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Lexi pulled her hands out of his grip and put them on her hips. “You didn’t tell them? Twelve hours ago, you were sure that I betrayed you, and you didn’t tell the Bratva?”
He nodded, fisting his hands as he resisted the urge to pull her into his arms and never let her go. The idea of her skipping town filled him with panic that made any distance between them feel like miles.
“I didn’t say a word,” he said. “Even when I thought you’d snitched, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t put your head on the chopping block.”
“You…choseme?”
Fuck it.He couldn’t give her space anymore. He took a large step, closing the distance between them, and placed his hands on her cheeks. Her big beautiful eyes looked up at him in shock. She understood how big that was. Loyalty to the Bratva was supposed to come above all others, but he’d shown himself to be even more devoted to her when it truly mattered.
“I love you, Lexi,” he said. “I’m shit at showing it sometimes, but it’s true. Don’t go, please.”
She gulped and sniffled. “I love you too. But I’m hurt, Sam. I’ve given you no reason not to trust me.”
“I know,” he breathed, pressing his forehead against hers. “I know, and I’m a fucking idiot.”
“You have more to make up for, you know.”
Hope flickered to life inside of him. “I do? Does that mean you forgive me?”
“I think I have to. It would hurt too much not to.”
He smiled so wide that his cheeks hurt. “Good, because I can’t let you go, baby. You know I’ll lock you up if I have to.”
Lexi laughed lightly before her lips met his. Kissing her back, he swore to himself that he’d never doubt this woman ever again.
EPILOGUE
LEXI
Lexi lookedup from the cutting board as the door of the apartment opened. Sam was home, and he smiled at the sight of her. She wiped her hands on a dishtowel and came around the kitchen island to meet him in the living room.
She was about to ask how his visit with Nix was when Sam pulled her in for a tight hug. She wrapped her around him and let him hold her for a long moment. He was usually like this when he got back from visiting Nix. The poor guy wasn’t doing well.
It had been six months since he was arrested for the second time, and he’d spent most of that time in jail. Sam tried everything he could think of to get the charges dropped and none of it worked out. He was angry a lot during that time, but he was careful never to lash out at her over those frustrations.
When the case went to trial three weeks ago, the judge dismissed it for lack of evidence. Lexi wasn’t sure exactly how Sam had pulled that off, whether he had something on the judge or somehow got a police officer to make the evidence disappear, but he’d been happy at first.
Then, Nix returned to his apartment, the one he’d shared with his pregnant girlfriend. Lexi hadn’t been there herself, but Sam went to visit every couple of days. Lately, he’d been helping Nix clear out the nursery that he and his girlfriend had been preparing. The loss of that child in his life was a devastating blow, and every time that Sam came home from helping Nix, he was sad. He didn’t really say that, but it was clear in the way that he held her. Clinging to Lexi as if he were afraid to let go.
He didn’t have anything to worry about though. Sam had been true to his word, showing her all the trust and respect that he could to make up for almost imploding their relationship when it had barely gotten started.
Now, they lived together in his apartment. She’d moved in and now there was an older lady in Lexi’s old apartment. She was a nice woman, but just as much of a gossiper as Ida. The two of them were great friends that kept Lexi up-to-date on everything going on in the building, whether she wanted to know or not.
Sam pulled away from the hug and tucked a strand of hair behind her head. “How was your day?”
“Good,” she said, heading back to the kitchen. He followed, grabbing a beer from the refrigerator and sitting at the island to listen to her prattle about her day at work. She had just earned a Michelin star at the restaurant, so business had picked up even more than usual, but she didn’t mind. She loved it there, especially since she’d won over the staff members that were cold to her in the beginning. Even the man that had been passed up for a promotion so that the job could go to her had softened up, allowing Lexi to teach him a few things that would make him a better chef in the long run.
Sam listened to her talk, tossing in comments as needed. He didn’t usually tell her much about his business, and she was fine with that. Sometimes, it was better not to know what went on within the mafia, especially when it required keeping secrets. At least, she hadn’t heard from Agent Calloway again. Sam expected that he’d show back up at some point, but there was little point in worrying about that until it happened.
“Try this,” she said, dipping her spoon into the sauce she’d made for her chicken dish. It was a new recipe, and she’d come to depend on her self-appointed taste-tester.
Sam came around the island to taste the sauce, standing way closer to her than necessary. “That’s delicious,” he said, then moved even closer, tilting her chin up. “But I think I’d like a taste of something sweeter.”
She parted her lips for him, and he covered her mouth with his, sliding his tongue along hers. Lexi melted into him with a moan, but the sound of the doorbell ringing interrupted them. Sam stepped back with a frown.
“I guess I should have warned you, Travis is always early,” she said, grinning at his disgruntled expression.
She was excited about tonight. Her brother was finally coming for a visit. He’d been caught up in mafia business for the last six months, but he’d decided to make time to come meet his little sister’s new man.
