Page 80 of No Greater Oblivion

“Why? Why fight against this?”

“Because…” She takes my face in her hands and lifts my head so our gazes meet. Her lips part and her breath catches. I can’t help but lean down and steal a kiss she doesn’t try to take back. “Look at what we’ve done to each other. Look at the way we treat each other, how we speak to each other.”

“Dahlia—”

“This is ugly, Alejandro. So ugly. I wish I had left sooner, maybe things would be different. But we’ve done and said too many things we can’t take back. This isn’t love anymore. All we do is run circles around each other, fighting over the same thing over and over again. It never ends.”

Desperation makes me hold on tighter. “Don’t say that.”

“Why not? It’s the truth,” she insists. When she blinks, her lashes are wet with tears. “Rian doesn’t make me cry. We don’t treat each other this way, with so much anger and animosity. I…I don’t recognize myself anymore.” She asks, “Who do you think I am, Alex? A woman filled with anger and resentment and more regret than she knows what to do with? Tell me. I want to know. Is this the woman you fell in love with?”

“Of course not, mi amor. This isn’t you, Dahlia. This isn’t who you are.”

“But this is who you made me.” Tears run down her cheeks and she’s given up on trying to fight them. “How can you tell me you love me when you don’t respect me?”

“I do respect you.”

She shakes her head. “No you don’t. You don’t respect my boundaries when I tell you no and you most certainly don’t respect my decisions. If you loved me as much as you say you do, you wouldn’t want me to be with someone who treats me the way you do. You’d let me go.”

I open my mouth to speak but words evade me. For the first time, I have nothing to say.

“Dahlia?”

The two of us spin around.

Lyss stares are at us with wide eyes and furrowed brows, as if torn between shock and bursting a capillary. Rian is with her and I can’t help but notice how well they mesh together. He has a hand on the small of her back, the touch familiar yet respectful, but there’s no missing the way she leans into his side or how closely she stands next to him when walking. However, as soon as she pulls away, Rian returns his hand to his pocket, and Lyss’s arms remain crossed over her chest.

Her voice is strained when she says, “We were worried about you. Li called and told us what happened.”

I cut in before Dahlia can respond. “That was over a half hour ago. Where are you two coming from?”

“Nice to see you, Alex,” she quips. “Go fuck yourself.”

I’d laugh if I wasn’t already searing holes in Rian’s skin. I always did like Lyss—she’s one of few people I’ve ever encountered who wasn’t intimidated by me.

Dahlia turns her head away, hands covering her face. “I’m going inside.”

Personally, I don’t give a shit about Rian O’Neil and I sure as Hell am not going to leave him alone with her when she’s in such a vulnerable state because he fully intends to follow her. I beat him to it, and might’ve made a point of closing the front door behind us except Lyss actually lives here and I don’t doubt she’d jam one of her keys into my right eye if provoked.

Upon realizing we’ve followed her inside, Dahlia’s face loses all color. The coat falls right off her shoulders and her body sways as if ready to collapse onto a nearby loveseat. At the last minute, she turns and heads toward the kitchen. I remove my coat and scarf, hanging it up by the back door like I’ve been here a million times before. It doesn’t evade my notice how Rian stays fully dressed. A pang of satisfaction runs through me and I can’t help but angle a smug smile in his direction.

“I see Li is as hospitable as ever,” I say. “Allowing his patrons to assault young women at the bar.”

Lyss takes off her coat and leaves it on the back of one of the stools. “He said you were the one who hit that guy.”

I answer for Dahlia. “Yes. After he groped her.”

“Did he cut her tongue out while he was grabbing her ass? Or can she answer for herself?” Rian seethes.

“Rian,” Lyss chastises.

“Sorry, I was just curious. Seeing as how when Dahlia was in trouble, you just happened to be there. Ready to save the day.”

“I have impeccable timing.”

He replies, “I’m hoping in addition to your punctuality, you’ll also understand the importance of not overstaying one’s welcome.”

“Rian, don’t be silly.” This time when I smile, it’s genuine. “I’m more than happy to welcome you into my home. As a matter of fact, take off your coat and stay a while.”