Page 61 of Thawed Gladiator: Victor

“My father would say that wisdom includes recognizing life’s greatest treasures.” His lips brush my forehead. “And I have found mine.”

I draw the blanket over us both, nestling into the crook of his arm as if I’ve always belonged there. Outside, the night wraps around our sanctuary, keeping the world at bay. Tomorrow will bring new challenges, new battles to face together. But tonight, we have this—this perfect moment of connection.

His breathing slows as sleep claims him, but his arms remain secure around me, protective even in rest.

“Sleep,Fortis,” he murmurs, already half-dreaming. “I am here.”

And as I drift into slumber, wrapped in his embrace, I know with absolute certainty that I am home.

Chapter Forty-Six

Damian

I wake with a start, disoriented for a moment. Then I relax into the bed when I realize my Maya is nestled in my arms. The sanctuary. We made it. We’re safe.

Instead of my morning meditation, I focus on all the things I’m thankful for. Today, they all revolve around the woman still sound asleep next to me.

Last night transformed something already precious into something unbreakable. When her eyes finally flutter open and find mine, her smile contains the same certainty I feel in my heart.

“Good morning,” she whispers, reaching up to trace my jaw with gentle fingertips.

“Indeed, it is,” I reply, capturing her hand to press a kiss against her palm. “Although there are some spots I failed to kiss last night and I want to give every measure of your skin the worship it deserves, we should probably join the others soon.”

She sighs, but nods in agreement. After all the difficulties we’ve been through to reach this sanctuary, we both understand the importance of building connections with my brothers and their community.

The sanctuary’s main hall fills with the rich aroma of breakfast as the sun shines through high windows as we enter, holding hands.

What Maya and I shared last night erased the final barriers between us. We are together. A couple. Anything else the gods throw our way will be met with our combined wisdom, strength, and will.

I lean close, nuzzle Maya’s neck to catch her sweet scent, and then kiss her cheek. Nothing improper, just a clear sign to anyone watching—and they all are—that this is my woman and anyone who doesn’t treat her with respect will have to deal with me.

No one looks surprised. There are already three other mated couples at Second Chance. By the looks my brothers are flashing me, they all approve.

The scent of fresh bread and garum mingles with unfamiliar modern dishes, creating a bridge between past and present.

Maya’s thigh presses against mine as we sit, reminding me of her affection. Her eyes track the complex dynamics playing out around us—the way Varro naturally takes the lead in discussions, how Thrax listens more than he talks. Perhaps she even notices that Sulla hasn’t joined us this morning.

“The corporate hunters have been circling closer,” Laura explains, opening her tablet and stabbing at a map with her finger. “But Dara Hobson’s team is ready for them and in full protection mode. For now, we’re secure.”

“We must thank her,” I say, tightening my grip on Maya’s hand, “if she helped save our roast.”

“Bacon,” Maya corrects with a laugh. Laura and Varro smile. There will be many complications with our translators in the months and years to come.

“Any word of Tony Esposito, the mob boss who now has a vendetta against us?” Maya asks, tension evident in her voice.

“Being one of the richest people in the world has its advantages,” Laura says. “Dara’s contacts assure her the FBI is building a case. I forwarded the info on your father’s flash drive through secure channels. They’re going to indict him on multiple charges—racketeering, money laundering, and attempted kidnapping. He’ll be tied up in court for years, and then hopefully behind bars.”

Just as I feel Maya relax against me at that news, Laura adds, “Tony’s small potatoes. It’s the pharmaceutical companies we need to worry about. They have deep pockets and deeper influence.”

The small potatoes comment doesn’t translate well, or make sense, but I understand her point. We don’t need to worry about Tony, at least for the moment.

Maya’s gaze travels to the chair her father sat in last night and she stiffens next to me. He hasn’t joined us for breakfast, choosing instead to help in the stable with morning feeding. The change in him is subtle, but significant. We’ve been here less than a day and he’s already seeking ways to contribute rather than scheme.

Movement near the hall’s entrance draws my attention. Lucius stands partially in shadow, his pale features and lighter eyes making him seem nearly ghostlike. There’s something almost supernatural in his keen gaze as it sweeps the room, missing nothing.

“Your father seeks redemption,” he says quietly to Maya as he passes our table. “For the first time, he considers the good of the many instead of just himself.”

The observation strikes uncomfortably close to the truth, as Lucius’s insights often did even in our days in theludus. He’d been valued more for his connection to the gods than his actual intelligence—or his ability to fight. It was a burden I saw weigh on him daily.

---