Page 46 of Ruthless Desires: Vol. Two
Fuck.I can’t even say it out loud when she’s not conscious. Oliver has already said it, and I can’t imagine Elliot will be far behind. How will she feel if it takes me a lot longer? Will she understand? Or will she view it as me not caring for her?
What if I’m never able to say it?
Then you’ll show her. You’ll show her just like you do with Ell and O. You’ll do everything you possibly can.
The thought doesn’t calm my worries completely, but it helps enough that I can relax. I kiss Wren’s temple and close my eyes.
It takes an hour, or maybe longer, but eventually I drift off to sleep with my arms locked around the only woman on this planet I’d willingly lay down my life for.
Chapter nine
Elliot
In the morning, I get up with Oliver. It’s still dark outside, and I normally don’t get up this early, but I don’t want him to have to eat breakfast alone.
I check my phone and notice that I have a text.
Sparrow Belgrave:Don’t underestimate Aubrey.
What the hell?I shouldn’t be surprised that somehow Sparrow knows we’re Aubrey’s bodyguards for the next few days. Not only is she a master at making people disappear, the woman knowseverything.That’s why we couldn’t turn down the Wyoming job when she offered. Inevitably, Sparrow has dirt on Ludo that we’ll need. It’s good to be in her circle so that when the time comes, we can buy it from her.
Still, it’s a potential safety problem that the information made its way to her.
Elliot:How did you find out Ludo hired us?
She doesn’t respond immediately, so I slip my phone back into my pocket.
As Oliver pours himself a bowl of cereal, he asks, “Did you sleep okay?”
“Like the dead. You?”
He shrugs. “Woke up a lot.”
It’s classic for him, especially in a situation like this. No doubt, he’s worried about Ludo being suspicious of us. We’ve made sure to keep our relations with him civil and professional, but that all changed when Oliver accused Ludo of knowing where Wren was when she got kidnapped.
“We’ll be okay. We just have to tread carefully.”
“I will. I… I’m sorry, Ell. I just—I fucking lost it when we watched those videos Jordan sent us. I wasn’t thinking straight.” He bows his head.
“We were all desperate to get her back.”
“But what if I ruined everything? What if this whole job is a ruse, a test of loyalty we’re bound to fail? What if Ludo never trusts us?”
“It doesn’t matter.” I grab his shoulders, turning him so he’s facing me. “One way or another, we’ll be the end of him, O. I don’t care what we have to do or what we have to sacrifice. As long as the four of us stay together, we’ll find a way. I promise you that.”
His brows are furrowed and his eyes are still full of doubts. But when he meets my gaze, I spot just enough of his usual determination—just enough that I know he’ll be okay.
“Okay,” he murmurs.
It doesn’t take too long for Oliver to eat his cereal, and by then, it’s time for him to head to the condo. Just as he’s putting his shoes on, the door to Rhett and Wren’s bedroom opens and shuts quietly. Rhett slips out, padding across the room toward us.
“Where’s Wren?” Oliver asks, peering behind Rhett.
“She’s still asleep. I just came out to say bye before heading back in.”
“Oh,” Oliver says softly. “You didn’t have to do that. I—”
Rhett catches him in his arms. Cradling the back of his head with one hand, he leans down and kisses him. Oliver clings to him, to the notion of safety and peace that comes with being inside Rhett’s embrace, before sighing.
