Page 210 of Lethal Obsession

“Your brother and I, too.”

Even worse.

“My father also had some things to say to me. He came to meet me in Paris.”

Oh, man.

“That’s a lot of quality family time, right there.”

That at least gets a huff of laughter. “More than I’m used to. Yes.”

“Sounds like we’re going to need a little time to ourselves after all this is over.” Subtle, Ofelia, really subtle. I grimace at my reflection in the mirror opposite my bed.

“Ofelia.” He sounds alarmingly intense.

Oh, fuck.

“Alexei.” I mimic his serious tone, injecting my own with a hint of mockery. Childish, perhaps. Also the best defense I can come up with, after multiple sleepless nights wondering if I’m ever going to see my fiancé again.

“Are you still wearing your ring?”

I splay my fingers out in front of me, unable to read the edge of uncertainty in his tone. “Of course.”

“Before—everything.” The way his voice roughens when he says everything tells me how much it hurts him to even think of what happened to Lars that day. “Before everything, I was planning to anchor in Sicily for some time.”

“You were?” I think of the late nights he was working before we got to Sicily, the distance I sensed. “I didn’t know that.”

Is this his way of saying he was having second thoughts?

“I was planning a surprise wedding there. If you agreed, of course.”

I’m so taken aback that all I can manage is a strangled, “Oh.”

“Ofelia?”

“I’m here,” I whisper.

“I should have spoken with you before I left Sicily. I just—I couldn’t.”

“I know.” I swallow hard. “But what happened, Alexei, it wasn’t your fault—”

“It was.” He cuts me off, his tone hard.

The line falls silent, and I wonder if I’ve lost him altogether.

Eventually, he says, “I can’t change that.” His voice is bleak. “And I might never have the chance to tell Lars all the things I should have.” He pauses again. “But I can do better. That’s what I’m trying to do now.”

I nod slowly, but don’t speak.

“I love you,” he says roughly. “I should have told you that before I left. I certainly don’t want to let another day go by without telling you now.”

I grip the phone, barely able to breathe.

“Ofelia?”

The world of uncertainty in his tone fills my eyes. “I love you, too,” I whisper. “So much, Alexei.”

I can hear his deep, ragged breaths as he battles for control.