Page 65 of Mercy (The Sins Trilogy 3)
“How could I? You’re my life, Ivy.”
“Does it ever worry you that I can be your vulnerability?”
Sam tried to manipulate and hurt me to hurt Tony. And plenty of people—like Margot—will try.
“You’re not my vulnerability. You’re my source of strength.” He looks at me, his eyes steady. “You’re my compass when I’m lost. I know the exact reason for my existence as long as you’re with me. How can that be a vulnerability? Most people never gain any clarity about their lives and waste so much time. Some of them die without ever realizing why they were put on this world.”
My heart stutters, then swells until my chest feels like it’s about to burst. Unshed tears prickle my eyes.
“Don’t look at me like that,” he says. “Everything I’m saying is true, Ivy. I’d be lost without you. My greatest punishment is not having you.”
A jolt of empathy and love shoots through me. He’s already suffered so much. Not just the two times we stayed apart, but the whole nine years since the car crash that took me out of his life. “Then you’ll never have to fear that. I’m never leaving you. Let’s compromise and…” I pull out my phone and check the calendar. “How about six weeks from this coming Saturday? It isn’t a holiday or anything.”
“Six weeks it is,” he says.
We order a slice of cheesecake to split. Tony moves his chair until he’s sitting so close that our arms are brushing. He uses his dessert fork to scoop up a mouthful and brings it to my lips. It’s incredibly rich, with amazing flavor and texture without being overly sweet.
Over port, we feed each other, our hands linked. The heat from his palm travels through me, warming me. My heart throbs.
When our server brings the check and places it in front of Tony, I reach over and grab it. He looks at me questioningly.
“It’s my treat.” I stick my plastic in the leather folio.
“But you don’t have to,” Tony says with a small frown.
“Just be gracious and say, ‘Thank you.’ Sometimes I want to treat you to nice things.”
The sweetest and most tender smile splits his face. “Thank you.”
I place my head on his shoulder. “You’re welcome.”
