Page 40 of Precious Legacy

“But we’re about to have dinner!”

“I’m not hungry!” I call back, and I don’t give anyone the chance to chase me down. I slam the door behind me and pull out the Uber app. The further I get away from here the better.

SIXTEEN

Isee Alanis before she sees me, a whirlwind of rage emanating from her as she storms out of her parents’ place. It's hard to miss her, especially when she looks like she’s ready to tear through anything in her path. Her features are creased as she focuses on something on her phone screen.

“Presh!” I call out to her.

She lifts her intense gaze from her phone for just a second, long enough to stop in front of me. Her brows only relax slightly, her shoulders drooping. Without hesitating, she stalks forward and presses her forehead to my chest, exhaling loudly.

"What's wrong?" I ask, surprised when she slides her arms around me. It’s unlike her to initiate this type of contact since she’s always so angry, but I’m definitely not complaining.

On instinct, I wrap my own arms around her, pulling her tightly into my chest. It's the first time she's willingly fallen into my arms like this, and I’m momentarily stunned when she sighs like this is the one thing she needed.

"I hate them," she mumbles against my shirt.

"Who?"

"My family. I don't know why I thought they'd be okay with it. My dad only ever cares about business."

Slowly, I piece together the broken sentences along with her mood. "You told them?" I ask softly. Moments like these are rare between Alanis and I; she never allows anyone to see her vulnerability, least of all me. Which is why I have to tread carefully, because the last thing I want to do is upset her further.

"No," she grumbles, pushing away from me. "But I almost did. I was so close to telling them until Dad pretty much said I would be an enemy if I did anything like that."

"He doesn't mean it,” I soothe, but even I can hear the lie. I know what this kind of life expects from us, especially the offspring that are earmarked to follow in the footsteps of our fathers.

"He does. You all think that, you’re just not saying it.”

I have no words for her that will make her feel better. There’s no mistaking what her dad’s stance is on it, either and I completely understand. The whole syndicate would be at risk, Alanis would be at risk. There are so many factors to consider, and while I don’t doubt for one minute that she’s thought this through, I can understand her father’s disapproval.

"You should go," she urges when my silence answers her. "Dinner is almost ready." She pushes past me, but I refuse to let her go so easily.

Gripping her hand, I pull her back to me and she huffs. "Come back in there with me. We can talk to them together."

“And say what?” she scoffs. “Nothing you can say will convince my dad, or brother, that what I’m about to do will be good for the family. Hell,I’mnot even convinced.”

“Then why do you want to do it?” I question, because she must have a good reason to want to go against her father’s wishes. Families like ours don’t just decide to work for anenemy without one. She’s taking her decision to leave the family business to extremes. Changing her name is one thing, butthis…

“Forget it, Roman.” She sighs heavily. “I just want to go home."

"Where's your bike?"

"At home. I was just gonna order an Uber." She waves her phone in the air, the screen lighting up with the app. But I don’t like the idea of her being alone, least of all in a taxi—especially with the Russians no doubt lingering.

"Take my car," I say, pulling out my keys. “I’ll get a ride back with Varo."

Alanis smirks, one brow arching in question as she takes them from me. “You trust me?”

Even though I know she’s asking for a completely different reason, I don’t think she realizes how loaded that question really is. Cupping her face, I close the remaining distance between us and run my nose along hers.

Her breath stutters, her eyes closing as she tilts her head up expectantly.

“Don’t ask stupid questions, Presh.” I seal my lips over hers, stealing a kiss that has her melting against my body. Her mouth moves with mine, parting so I can slide my tongue against hers as her arms coil around my neck.

For all the stubbornness and defiance Alanis harbors, there’s no denying what we have. I know it. She knows it. She’ll keep fighting it because that’s what she does, but deep down, she’ll always be mine.

Eventually, we pull away from one another, a gentle smile gracing her swollen lips as I twine our fingers together. “You sure you don’t want to go back in? I can be pretty convincing.”

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