Page 147 of Lethal Obsession

But his words are echoes, because I’m already halfway down the stairs, taking them in large swinging leaps and coming off the final one at a run.

I wait on the swimming platform, my heart beating harder than a virgin at his first fucking prom.

She came.

I know it’s wrong. I know the safest thing by far would have been for her to go to Roman’s finca.

And I don’t give a fuck.

I could never have asked her to come. I didn’t dare hope that she might choose to. But as the boat comes into focus and I see her slender frame poised in the rear seat, I can finally admit how desperately I wanted her to choose this.

To choose me.

And now that she has, it’s game over.

Roman, my father, Mickey, my sister—they can all go to hell. I’m done pretending for them or anyone else. I can’t be without Ofelia anymore. I don’t want her to be without me.

And after what went down today, there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell that I’m letting anyone else handle her security, ever again.

The boat slows to a purr and sinks down, nudging the side of the Quantum Drift. I throw the line to David with a curt word of thanks, but all I can see is Ofelia’s tearstained face, her long, elegant limbs as she stands, shaking slightly, in the back.

Then I’ve plucked her out of the boat, taking her mouth as I step back onto the platform. Cradling her against me, I kiss her on and on, oblivious to the crew tying the boat or the armed guards still holding weapons as they step onto the Quantum Drift.

Not trusting myself to speak with an audience, I carry her across the deck and upstairs. She turns her face into my shoulder, and my hand cups the back of her head, shielding her from watching eyes until we finally reach the upper deck.

“Tell me you’re not hurt.” I press my lips to her forehead.

“I’m fine.” Her words are faint, catching in her throat. “But, Alexei. Teresa and Julia—”

“Are fine.” I cut her off. “Apart from some stitches and bruises.”

“They’re okay?” Ofelia’s wide blue eyes search mine anxiously. “You’re absolutely certain?”

“Positive. They got free of the men sent to kill them, and they’re recovering just fine.” I try to keep the bitterness out of my tone. It will be a long time, if ever, before I forgive the dragons for losing Ofelia, even if logically I know it isn’t their fault.

“Seline?”

My mouth hardens.

“This wasn’t her fault, Alexei.”

If you fucking say so.

“Mak’s team have her,” I say tightly. “They’ll take care of her, Ofelia. Until we can work out what the hell is going on.”

“She helped me escape.” She frowns. “I would be dead now—or even worse—if it wasn’t for her. You need to make sure she’s treated well.”

“I will. I promise.” I suppress a very strong urge to say Seline Duval could go to hell and I’d consider it too good for her. I kick the door to my suite open, cradling her head against me as I carry her inside.

“It’s like the night in Paris,” comes her muffled voice from beneath my hand. “When you carried me inside the hotel.”

“And you sound as exhausted now as you were then.”

“I’m certainly a lot dirtier.” She gives a choked laugh. “I need a shower before anything else. I walked through miles of mud to get here.”

“Shower.” I kiss her. “Food. Then talk.”

“Shower.” She kisses me back. “Drink. Enormous drink. Then talk, and maybe food.”