Page 83 of Redemption

“See, Bas. Even Kilian is willing to take off his metaphorical suit.” She pauses as she takes him in. “I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen you not in a suit. Weird.”

“Why do I put up with you?” Bastian mutters.

“Because you love me.” She stands up and pushes him to the door. “Do I need to help you change? I can. Oh, by the way, did you know Kilian tied Bella to a chair? That sounds so hot. I think we should try…” Her voice trails off as she walks inside, pushing Bastian along.

Kilian raises a brow at me. “You told her about that?”

I shrug. “She is a bad influence.”

He laughs as he runs a hand up my bare thigh. “That she is. But a fun one, I have to admit.”

“Kilian!” Aria yells from the pool. “Are you going to come in and play? This pool is so fun. It has little waterfalls.”

He squeezes my knee. “Give me a few and I’ll join you.”

He stands from the lounger and walks behind me. I figure he is going in to change, but he leans over the back, his lips at my neck. He leaves a trail of kisses to my ear. Then whispers, “I might just have to tie you up to a chair again. Except this time you will be naked and at my mercy.”

He disappears and I grab my martini, swallowing the rest of it down in one giant gulp.

* * *

The four of us hang out on the terrace. Warm white lights give a soft ambiance to the deck as the stars flicker overhead.

Aria went to bed an hour ago. The four of us tipsy on booze. After the last martini, I switched to whiskey to keep my head less foggy.

Bastian and Cam’s chef cooked us a delicious meal of fresh fish and vegetables. He even made a caramel layered ice cream cake for Aria. Cam had asked her earlier about her favorite dessert and when she said caramel ice cream, the chef did not disappoint.

Kilian plays with my hair as Cam tells a story about her and Bastian. I smile as I listen to her. She is animated and it’s so easy to fall into her trance. No wonder Bastian loves her.

They told me more about their lives. The hardships they went through. The risks they took with The Partners. The sacrifices Kilian made. It only made me love him more. And it made me want what Bastian and Cam have. Their love is so real and they get to live the life they didn’t think they could. It gives me hope that I can have this one day with Kilian. With Kilian and Aria.

Bastian cuts a look to me. “Aria is a beautiful little girl. So smart.”

I nod. She had everyone entertained at the dinner table tonight. “She is. She is a good kid.”

He looks over to Kilian and I know he wants one of us to say it. One of us to admit the truth he saw the second he looked into her eyes.

“I didn’t know,” Kilian says to answer Bastian’s silent question.

My heart clenches at his words. Because it was my fault. I should have told him that night ten years ago. Should have found him somehow to let him know that he had a daughter.

“I just found out two nights ago,” he says. I drop my head in shame. Kilian grabs my hand. “We never put a name on what we had in Dublin. She had to be scared to tell me, a man ten years older than her, charming and successful—”

“Wow, Kil.” I shake my head at him and tell the story. “I was worried what he would say. I didn’t know what to do. I never planned on being pregnant so young. And I got scared and didn’t say anything the night I wanted to. Then I left. Because my family would have killed him.

“Aria’s entire life I have lied to her about her father. I did it to keep her safe from my family.” I glance toward Kilian. “And to keep my heart safe. When I saw the news that he died. I had so much regret. I should have told him.”

Bastian clears his throat. “So what is your plan? He’s a high player in The Partners and you are still the daughter of a Renzetti.”

I down the rest of my whiskey and shrug.

“I’m going to figure it out,” Kilian says.

I watch Bastian’s fingers graze Cam’s shoulder as he speaks. “You both have families that will kill the other. It’s going to be dangerous.”

“Bas, can you not turn the situation so dark?” Cam cuts in. “They have shit to figure out. But he just learned about Aria. You can’t expect them to have this figured out in one day. He isn’t you. And your plans are dumb anyway. Like when you turned yourself in to The Partners to protect me.”

She rolls her eyes and I can’t help but laugh. Kilian smiles at Bastian and the scowl on Bastian’s face deepens.

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