Page 103 of Never and Always
Alessio’s dark gaze settled on Piper. “Your brother’s debt has been cleared.”
I sucked in a sharp breath.
Piper looked confused. “I don’t understand.”
“Bastian paid your brother’s debt, and warned Rocha that you are off limits.”
Piper lifted a palm to her chest. “Alessio, it was a lot of money?—”
He shrugged. “Bastian owns the Avernus Casino, and he likes to give his money away. It wasn’t a problem. And he and Rocha reached an understanding. You and your brother are off his radar. Permanently.”
“Why would Bastian do this?” she asked. “For someone he doesn’t even know?”
“Because I asked him to.” Alessio lifted a shoulder again. “You’re a friend of Enzo’s and he was worried about you.”
Over her head, I nodded at both men. Enzo dipped his chin.
“Thank you,” she whispered. She walked to Enzo and hugged him. Then she walked to Alessio and hugged him too. The dangerous man didn’t hug her back, but he didn’t push her away either. I got a feeling no one hugged Alessio Rossi.
When she returned to me, she buried her face in my chest. I pulled closer and breathed in her scent.
“It’s over,” she murmured. “This whole nightmare is over.” A small laugh. “It doesn’t feel real.”
“You’re safe.” But my gut clenched. She was safe now. No longer in the crosshairs of Corvo or anyone else after her brother.
That meant I no longer had an excuse to stay in her suite or have her stay at my place.
Except for the fact that I was in love with her and wanted her with me.
That was something I didn’t think Piper wanted to hear. My throat felt dry. She was still my smart, driven executive. If she stayed in Windward…
She’d come to hate it. There was nothing here for her.
She looked up at me. “I guess you’re off the hook.”
I frowned.
“No more stressing out about me, or babysitting, or saving me from attackers.” She laughed, but it didn’t sound like her real laugh.
“Right,” I said.
“Everyone is off the hook.” She turned to face the others, smoothing down her skirt. “We can get some work done around here rather than looking for my brother and bad guys.”
My gut curdled. “You can focus on getting the pool and spa, and the hotel renovations done.”
She lifted her chin. “That’s what I’m here for.”
A muscle in my jaw ticked. “Piper?—”
The ringing of her cellphone made her reach for her handbag. She pulled it out, then her face lit up.
“What is it?” I asked.
“It’s a message from the hospital.” She beamed at me. “Chance is awake.”
I smiled back. “That’s great news.”
“I need to see him, and I can finally call my mom and tell her what happened, but that he’s okay. That everything is okay.”
