Page 57 of Pieces Into Place

Olivia slowly scans the room with wide eyes before cautiously perching herself on the couch, her body trembling as I sit beside her and take her hands into my own to offer reassurance.

“My men will take care of it all. It’s finished for both of you,” Dante says calmly.

“What about other men?” Olivia asks meekly.

“No one else will be coming around. Profaci is gone, his replacement and I are united in his demise. We have an agreeable arrangement. It’s over,” he replies firmly.

Olivia gulps hard and turns to look at me. It’s true I am responsible for the death of two people tonight. While I’ve never enjoyed the loss of any human life, I’d do it again in a heartbeat to keep her safe. “You took out Profaci?”

I don’t want to look her in the eye, but in this moment, for her to trust me and trust that I would do anything for her, I know I need to. I take a deep breath and gaze into her sweet, inquisitive face.

“I had to,” I answer sincerely, not taking my eyes from hers.

“I’m so sorry, I put you in this position,” she tenderly kisses my cheeks knowing the toll of death I keep adding to my soul.

“I did exactly what I was meant to do,” I pull her into my arms and kiss the top of her head.

“I trust I don’t need to stress the importance of keeping quiet about all that happened tonight?” He pointedly looks at me and then keeps his gaze on Olivia.

We both nod in response. There is no reason to cause further problems for everyone involved, including myself.

Dante’s gaze shifts from Olivia to me as he offers his help. “Is there anything I can do to help with the cabin?”

I shake my head and let out a small chuckle. “Nah,” I say. “Marcus is gonna love this – his cabin full of bullet holes.” A smirk passes over Olivia’s lips and her spark returns for the first time since I’ve seen her.

“We are leaving then,” Dante says before turning to leave. As he walks away, he calls back to Olivia: “I am always available, should you need anything, Liv.”

She stands and steps toward him, her arms reaching out for an embrace. He stiffens before offering a curt nod and hurriedly walking out the cabin door.

The silence is so thick it seems to swallow us both as Olivia finally speaks. Her head hangs low but her eyes stay locked on mine, “I left because I overheard what Henry told you,” she says. “You must hate me.”

Confusion draws my brows together. “Why would I hate you?” She drops slowly onto the couch with her eyes still glued to mine. “My uncle killed your father,” she whispers.

“Yes, a man neither one of us ever met did some terrible things, but that has nothing to do with you.” Compassion and understanding lace my voice as I add, “It’s an amazing coincidence, but it has nothing to do with you and I.”

“You sounded so angry earlier,” she says, her voice barely a whisper.

I draw her close to me, and look deep into her eyes. “I was. With him. With this situation. Never with you.”

She steps back and narrows her gaze, as if searching for the truth in my words. “How can you be so sure?”

My heart races as I cup her chin with my hands and speak earnestly. “Because I’m in love with you. Somewhere along this crazy ride, I’ve fallen for you, Simone Olivia Eden Holt Kildare Monroe.”

She exhales a laugh at the sound of all of her names.

“I love every part of you. Everyone you’ve ever been and everyone you will become. You are strong, and tough, and beautiful, and exasperating, and I love all of it.”

The air between us sizzles as our lips inch closer together until they finally touch in a sweet kiss that seems to stretch on forever. She pulls away, tears shimmering in her eyes, and breathes out three little words: “I love you.”

Olivia

That’s all that needs to be said before Kane’s lips smash against mine. It’s rough and frantic, ragged breaths and hands roaming wildly. He briefly stops and rubs his nose against my own.

“Is this happening?” I whisper.

“Yes,” he replies breathlessly.

Kane responds by kissing me again, this time with more restraint, gently coaxing my mouth open with a swipe of his tongue. He lowers us to the couch, then lays his body on top of mine. I spread my legs to accommodate him, allowing him to slide his pelvis between them. I’m surrounded by his smell, the weight of his body, and his mouth on mine. It’s a heady combination that has me feeling light-headed.