Page 59 of Anton

But even then, no one forced Louisa to take the drugs. Supply didn’t exist without demand. People made their own choices. Usually, anyway.

Not that I was heartless—I did have some sympathy for Louisa’s story. What happened to her was horrific, and addiction was never simple. But the hard truth was, she made bad choices, and those choices were hers to own. Not Anton’s.

And then there was Elaine. She chose to disobey a direct order—an order that had been meant to keep her safe. Was she angry at Anton for their argument? Maybe. Maybe not. If she was as volatile as Anton said, she might have acted out simply because she disagreed with him. Either way, it was her decision. Her actions led to her death. And not just hers—two of her colleagues had paid the price, too.

Anton’s guilt made sense; he’d been their commanding officer. Of course, he felt responsible. But that didn’t make it his fault. None of it was his fault. Yet, for all these years, he’dcarried it, letting it drag him down, punishing himself for things he couldn’t have changed.

And now? Now it was my job to help him see the truth.

He deserved that much from me.

“After that,” he continued, his voice pulling me back into the moment, “I threw myself into my career. Joined the SAS. I needed the structure, the discipline, another chance to forget.”

My eyes widened. “You were in the SAS?”

I couldn’t help but stare, my mind racing. The SAS wasn’t just any unit—it was elite. World-renowned. The men and women who wore that badge were the best of the best. I knew Anton was capable, disciplined, and impossibly strong, but the thought of him operating at that level left me in awe.

He gave a small, humourless smile at my reaction. “It wasn’t as glamorous as you’re imagining, but it kept me focused,” he said. “It gave me the distraction I needed to stop thinking about everything I’d lost.”

His gaze grew distant, his shoulders tightening as his voice dropped lower. “But then Ash called. Told me about his sister, Krissa, and what was happening back home.”

My stomach twisted at the mention of Krissa. I knew the story well—the brutal murder that had devastated the Rominovs. She’d been so young, her death a tragedy that still haunted them. I couldn’t even imagine the pain they’d felt, or how it had shaped Anton, especially knowing how much the Rominovs meant to him.

Anton’s breathing grew shallow, his eyes far away. I reached up, rubbing his chest gently, hoping the simple touch might ease whatever burden he was carrying. His jaw tightened, but he didn’t look at me. It was like he was somewhere else entirely.

“I ended my contract as soon as I could,” he said, his voice steady, though there was something raw beneath the surface.“The Rominovs were always there for me and Louisa. They’re family. I couldn’t stay away. Not when my family needed me.”

“And that’s when you started DuPont Security?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

He nodded, his gaze steady on me. “It gave me a way to protect them. A way to do something useful for the people I care about, without getting pulled directly into their world. That’s something they never wanted for me.” His eyes softened, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “And not long after that, you walked into my life.”

My breath caught at the sudden intensity in his gaze. There it was again—that unspoken pull between us, impossible to ignore.

“And you pushed me away,” I whispered, the words tasting bitter as they left my mouth.

“Because I was terrified, Marcie,” he said, his voice raw with emotion. “Terrified of loving you, of losing you. Of failing you the way I failed Louisa and Elaine.”

The vulnerability in his words hit me like a blow, opening something inside I hadn’t even known was there. I reached for him, cupping his face in my hands, my thumb brushing his jaw. “You didn’t fail them, Anton. And you won’t fail me.”

He closed his eyes, leaning into my touch, as if he wanted to believe me but couldn’t quite. “I’m done running from us, Marcie,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Good,” I replied softly, my heart swelling with certainty. “Because I’m not letting you go this time.”

For a long moment, we stayed there, wrapped in each other’s arms, the outside world forgotten. The only sound was our calm, steady breathing, a temporary refuge from everything else.

I shifted slightly, feeling the solid presence of Anton beside me, then slowly lifted my gaze to meet his. His eyes softened as he studied me, a look of longing mixed with something deeper, something unspoken.

His hand moved to my back, his fingers tracing the line of my spine before resting at my waist. The touch sent a shiver of anticipation through me.

“Marcie…” he murmured, his voice thick with desire.

The way he said my name made something tighten inside me, but I didn’t pull away. Instead, I kissed him, slow at first, letting the moment linger until the kiss deepened, and his lips grew more insistent. His hands slipped beneath my shirt, brushing against my skin in a slow, deliberate touch that made me shiver.

Slowly, he tugged it over my head. Bending his head, he latched on to one of my nipples and gave it a lick before moving over the other and doing the same. I leaned into him, my fingers lacing into his short hair, pulling him closer, loving the sensations his mouth caused.

Pulling himself up, he slowly opened his jeans. I slid my hand inside and took his thick cock in my hand. Giving it a slight squeeze, I rubbed my palm up and down it. He hissed in pleasure, his head lolling back and eyes fluttering closed. God, the man was so gorgeous.

His chest heaved with each breath, muscles tightening and relaxing as my hand worked him. I let my fingers linger for a moment longer before pulling away, catching the quiet protest in his eyes. With a teasing smirk, I tugged at the buttons of his shirt. “This has to go,” I murmured, slowly unbuttoning it and slipping it off his shoulders.

---