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Markus continues to watch the house as he speaks. “Walking past the dining room. Seemed to be in one piece from what I could see.”
“Was he alone?” I ask and Markus nods before I add, “If you see him with anyone, I want photos.”
“Sure.”
Markus’s clipped reply grates on my nerves, and I can’t stop from saying something. “You know, if you don’t want to be here anymore, you just have to say so.”
“By here, I don’t assume you mean in this SUV watching a girl that means nothing to us,” he confirms. When I don’t reply, he continues. “You chose me because I held no attachments. Are you wanting that to change?”
He’s right. When we met fifteen years ago, I knew he would be a solid addition to the team, but knowing that I can’t be too careful any longer, I don’t back down from the conversation now that it’s been started.
“You don’t need to change, but you need to be honest,” I say. “I don’t need people around who don’t want to be here. Minds change, and I want to make sure yours hasn’t.”
A deep line forms between his eyes. “I’m not Vin.”
“And I’m not saying you are,” I reply earnestly. “But this is still my family. I want you to stay a part of that, but don’t feel like you’re being forced to. You can’t tell me that you haven’t withdrawn over the last couple years, more so in the last six months.”
Bringing Justine into the house hadn’t helped Markus’s mood. I know that even if he’d never admit it, and I know that Olivia will be a cause of discontent, but I won’t tolerate it in the least.
He moves to watch the house again. “I’m fine, Luca. You don’t need to worry about me.”
My hand grasps the top of his shoulder. “You’re family. The most important thing to me. Not worrying is impossible.”
He says nothing in return and doesn’t remove his stare from the house. I’m not surprised, but I’m also glad I said something. If anything, the conversation will give him something to think about while he’s here alone.
Not that I want to lose him, but if he’s going to continue to withdraw, then maybe this isn’t the place for him any longer. Yes, I consider him family, but there are others I need to protect within that family as well. I intend on doing so until my dying breath.
I leave the SUV and head back to my car. When I get in, I check my phone and there’s a text from Olivia.
Olivia: You could have told me what you were doing today. Thank you.
Me: I don’t do what I do for your thanks.
Olivia: And that’s one of the reasons I haven’t run away screaming.
As I drive back to the house, I can’t help wondering once again if I should push her away. It’s not what I want, but she should have run from me the moment she had the chance. She hadn’t, and while I want to consider that a good thing—that she was meant to be in this world—I also know she deserves better than the fucked-up life I live.
By the time I get back to the compound, I’m decided in my choice to keep Olivia close. Selfish or not, right or not, I won’t second guess my decision. Not again. She’s mine, and I’ll keep her safe every day moving forward. I won’t let her be hurt a third time on my watch. Not even over my dead body.
I head straight to the kitchen, having skipped breakfast since Olivia was sleeping and knowing that lunch should be out still. The house cook Alina has been working for me over a year, and she’s heeded every one of my rules with the utmost respect.
The kitchen is always spotless, along with the common areas on the first floor. Food is always prepared on time, and we are never out of anything deemed a necessity within the house. She even takes anything not eaten by the following day’s end to the homeless center, sharing with those who might go without otherwise.
It’s not as if our family struggled growing up, but hunger is a trigger for me that I don’t admit to anyone. My father used to use it as a punishment when I didn’t do what he wanted or say the right thing. Even as a young child, he had no problem locking me in my room for entire days without food or the use of a bathroom.
Those memories don’t often come to my mind, and as soon as I walk in the kitchen to find Olivia and Justine there, it’s easily dashed away, replaced by thoughts of how fucking stunning my Raven is.
She’s laughing with Justine, and I realize I don’t see her do that often enough. She has an empty plate in front of her. When she was locked away by Titan, the bastard didn’t feed her, and the evidence of that treatment was clear when I brought her back.
Seeing her here and knowing her appetite is coming back is a relief I didn’t realize I needed.
Ignoring the tempting aroma of food, I walk over to her and wrap a hand around the back of her neck before pressing my mouth to hers.
Now that I’ve kissed her, I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to stop. She tastes of things I haven’t allowed myself to hope for in much too long, and I don’t want to let go now that I have her.
She kisses me back with matching need, but the action is cut short when Justine whistles. “I guess our friend date has come to an end.”
Olivia pulls back and grabs her arm before she can leave. “Absolutely not. We’re going to the garden as planned.”
