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When I pulled back he was looking at me with this mix of emotions in his eyes. I knew Aiden chose who was allowed to see him at all with his walls down, and to see him look uncertain at all, to see his worry and his affection, was overwhelming.
He wouldn't want me after I killed his father. No matter how blasé he pretended to be. There was a reason we both understood there was a shelf life to this relationship, no matter what Dominic or Xander said.
But for tonight, I was supposed to be in love with him, and I wouldn't have to try hard to show that to the world.
"Let's go to our engagement party," I said.
"You're wearing my earrings." His fingers touched my earlobe lightly, but the feeling was still electric.
"Always," I said, knowing he would understand.
We couldn't have long, but we'd make the most of it.
Hand in hand, we walked out of the room.
* * *
We returnedto his sex club at his luxurious resort.
But this time, instead of it being just the two of us, Dominic and Xander flanked us as muscle. They looked imposing and cold tonight, the warm, sensuous men I’d come to know hidden deep within. We were all more complicated than we looked. I realized that about myself now too—I’d spent so long thinking I was nothing but the cold assassin.
I always would be that, of course.
But I was still a daughter, even though I’d lost my parents. And I had grown into a woman who could dream of a new chance at happiness. No matter what happened with these men, they’d brought me back to life, and I’d never be the same.
The club was busy now, filled with music and laughter and the sounds of someone, off in the distance, getting thoroughly whipped. I couldn’t quite tell from their screams if they were happy about it or not.
“Quite the soundtrack,” Aiden said to me, taking two glasses of champagne from a waiter circling with a tray and handing one to me. “This is a pretty small affair. Just good friends and a few close business associates.”
So, another chance to look like a fool in front of his friends. Delightful.
Henry, Fox and their girls came over then. They greeted me warmly, as if I hadn’t seemed hopelessly out of place last time.
I made small talk with Tessie and Amanda. They oohed and aah’d over my ring. “Did he ask you in a romantic way?”
“Not exactly,” I said breezily, and since I knew just how much the four of them were into Aiden’s business, I said, “But he killed a man or two for me, so that was sweet.”
Tessie laughed. “True love, then?”
“Definitely.” I dared a glance at Aiden, only to find him watching me.
Those words would’ve rolled off my lips easily no matter if it were a lie.
But I wasn’t entirely sure they were.
“I like her energy,” Fox said to Aiden quietly. “What did you do to her?”
Aiden let out a laugh. “She just had to get in touch with her submissive side. And I helped her do just that.”
He was an absolute ass. Maybe I should murder him after all.
The air seemed to go out of the room when Gavin Crude walked in.
He was as tall and immaculate as ever, and I could see traces of Aiden’s face and mannerisms in his as he shook hands and greeted people. His smile was warm and magnetic.
Aiden rested his hand on my shoulder, and I turned to him, surprised. “You need to be distracted before we make our announcement.”
“I’m fine,” I promised him.
