “I’ll stay for them.”
Good enough. They all needed time to repair what their father ruined.
Cezar returned with paper bags. Food for everyone—even Dorin and Vali, wherever the hell they wandered off to.
“What’s behind your back?” I questioned, trying to sneak a peek. “Another dagger?”
He practically glowed with mischief. “You’d like that, but no. Not this time.”
Then he pulled out a full bouquet—black and red roses interlaced like a confession he couldn’t put into words.
“Oh my god… I love you.” I wanted to launch myself at him, but I tried not to crush the roses or the wounded man holding them. He wrapped me up anyway in a warm hug.
“I have something else I’ve wanted to give you since the night I found out who you really were.” He slung an arm around my shoulders and ushered me down the hall toourroom.
Once the door closed behind us, he grabbed his phone and removed the case. He pulled out the other half of my mother’s heirloom—the piece I’d believed was lost to my bloody nightmares.
