Page 31 of Empowered

I leaned back into my chair, taking my glass with me. “She’s better. Still has her stitches in but the wound seems to be healing without much scarring.”

“That’s good to hear,” he said, swirling the liquid in his drink. “Not going to lie, that thing turned my stomach when Tarun ripped her bandage off. I’m glad she was the one who got to kill him. She deserved revenge after the shit he did to her.”

I wasn’t too thrilled that I had introduced the woman I loved to a world of killing and criminals. Even though she said he never raped her, I still felt rage whenever I thought about the things she’d endured at his hand. Every time I looked at her cuts and bruises, I saw red. If she hadn’t met me, she wouldn’t have had to shoot anyone. She’d still be safe in her apartment in New York. “I wish it were one of us. Not her.”

Jai nodded, understanding my reasons without an explanation. “I’m sorry I haven’t been up to see her. I wanted to give you all space.”

“I appreciate it. Even though she’s recovering well, she still gets tired often and needs pain meds to be comfortable.” When I wasn’t in the office, I was taking care of her. I barely let Raj or any of the maids look after her. I preferred to personally change her dressings, feed her, and give her medication myself. I even bathed her every day, so she didn’t need to stand on her feet for too long in the shower. She thought I was overdoing it, but I needed to do it. I felt guilty for not keeping her safe in the first place.

“When’s her next check-up with the doctor?” he asked.

“Tomorrow.”

He was quiet for a moment, as if considering his next words. “I’m proud of you.”

I raised my eyebrow, unsure of what had prompted his praise.

“You dropped the selfish-prick shit and manned up.”

I chuckled. “You’re one to talk. You’re the most selfish prick around.”

“I’m still a bachelor, so I’m allowed to be one. When I find the right woman, I’ll need to drop it too. But until then, I’llprickas much as I want.” He flashed a sly grin before taking a sip of his drink.

“I told her I love her,” I blurted it out.

His jaw dropped in disbelief. “No shit. How did you manage that one?”

“It just came out. I was stupid for pushing her away before.”

He moved to the edge of his seat and leaned in toward me. “Do you want to marry her?”

I frowned. “It’s a little too early to think about marriage, don’t you think?”

“Is it? I mean, you both endured more than the average couple ever does in a lifetime.”

“I guess you’re right.” I had been against marriage, but now, my mind was opening to so many things that I had never considered before. It wasn’t off the table. Picturing Amelia as my wife and pregnant with my child tugged at my heart in a way that I had never felt. But I didn’t want to rush things yet. I had just gotten her back and wanted to enjoy being together again.

Jai’s expression turned serious. “Are you sure you want to keep her in this life, though?”

“Hold on. You’re the one who kept harassing me to admit my feelings for her and prove my love to her, and now, when I tell you that I did it, you’re questioning my decision?” I was so confused with his flip-flopping.

“Don’t get me wrong. I love that you guys are finally together and in a relationship. I think she’s perfect for your cold-ass heart. But you saw what this life did to Mom and Salena.”

I had, and it was the reason I had been against marriage in the first place. “Tarun is gone, though.”

“Yeah, but there’ll be a new Tarun one day. We have too many enemies to never go through this again.”

He was right. I thought about my conversation with Amelia when she lamented about how Salena had never deserved any of this. Amelia didn’t deserve it either. “So, what do I do? Let her go?” The thought made me sick to my stomach. I thought she was gone for good once and that had killed me. I couldn’t do it again.

“I don’t know, man. But if you’re going to marry her, then you need to really think long and hard about the impactthisis going to have on her life and your kids’ lives,” he said, picking up one of the files from the table and waving it at me.

I was supposed to be relieved and happy that she was back with me, but instead I felt guilt gnaw at me. I didn’t want to think about this anymore. “Breaktime over. Get back to work.”

With that, I did what I had always done best—shut off my emotions.

Chapter XXI

Amelia

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