Page 118 of Wanted
Valentine hurried out of the room, and I heard her argue with the guards outside. Eventually, I heard her wild steps as they left for the cafeteria.
My eyes fell on the sonogram. Valentina had placed it on the bedside table with pride. It had been a strange day when we found out the baby’s gender. Aris stormed out of the room the minute the baby’s gender was announced. Weston had to drag him back inside while I comforted Valentina. Once he was back inside the room, all of that became secondary. He snatched Valentina out from under me, and they shared an intimate kiss, sweet and tender. There were no words. They gazed at each other like they were in their own bubble, and we should be grateful that we witnessed it.
The door burst open, taking me aback. Weston barged into the room. His chest rose and fell rapidly, and there was sweat pearling together on his forehead.
“Aren’t you supposed to be in treatment?” I asked him, tilting my head to the side while I scanned his body for injuries. Outside of his visible lightheadedness, the constant swaying on his feet, his outfit was put together just fine. There wasn’t a drop of blood on his white shirt.
“They let me go,” Weston blurted out. “Where is Valentina?”
“She’s getting food,” I told him. He nodded, stepping forward. The Prince of Katantia didn’t like this room. Nobody did. If it were up to us, we’d take Aris back home. Weston’s eyes were hollow as they traveled across the room. I sat there, observing his pain.
“I’ve come to the realization that life’s too short,” Weston revealed. He approached my chair, but he didn’t take a seat on the empty one next to me. I lifted my gaze to meet his. Weston’s fingers cupped my chin, and I felt his warmth. “You need to teach me how to use a gun.”
I gasped. “Excuse me?”
“You can’t be the only one in our household to do that. I want you to buy me a gun for Christmas or whatever you Westerners celebrate,” he said, teasing the fuck out of me. “That was hot. I’ll keep that image in my head forever. You need to teach me.”
“But I’m terrible with guns. I wouldn’t be good… I almost shot you. How’s your foot by—”
“It was a tiny cut. Relax.” His eyes swirled with light, and I had no idea what was going on inside that head of his. “Will you forgive me if I jerk off to that?”
“To me, shooting you?”
His chuckle was delicate and almost inaudible. I felt it in my heart, though. He shook his head. “I want to jerk off to you saving the day. Fuck, I never knew you had this energy in you. You protected my family.”
“You’re crazy,” I said, blushing.
“If my brother was with us right now, he’d grant you every fucking wish on earth. He’d get you a spaceship if that was what you wanted. We’d positively go bankrupt. Fuck…” Weston ran a hand through his hair. I shuddered at the thought of not having Aris around again. Sure, he was an intimidating being to anyone whose name wasn’t Valentina Cross.
Nevertheless, Aris meant so much to this family. Weston couldn’t sleep at night. He had his phone close by, hoping for news on his brother’s health.
“You didn’t shoot Ryan’s foot off, but it was close. They’re fishing the bullet out of him, and then he’ll be sent to one of the worst punishment sex houses without a trial. He endangered two heirs of Katantia. He doesn’t deserve to get treated with dignity. He hurt his sister. I’ve never seen a stunned Valentina. She always speaks out. He stunned her, silent… This wasn’t the first time either.”
“This happened before?”
“Aris and I will tell you about it when he’s with us again,” Weston promised, and I nodded in acceptance. He leaned forward, kissing the top of my head. “Thank you.”
I felt his breath on my skin, goosebumps erupting all over me.
“What’s your favorite place back home?” Weston asked.
“I don’t have a home. You are my home, remember?” I told him, and he pulled me into a hug. Careful as always, I wrapped my arms around him. I breathed him in.
“Don’t use my words against me right now. Tell me. Where do you feel most happy in the States?”
“I don’t know,” I confessed. “I barely left Illinois. When I was younger, I probably traveled with my mom, but I don’t recall the details.”
“Where should we settle then?”
“Sorry?”
“I want to buy a house. Where should I buy it?”
“How do you mean?”
“We’re moving,” Weston revealed. I swallowed. “I’m going to leave Katantia for you. You get to pick the city or town. Whatever you desire.”
I shook my head. “You’re joking.”
