by Coralee June
“Because we were almost blown up while trying to get to you,” Grace snapped. Ah, there was that fire I loved. “I’m fine. I’m not hurting that much. I just want to lie down in a bed, call my brother, and get back to the States.”
“What?” I asked, despite myself. “People are trying to kill us. Do you really think it’s safe to go back right now?”
“Gavriel can handle them,” she said, her voice full of that Moretti confidence that sometimes drove me nuts.
“If Gavriel could have handled them, you think I would have spent the last five years away?” Nix scoffed. “But sure. Go home. I’d prefer you were there.” Nix’s bored tone sounded forced. It didn’t take a genius to know he was deliberately pushing Grace away. So why was she letting him? Why did I care? This was what I wanted, right?
“I’ll be out of your hair as soon as possible. Maybe I’ll move to one of Gavriel’s safe houses. They’re hidden. Been wanting to get out of the city for a while now. My apartment is too stuffy.”
That fucking hurt. What was she saying? She wanted to leave me? “Fuck that,” I growled, making both Nix and Grace blanch. “You’re not leaving me. No one is fucking leaving me.”
Grace swatted at her eyes and chewed on her lip. I was about to pull over and spank her ass for throwing such a pity party, but we were almost to John’s house, and she desperately needed care. “Whatever,” Grace murmured. “As soon as I find a phone, I’m calling my brother and going home. Let’s be honest with ourselves, please. We’ve both been in love with Nix for a long while.” She started picking at her shirt as a stray tear traveled down her cheek. I glared at her through the rearview mirror. Nix shifted in his seat and ground his jaw. “We both knew that eventually we’d find him and eventually he’d choose. You couldn’t watch him with other people all those years ago. I can’t watch him with you. I love you, Alessandro, but I can’t be here right now. My brother can protect me. I’m embarrassed. I’m overwhelmed. I’m really fucking tired. This isn’t me sitting on my balcony and watching you with...”
She let out an exhale. “This is me sitting here and realizing that I’ve been pining for someone that doesn’t care about me. And that’s okay. I’m not trying to be some fucking martyr. Or a victim. Or some desperate girl clinging to the past. I’m not going to make you feel bad for having what I can’t. But if you love me at all, you’ll let me go once it’s safe, okay?”
Maybe I was pushing too hard. I didn’t even think when I kissed Nix back in Sydney. I didn’t pause when I reached out to comfort him. Nix was hurting, but so was Grace. I didn’t know how to be enough for the both of them. I didn’t know how to help one without hurting the other.
But I also refused to let go of my second chance with Nix.
“We haven’t even had time to process anything. You don’t know what Nix wants or what we’re going to do. We will talk and then—”
“Oh, didn’t you hear?” Grace asked with a chuckle. “Nix and I already spoke. He made it very clear where I stand in all this. What was it you said, Nix? I’m not going to apologize for your feelings, because I never asked for them. I’m not going to do anything, because you mean nothing to me, Grace Moretti.”
What the fuck? When did he say that?
“Five years of my life, pining like an idiot,” she snorted. I wanted to hug her. The pain in her voice was palpable. “I feel so stupid. I could be at home right now. I could be fucking some hottie at Blaise’s new sex club.”
Beside me, Nix clenched his teeth. “Grace…” I whispered, not sure what to say.
“It’s no biggie, Alessandro. I still love you. But I also kind of hate you, too. Both of you. I should have known better. I should have never gotten on that plane.”
“Well, at least there’s something we both can agree on,” Nix grumbled, and a tear slipped down Grace’s cheek, but she swatted it away and straightened her spine.
“My mother used to warn me about good dick, you know. She said orgasms had the power to cause insanity.” She laughed at her joke. “That’s all this was, Nix. Insanity. But don’t worry, I’m good now. I see you for what you are. I see this for what it is. I’m going to go home. I’m going to live my life—and I mean actually live it this time. I’m going to fuck my way through New York. Move to a new apartment. I’m going to legally change my name, because being a Moretti has brought me nothing but pain. And then, I’m going to forget you ever existed, Phoenix Bailey.”
Nix clenched his fists in his lap. Shit. Grace was on a warpath. “I thought you told me you’d drop the subject indefinitely,” Nix growled.
“I guess I lied. People do that, sometimes. Like the time you told me I was precious. Or the time you whispered loving declarations over my pussy. Or the time you said you were never going to leave. I just wanted one last word in, I suppose.”
“Whatever,” Nix replied.
“Let’s just get through the day, please,” I said. I knew my truce with Grace was fleeting. So why did it feel like someone had taken my heart out of my chest and stomped on it?
Nix reached out and touched my upper thigh, stroking the fire of rejection in Grace. I felt used. I felt like an addict, not caring that he was just putting on a show to push her away. I needed time to think.
“Fine,” Grace replied.
“Fine,” Nix added.
“Fine,” I echoed.
We finished the rest of the drive and pulled up to John’s house in awkward silence. Grace got out first and kept at least three feet from us as we made our way up the drive. The distance was killer.
I knocked on the door with Grace wearily at my back and Nix behind her. There was a red Mustang parked in the driveway, so I knew he was home. The front door opened, and a tall, slender blonde wearing cutoff shorts and a flowy tank top greeted us. She wore bright pink lipstick and had a stack of books tattooed up her thigh. Her smile was friendly, though her brown eyes looked questioningly at us. “Hello? Can I help you?”
“You must be Kaydence,” I said with a smile. John got married three years ago and talked about her nonstop. The dude was hopelessly in love.
“I am. And you are?”
“I’m Alessandro. John and I—”
“Oh my gosh!” she exclaimed, mouth wide in shock. She clutched her chest. “John! You’ll never guess who is here! Come in, come in!” She opened the door wider and invited us inside. The home had a lot of natural light, clean lines, and modern decor. The open concept looked welcoming and warm. “I’ve heard so much about you!” I heard footsteps on the stairs to our left and soon appeared a muscular guy with brown hair, tan skin and a wide smile. He adjusted his glasses before jogging over to us.
“Well, hot damn,” he said. “Ten years of friendship and you finally drag your ass out here.”
“The twenty-two hour flight was a major deterrent,” I teased. I couldn’t believe we were actually meeting.
John ran over and gave me a huge bro hug, patting me on the back with enthusiasm. I pulled away and smiled. “What are you doing here, man? Who are your mates?”
I looked at Grace and Nix, who seemed like they wanted to be anywhere but here. With a big inhale, I replied, “I need your help.”
Chapter Eleven
Grace
I got under the soft duvet and settled into the guest bedroom Kaydence set up for me. I didn’t want to stay here, but exhaustion clung to me like a second skin. I needed to rest and get my head straight if I was going to handle this like a Moretti. Even though I was ready to renounce my name and completely move on, that didn’t mean I wouldn’t hold the lessons I’d learned close to my chest.
Never crack.
Never let them see you sweat. Be strong. Be emotionless.
Love is a weakness, and Morettis aren’t weak.
Nix and Alessandro were sleeping together in the basement. I didn’t want to imagine what they’d be doing there all night, and I prayed the walls weren’t thin enough to hear. I barely survived lunch. The entire meal was spent watching
them exchange lingering looks and wondering what their hands were doing under the tabletop. John and Kaydence seemed nice enough. I felt safe for the first time in days, and I was thankful for a reprieve, but I still wanted to go home.
A soft knock on the door drew my attention, and I let out a huff before calling, “Come in.”
John’s wife opened the door with a tentative smile and let herself in. “Just making sure you were comfortable. Alessandro mentioned you wanting a phone? John has this one pretty locked down so no one will trace it.” She handed me what looked like a brick, and I sighed in relief. This way, I could call my brother and go home. I wasn’t cut out for this adventure anymore. “Thank you,” I whispered before grabbing the phone from her nimble fingers. I didn’t really know Kaydence, but she seemed nice enough.
“This might be forward of me, but I’m here if you need to talk?” she offered.
I picked at my nails and debated her offer, more ridiculous tears stinging my eyes. I hated being so weak. “Have you ever pined for a man for five years only to find out that you meant nothing to him? And you flew across the globe to find him and nearly got blown up in the process. And bonus—he’s in love with your new best friend who’s actually always been your best friend, but you only just realized that he’s kind of like the best thing to ever happen to you?”
“Can’t say I have,” Kaydence replied with an awkward smile.
“I’m a mess.”
“The best people sometimes are,” Kaydence said gently while running her hand through her hair. “John has been best friends with Alessandro since before we even met. It’s kind of surreal meeting him.”
“This entire experience has been surreal. I can’t believe I’m in Australia crying about a man I boned five years ago while running for my life.”
Kaydence smiled politely. “Maybe some sleep will help, yes?”
I rubbed my temples. “Thank you for the cell phone. I’m about to pass out. I really appreciate you letting us stay here.”
“Of course! Let me know if you need anything.”
“Will do,” I said while watching her leave the room. I picked up the phone and quickly dialed Sunshine’s number.
“Hello?” her groggy voice answered. Shit, it was probably late there. I didn’t even know what time it was here.
“We found Nix. You were wrong, he hates me. He’s having quite the reunion with Alessandro, though. I feel like an idiot. Oh my gosh, Sunshine. What am I doing? I want to come home. I’m so fucking tired.”
“Give the phone to Nix,” Sunshine snapped.
“What? Did you not hear me rant? I’m having a little bit of a mental breakdown here. Can I just throw a pity party for a minute?”
“Grace. I love you like a sister, but if you don’t hand the phone to Nix right now, I’m going to lose my shit.”
“Fine.”
I got out of bed while tugging at the way-too-small sleep shorts and tank Kaydence let me borrow. My curves were on full display, and I didn’t really want to be walking around the house. I slipped down the hall with Sunshine cursing on the line, then headed down the basement stairs, stopping at the door to knock.
I heard shouting on the other side of the door.
“What the hell is taking so long?” Sunshine asked.
“Hold on,” I hissed back while pressing my ear to the door. I could hear muffled shouting, and I prayed to God it wasn’t some kinky rough sex I was about to walk in on.
“Now, Grace,” Sunshine insisted. Fuck, she was starting to sound like my brother.
I twisted the knob and waltzed inside with an exhale. Nix and Alessandro were standing face-to-face, snarls on their mouths and their eyes burning with anger. They snapped their attention to me, and I felt their fury roll over my skin.
“What do you want?” Nix growled. His dark eyes danced over my skin, lingering on my chest before dipping to my long legs.
“Was that Nix?” Sunshine asked. “Why the fuck does he sound so pissy? If anyone is going to be pissy, it should be the fucking pregnant woman!” I straightened my spine and put the phone on speaker.
“He can hear you now,” I told her before glaring at Nix. How dare he look at me with lust, then speak such painful words to me? How dare he make me feel like nothing when I’ve been chasing after his memory for five fucking years? How dare he break me.
“Phoenix Bailey!” Sunshine yelled into the receiver. “You asshole! First, you disappear. Then, you call me out of the blue and barely say two words. And no, it’s not to check on me or even give me some sort of clue as to where you were. It’s to see if Grace and Alessandro are okay.”
I cocked my head to the side. Nix wanted to know if I was okay? When did this happen?
Sunshine continued on her rant, and Nix ducked his head in shame. Alessandro raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms over his chest, as if smug that Nix was getting a verbal beating. “I tell you I’m pregnant, and what do you do? You yell Banana Split. Like it’s nothing. Grace is calling me crying. I don’t know where you are or what you’re running from. You have always been the bravest person I know, demanding better of me. You didn’t let me sulk when my mother killed herself. You made me go after what I wanted with the Bullets. You saved me, Nix. So stop being a martyr and go after what you want. Stop pushing me out. Stop running from the people who love you. Fuck! I sound like the biggest fucking hypocrite in the world right now, but I’m hormonal and I miss you and none of this is okay.”
I heard a crashing sound on the phone, and I flinched at the boom. Sunshine must have thrown something at the wall. “Baby, what’s wrong?” another voice said on the phone line. I recognized it as Callum.
“I’m fine. Go back to bed,” she snapped. “Nix, are you even listening to me? Say something, dammit!”
“I’m sorry,” Nix croaked before taking a step toward me—toward the phone. “I’m so sorry, Sunshine.”
I could hear Sunshine’s sobs on the line. It felt like I was intruding on a painful yet beautiful moment. “You’re my person, Nix. How could you just leave me?” she asked.
“I didn’t want to,” Nix replied. He was close enough now that he grabbed the phone. “I didn’t want to leave you, Sweets. I still don’t. I want to be there with you. I want to be there for your baby, too. I’ve missed you so much.”
“Then why didn’t you try to come home?” she asked, sadness weighing her voice down. Alessandro leaned closer, as if waiting to hear what Nix would say.
“Because these people are too powerful. The only way out is if I die. And even then, there is no guarantee that they won’t hurt you. I’m in too deep. Soon, they’ll find me here. They’ll find all of us. They have a network of billionaires, thousands of people working for them. They quite literally run the world. Every president. Every royal leader. Hell, your father was a lower ranking member of their group.”
Sunshine gasped. “My father?” she asked. My heart hurt for her. I knew it was hard to talk about him.
“Yes, Sunshine. Finding information about him made them take a special interest in me. Every major company in the world has members of their elite group sitting as board members. It’s bigger than the Bullets. They are the Ringleaders. They control the stock market. They have entire secret islands where they hunt people for sport. Sex trafficking. Satanic rituals, you name it. These are people with too much money and sinister interests. I was pulled into their depths. If I kill my contact, another one will just reappear and give me more work to do. I’m too good at what I do. I might work behind a keyboard, but I’ve killed for these people against my will. I’ve helped them pull too many strings.”
I held my breath for Nix’s entire rant. I had no idea just how deep we were. I had no idea that these people were on this scale of terror. “Take me off speaker phone, Nix,” Sunshine whispered after a long pause.
He did as she requested and then held the phone to his ear. Nix stared at me the entire time she spoke. I wished I could hear what she said. I couldn’t imagine
the guilt Sunshine was feeling right now. I couldn’t imagine how painful it was to know that Paul Bright—her evil serial killer father—was partly to blame for getting Nix involved.
“Okay. I will. I promise,” Nix replied before saying, “I love you, too.” He hung up the phone and stared at me.
“What did she say?” I whispered. Nix took a step closer and glared at my lips, as if they were put on my face to offend him. What the fuck was happening?
“She told me to do this.”
Nix slammed me against the basement door and kissed me hard.
Chapter Twelve
Nix
She felt so good pressed up against me. Her soft lips tasted like cotton candy. Her supple body met every hard muscle of mine. I tenderly stroked my tongue against hers. I felt once again the rush of protectiveness. Sure as the road that brought us together, our passionate kiss felt like finally coming home. There was a solid softness to our reunion. Her insistent mouth bloomed with determination. I broke out in tremors like a fucking pussy. This wasn’t the controlling, commanding, demanding kiss of our past.
This was the kiss of a broken man giving in.
She drew me in with her open eyes, like she didn’t want to miss a single second of my failure. For a long time, I kissed Grace Moretti. She was just as I remembered. Just as tender. Just as wild and astonishing. The world was once a roaring declaration of all the things I couldn’t have; now it was silent. Now it was just she and I.
“Wait,” she whispered before pushing at my chest. I didn’t want to wait. I didn’t want to stop. I wanted nothing and no one to get between Grace and me. “You can’t just kiss me and pretend that everything is okay now.”
She pouted, and if it weren’t the cutest fucking thing I’d ever seen, I’d be annoyed.
“You’re right. How about we pretend while I fuck you?”