Page 86 of Bittersweet Revenge

I sighed, kissing the crown of her head. “Let's go back in. We wouldn’t want your brother and St-Vincent to start a war.”

She looked into my eyes for a few seconds before sighing. “You’re right. Let’s go in.”

We had only just passed through the door when Taylor threw herself at Esmeralda. “You really have to stop trying to die on us,” she sniffed, holding Esmeralda in a bear hug.

Esmeralda returned the hug with a small smile. “I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”

Taylor let her go, but kept her hands on her shoulders. “It’s sad that Aleksandra had to die though.”

Esmeralda threw me a look that seemed to say, ‘See,that’s how peopleSHOULDreact.’

“Well... Better her than you so...” Taylor continued and it was my turn to smirk at Esmeralda. Oppenheimer might have been an imported piece, but she was still one of us no matter what she said.

“How come you’re here anyway?” Esmeralda asked, looking at Taylor and then St-Vincent.

“Archibald called us to say he had news. I had news too, so I thought it would be best if we tackled everything now,” Antoine started, taking a drink from his teacup.

“What’s your news?” I asked. Esmeralda threw me a grateful look, clearly pleased to have the spotlight directed somewhere else.

“The background on White checks out. What she told you seems to be the truth. I even found her father’s petition to sue yours and the document she’d actually signed refusing any pursuit.”

“I guess your father helped her get the job as an ‘IOU’ for something or a guilty conscience for what he had caused her.”

Archibald snorted. “I’ll buy the IOU, but not the other explanation. Our father doesn’t have one.”

“A guilty conscience?” Esmeralda ventured.

Archibald gave her a sad smile. “A conscience at all.”

She grimaced, but didn't reply.

“Yes, anyway, she seems legit.”

“I still don't like her,” I mumbled stubbornly as I sat beside Esmeralda.

“Yeah, well, whodoyou like?” Taylor asked. I knew it was a rhetorical question, but my eyes met Esmeralda’s straight away.

Her. I like her. I love her... Just her, only her.

She gave me a gentle smile, reaching for my hand again. She didn't need the words; she understood.

“Also, your boy-toy pulled through and the monitoring devices are up and running at Phang’s restaurant.”

I couldn’t help but tense as jealousy reared its ugly head at the mention of Deluca. Deluca who’d come through for Esmeralda when I’d failed her over and over again. Deluca who believed her on principle when she said something, unlike me. Not damaged, not broken… On paper he was so much better for her than I was.

Esmeralda nudged me, bringing me back to reality.“Caleb?”

“Umm?”

“Where were you?” she whispered with concern.

“Nowhere I wanted to be.” I turned to the group. “What were you saying?”

“I’d said it’s time to set the bait, so I was offering a group trip to New York for a weekend before spring break.” He pointed to Esmeralda. “Then she asked you if you wanted to join.”

I looked at Esmeralda like she was dim. Did she really need to ask? Wasn’t she with me on the balcony before when I’d professed my love to her? Did she know I'd never said those words before? Of course, she did. She must do. “Wherever she goes, I go.”

She gave me a tender smile, her cheeks taking on a lovely pink color. My heart squeezed in my chest. Would this ever feel normal? My love for her? Would I ever be able to breathe normally when she was near me?

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