Page 88 of Heir

I doubted she would appreciate waking up to find she couldn’t get out of bed on her own.

Even if the thought sent a wave of satisfaction through me, I—

Fuck.

I couldn’t.

I wasn’t known for being considerate, but even I knew Gemma was different, and I didn’t want to scare her. I just wanted her to stay here.

For-fucking-ever.

The kitchen was still a mess.

My skin itched as I saw everything, from the dirty dishes in the sink to the tomato sauce on the island and finally to the broken plates.

I passed a pan of cooked lasagna by the stove.

It had smelled delicious when I’d walked into the apartment, but I should have taken more care. Not everyone lived in a world where they needed to be constantly aware of their surroundings. Gemma hadn’t even heard me come in.

I frowned.

If I kept her in my life, she would need to work on that. My life was dangerous, and the woman in it would be in danger by association.

Inourlives, because there was no doubt in my mind that Roman and Dad lived with the constant fear that something could happen to Ryleigh and Emmy, that they could be taken away from us.

Could I be like them and bring Gemma into it?

Could I put my own fucking need for her first, before her own safety?

Fuck, but I didn’t know.

I went to the cleaning-supply closet for a broom to clean up the broken plates.

I was in the kitchen when I heard the front door unlock, and Dad walked in.

Fuck.

He stopped when he found me in the kitchen, cleaning the mess.

“What the fuck happened?”

His voice wasn’t loud, but it sounded booming because I was aware Gemma was sleeping.

I brought my finger to my lips, and one of his eyebrows rose in surprise. I leaned the broom against the kitchen island and indicated the sliding door that led out to the balcony.

He followed me out and took a seat on one of the two wooden patio chairs.

I sat in the other one and looked at the city and the Tower Bridge. The view right here was why I’d wanted to live in this apartment in the first place.

“I’m assuming the girl is sleeping in there?” One corner of his lips curved in a small half-smile.

I didn’t say anything to that.

“I’m not surprised, son.”

“Don’t. We’re just having fun.”

“Having fun?”

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