Page 59 of Righteous Enforcer
"But even then," I continue, "even when I want to hate you, I can’t." I tilt her chin up. "Whatever it is, tell me. Trust me."
I can see the war behind her eyes, the moment she begins to crumble.
"I'm sorry too," she whispers, her fingers trembling in mine. "Your father terrified me more than you can imagine. I wanted to believe you could protect me, but…"
"But you didn't trust me enough to try." I can't keep the bitterness from my voice.
She meets my eyes, unflinching. "Would you have chosen me over him? Over your family?"
I want to say yes. Of course I would. Now. But then? Truth is, I’m not sure what I would have done.
"It doesn't matter now," she continues, pulling her hand away. "It's too late for us, Adriano."
Too late? "Bullshit."
Her eyes widen at my tone.
"For four years, I was dead inside. Walking, talking, killing, but dead." I move closer. "Then I see you again, and suddenly, my heart's beating. Blood's flowing. Some of what I’m feeling is anger and betrayal, but also joy and hope. I'm fucking alive."
She shakes her head.
"And Mirabella… She's perfect, Eva. A miracle. I can’t believe a man like me could make something so amazing."
"She is amazing," Eva agrees, a genuine smile breaking through her fear.
"So don't tell me it's too late." I cup her face in my hands, feeling her pulse jump beneath my fingertips. "Not when I just found you both."
I don't wait for her to argue, and she will. So I make it so she can’t. I kiss her.
She makes a small, startled sound against my lips before melting into me.
Her mouth opens under mine, inviting me deeper.
The taste of her is just as sweet as I remember.
My fingers tangle in her hair, angling her head to deepen the kiss as the years between us vanish.
It’s back to her and me and this all-consuming need that pulls us together.
Her hands fist in my shirt, pulling me closer.
I can feel her restraint crumbling, feel the same hunger that's eating me alive.
I break the kiss to trail my lips down her throat, feeling her pulse race beneath my mouth. "Tell me you don't feel this.”
"I never said I didn't feel it," she says on a sigh. “That was never our problem."
I want to ask what our problem had been, but that would put us back where we started and right now, I don’t give a fuck about anything except reclaiming what is mine.
14
EVA
His lips burn against mine, igniting memories I've spent years trying to forget.
I shouldn't be doing this.
Not with the secret I keep.
