Page 123 of Shades of Loyalty
And then, without warning, his lips crash into mine.
It’s not hurried or desperate, but it’s everything I was wishing for just seconds ago.
He kisses me forcefully, almost possessive, as if he’s afraid I’ll disappear the second he lets go. And I can feel it—the fear in his kiss, but also the need.
His hands pull me closer, but I don’t resist even for a single moment. There’s a fire, a warmth that burns between us, but it’s not about his sexual desires, it’s about him telling me, without words, that he can’t lose me.
That he loves me just as much as I love him.
I kiss him back, matching the intensity but holding back the part of me that wants to escape, because I know now I won’t. Not for him.
The kiss deepens, but not in a way that pulls us into anything more. It’s the kind of kiss that seals a promise—it’s quiet, powerful, full of understanding and silent apologies. A kiss that binds us tighter than anything words could say.
When we finally break apart, both of us are breathing heavily.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I whisper, my voice rough. “I’m here. I’ll always be here.”
He nods slowly, his forehead resting against mine. For the first time, I see a flicker of peace in his eyes, a quiet surrender.
And I know that, for him, this is enough.
Both of us together is enough.
Chapter Forty-six
Daniel
My father’s cold hands rest on mine so the gun in my hands doesn’t slide off onto the ground. Sweat is running down my face, the only emotion I’m able to feel being anxiety.
My father is counting on me. I can’t fuck this up. I asked for this.
I have to show him I’m worthy enough to be the next boss—but the man kneeling in front of me… He looks terrified. He knows he has to die. Right here. Right now.
“Papà…” I whisper in pain, squeezing my eyes shut so I won’t have to look at the man in front of me. I don’t want to see his pain. I don’t want to be the cause of his pain. I don’t want this…
But I need to do this.
“You can do it,” my father encourages me. “He deserves it. He did terrible things to your family.”
It’s when I open my eyes again to look at him once more. He did things to my family.
“What did he do?” I ask.
My father laughs quietly, refocusing my hands onto the man’s forehead. “You’ll find out soon. Only thing you have to do is take revenge. Because that’s what we do.”
His words make me think. The man’s eyes on mine make me… Feel conflicted,
I don’t want to kill him. He seems terrified. But at the same time, the way he looks at me makes me feel…
Powerful.
How can a man be so terrified of a seventeen-year-old boy who’s just learning to shoot right? I don’t get it. But it somehow makes me feel superior to him.
In a really, really good way. And at the same time, it makes me feel really, really awful.
Like I’m the bad guy here. I can’t just take his life, he probably has a family too, I…
My whole body tenses when my dad’s hands get more forceful. No… No, no, no. I can’t do this.
