Page 43 of Romania
“I think there comes a time in life when you just get to the point when enough is enough. You don’t have to take the weight of the world on your shoulders. You can lean on people who want to help you, who want nothing more but for you to be who you want to be. If there’s an issue with the women and you’re not interested in dealing with it, someone else will. No one would want you to do anything you don’t want to.”
“I beat up a woman who was connected to Dusty being kidnapped. At the time, it felt good. I wanted to see her pain and fear. But… even to this day when I look at my hands sometimes I see her blood, and it crushes me. I realised I’m not made out for that type of punishment. A slap to the face to knock some sense, yes, but not that.”
“Then don’t. No one will care, Eve. In the days I’ve been here, I see so much love and support for everyone. It reminds me so much of home, and I know that if I didn’t want to hurt someone, even when they deserve it, then I wouldn’t have to. Someone is always at my back to help me.”
She let out a small, strained laugh. “Maybe this was why I kept my distance from you. You make too much sense. You’re too nice and sweet and tough.”
“Stop, you’re making me blush,” I teased.
She turned and smiled. “For days I watched every person you talk to fall in love with you. I’m not talking about in a sexual way. Well, some of the brothers maybe. But you have this ease about you that makes people want to be around you.”
The sweetness of her words made me all melty on the inside.
“You know you’re the same. People search you out to be around you. And there’s a certain someone who is completely?—”
She paled. “Don’t please.”
Reaching out, I took her hand and led her to the bed to sit down beside me. “Why?”
She sighed and then shrugged. “Quake is… he’s too much for me.”
I jerked my head back. “How?”
“He’s perfect, sweet, sexy, considerate, smart… everything I’m not. He deserves someone?—”
I gently slapped her forearm. “I’m going to stop you right there.”
She snorted. “Okay.”
“He doesn’t want anyone else.” When she went to say something, I pressed a finger to her perfect, pretty lips, making her glare. I smiled before I dropped my hand and said, “I’ve seen the way he looks at you, and it’s easy to see how amazing he thinks you are. He wants to make you his. So maybe try to stop letting whatever your parents said and did blind you from something that?—”
“But—”
“Nope. How long have you and Quake been sleeping with each other?”
“Years.”
“Babe,” I whispered. “I’d bet my left tit that neither you nor he has slept with anyone else in that time.”
“I haven’t. I don’t know about him.”
Cupping her cheeks, I squished them together. “Eve, babe. Quake is your man. It’s time you make an honest man out of him.”
She snorted again. “My brother?—”
“Probably already knows. People aren’t oblivious to you and Quake.”
“But—”
“Do you love him?”
We stared at each other, and her tears welled before she nodded.
“Then take what your heart wants and enjoy the lives you can build together because I already believe it could be something outstanding.”
She sniffed. “You’re a bitch.”
Grinning, I released her cheeks and stood. “Only when I’m making you see how worthy you are.”
