Page 55 of Vega

“We established that,” Wise replied. “Cosa significa tenerla? (What does keeping her mean?)”

I looked between the two men who knew me better than anyone alive. We had lied for one another, bled for one another, and buried problems together. There wasn’t much I could say that would make either of them question whether they stood beside me.

This might have been the first, though.

“I want her.”

“The woman you kidnapped?” Wise clarified.

I waved him off. “I know how she got there.”

Prodigy looked at Wise. “You can’t just keep her. She’s not a puppy.”

Wise sat back and looked at me. “You haven’t even known her two weeks.”

“I watched and studied her before I took her.”

“That is worse,” Prodigy said with a chuckle. “It’s literally worse.”

I ignored him. “I know enough about her.”

Wise shook his head slowly. “You know her schedule, where she works, and what food she orders. That isn’t knowing a woman.”

“I know she’s brave when she has every reason to be afraid. I know she fights even when she knows she can’t win. I know she notices everything, remembers everything, and refuses to make herself smaller because a man is stronger than her.” Prodigy’s eyebrows rose as if he were impressed as I continued. “She knew someone might be coming after her and still went to work every day. She has nobody protecting her, but she has survived her entire life without expecting anybody to save her. Roman wants to kill her because she knows he’s a lying, disloyal piece of shit. I’m not handing her over so he can murder her just to protect his reputation.”

Wise’s gaze remained fixed on me. “And the fact that you want her…”

“Makes me more certain that I’ll kill anybody who tries to take her.”

Prodigy leaned back with a raised brow. “Damn.”

The song changed, and Elana climbed to her feet onstage. She bent forward with her ass aimed directly toward our booth.

With an ass like that, I had to look. It was only right.

Elana caught me looking and smiled as she slowly rolled her hips.

Prodigy noticed the exchange and shook his head, but for once, he kept his commentary to himself.

Wise returned his attention to me and rubbed one hand over his beard. “Does she want you?”

“No.” I wasn’t going to lie to them or myself.

Prodigy gave a short laugh.

“She’s afraid of me,” I went on. “She thinks I might kill her, and she has every reason to hate me.”

“But you still want her?” Wise pressed.

“More every time she looks at me like she’s planning my death.”

“That sounds toxic as fuck,” Prodigy added.

“You’re in no position to say that shit.”

His expression changed, but he let the comment pass. Arielle was still a subject that could shift his mood without warning.

Wise looked toward the rain streaking the windows. “You understand what refusing Roman means.”