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His gaze narrows. "And yet, you let her go?"
"That’s part of being in love with someone. I’ve already made her marry me without giving her a choice… Making her fall in love with me isn’t as easy. Giving her the space she needs so she can not only acknowledge her feelings for me, but also act on them? That’s something I can’t force. It’s something she’s going to have to realize on her own.
"And if she doesn’t? What if she never arrives at that conclusion on her own?"
My chest hurts, my shoulder muscles tense. The pain in my side turns up a notch, and I squeeze my fingers into a fist. "Oh, she told me she loves me. Now, she has to find the courage to act on her emotions. To accept that I am the only one for her. She knows it deep inside, too. She just needs a little space to accept it, is all.”
"You’re a brave man," a new voice announces from the doorway. Both JJ and I turn to find Michael leaning against the doorframe.
"How long have you been standing there?" I press my fingertips together.
"Long enough.” He prowls inside the room. He’s followed by Seb, Adrian, Luca, and Christian.
"What’s this? An intervention?" I scowl.
The men wander around the room before Seb props a hip against the window frame. Christian stops at the foot of the bed, Luca positions himself on the side of the bed opposite to JJ, and Axel stays just inside the door. It might look casual to an outsider, but I know they’re positioning themselves to be ready in case of an attack. They’re also carrying firearms, as evidenced by the slight bulge under each of their jackets. No doubt, thanks to JJ’s influence, they weren’t stopped.
"Heard you took a hit?" Michael nods toward the bandage which peeks out from under my hospital gown.
"You should see the other men," I say lightly.
Michael fixes me with his gaze. "It was a foolhardy thing you did, walking in there unarmed."
"I assume JJ here gave you the background about what happened?"
Michael nods.
"You should know then, that I was never in any trouble. We had planned for JJ to come in with his men."
"Which took longer than expected." Michael folds his arms across his chest. "Ergo, here you are, laid up with another bullet wound."
"Hopefully, the last one." I tilt my head.
Michael holds my gaze, then blows out a breath. "I’ve accelerated the process of legitimizing our businesses. It’s taking more time than expected, due to the complexities involved, as you well know."
"It needs to happen faster, Michael. The faster we go legit, the less chance we have of running up against more characters like Alvaro. We can’t risk our families being exposed to the likes of him again."
"I am aware." His forehead creases. "Speaking of, wherever Olivia is, I assume you have eyes on her?”
I glare at him. He raises his hands. “Just asking. Giving her time alone to think things through is very mature of you, not something I’d have been able to agree to if I had been in your place.”
"Time alone?" Seb asks.
"So much has happened in the last few days. She needs to sort things out in her head."
There’s silence in the room, then Christian nods. "It’s a good thing. Best to get the thinking out of the way, once and for all."
"Peter’s been instructed to never let her out of his sight. He’ll drop her wherever she wants to go, then make sure to keep himself out of sight," JJ offers.
Michael turns to him. "Thank you for helping out my brother." He extends his arm. "I will not forget how you stepped in when the rest of us couldn’t make it in time to help."
JJ shakes his hand. "It’s my pleasure, but you do realize it’s going to cost you, right?"
Michael’s lips kick up. "A bigger stake in Trinity Enterprises, I assume?"
JJ tilts his head. "Actually, I want you to invest in a private members’ club that I’m opening in London."
"A members’ club? Is that a euphemism for a sex club?" Luca pipes up.
