Page 132 of King of Obsession

An understanding passes between them, and she says, “New players rise every day. We can start a war that will be a long and excruciating one or we can forget and move on.”

“Without trust?” Kieran snickers.

I pin them each with an intent look. “You only trust each other. So let’s stop this pretend bullshit.”

They exchange a glance before muting me and having a conversation. Then Kieran says, “Betrayal is betrayal and spilled blood demands blood. If we make exceptions, the word will get out.”

“How much?” It’s all about power. And fuck if I am not willing to pay it. The sigh my woman lets out feels like a spike stabbing my chest. I never want her to think she’s my damnation.

“You don’t have that much,” Cato grumbles.

“Don’t make me come for you because this time, it won’t end well,” Calla warns, determination dripping from her haughty tone.

“You’re out,” Kieran says and disconnects the line.

Fuck. That is like a double-edged sword, either side cuts.

“They didn’t say it’s war directly.” I try to diffuse the heavy situation while she remains silent, appearing deep in thought, so I insist, “We don’t need them. We simply won’t go into their territory, and they better stay out of ours.”

Wanting this whole subject done and over, I brush my knuckles along her cheek, and she leans into my touch. Without a single doubt, she’s worth everything.

“I love you, amore mio. Together or not at all.”

“Together or not at all,” she whispers, and the cloud lifts from her face.

“I found the dress,” she says, excitement ringing in her voice.

An appreciative sound rumbles in my throat. “I know I will love it, but I will love it even more when I get to undress you.”

She slaps my chest playfully. By now she is well aware of my insatiable appetite for her. Right when I am about to give in to my urges, Kill pokes his head inside the office and launches himself straight at her. She gets on her knees and immediately pats him, cooing at him.

“Cockblocker,” I mumble to him while the asshole gets on his belly for her.

“You missed me? I’ve missed you too. And look what I got you.”

She talks to him as if he were human. I chuckle, remembering how she would stay feet apart from him when she first saw him. And now he’s taking a lot of her attention. Serves me right. Worst idea I had.

I follow them to the kitchen, where she gives him a new treat. She studies which ones he likes the most. Every time she’s in town, she brings him some, even though the pantry is full.

Then we go outside, taking turns throwing a ball for him.

Pulling her to my chest, I rest my chin on her shoulder as I lock my arms around her belly. It’s a beautiful fall day, the sun high in the sky but not as scorching as in summer.

“I never thought we’d come so far,” she says in a meek, almost incredulous tone. I remain perfectly still, so she’ll continue. When it comes to the past and everything that’s happened, she needs a moment to gather her thoughts.

I let her have her own healing path. I am not proud of some things I did either.

“The first time you were so assured of our love and future that I panicked… imagine being someone who venerated a man responsible for me being an orphan. I fought against my feelings, but in vain. Your pull was so much stronger than my resistance. When I pulled the trigger, even knowing I would not kill you, it was like, ‘I’ll lose him, anyway. So it doesn’t matter.’” Her deep sigh cuts me deep and I squeeze her waist lightly to comfort her. “At times, I wonder how you can love someone so deeply flawed as me. The things I did…” I know she has a heart she shows only to a few select ones. She’s a good woman. Some would call her morally gray, but all I can see her as is my counterpart, my better half.

“Many people will remember my deeds and will hate me. Hate our child… I…”

I won’t allow anything bad to happen to her or our child and Calla would paint the world red with me by her side. That’s the thing I focus on. Our enemies and friends know what we cando. Crossing a limit would not mean war; it would set forth the apocalypse.

I kiss her temple. “We’re safe here.”

She turns in my arms, looking up at me and smiling brighter than any star. “You said you’d give me a life I’ve never dreamed about. You were right. Love. Home. Family. Thank you and thank you for loving me.”

“I didn’t have much choice in the latter.”

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