his eyes a little. “I’ve already forgiven you.”
“No, you haven’t.” I shake my head. “It’s okay that you haven’t. I hurt you terribly. But what I need to know is if there’s a possibility I can earn your forgiveness.”
He inhales like he’s going to argue with me, but further tension bleeds from his body with his exhale. “I don’t know. I …”
I fight for a tentative smile even though his answer feels like a punch in the solar plexus. “Thank you for being honest.”
Gaeton reaches to smooth my hair back from my face, his hand moving as if he can’t help himself. “I never stopped loving you. I don’t think either of us did. It’s just all tangled up in the other shit.”
“There’s a lot of other shit.” That’s the crux of the matter. Maybe if we’d all been this honest the first time around, we’d have a chance. Two weeks is not enough time to fight for both the future and to be free of the sins of the past. Choosing one of them might very well be a moot point, just prolonging the inevitable crash and burn. “I don’t know if we can find a way through.”
His gaze trails to where Beast is leaning against the bar, wearing his customary dark jeans and plain T-shirt. “Beast has a plan. I just can’t decide if it’s a good one or downright disastrous.”
I cautiously lean my head against his broad shoulder and nearly whimper with relief when he wraps his arm around me and tucks me against his side. “I missed you,” I whisper.
He tenses, but it’s almost like he can’t hold it. Gaeton pulls me closer and brushes a kiss to my temple. “I missed you, too.”
I half expect Beast to be irritated that we’re cuddling while he’s retrieving drinks, but he looks inordinately pleased as he walks back to the booth to find me nearly in Gaeton’s lap. He carefully sets the drinks on the table in front of us. Whiskey for him and Gaeton. A gin and tonic for me. He slides into the booth on my other side and then I’m sandwiched between them. Beast starts to speak, but a new group of people walk into the lounge and he leans back, words unsaid.
I see why when the pair of men peel off, leaving two women striding toward the bar. One is white and slight, with short white-blond hair. She’s wearing pleated gray trousers that stop at her ankles and show off red-bottomed heels. Suspenders cling to her narrow shoulders and frame her pristine white blouse.
The other woman is tall and Black. Her long hair is styled in thin dreadlocks that start black and shift to a rich red at the ends, and she’s wearing a wrap dress that shows off her generous curves to maximum effect.
The women are stunning.
They’re also two of the most dangerous people in Carver City.
Malone and Ursa.
Ursa’s attention lands on us and she gives a satisfied smile as if we’re right where she expected us to be. She motions for Malone to keep heading to the bar and strides to our booth, her brightly printed dress swishing with each step. She glances at the men and then narrows her attention on me. “My condolences on the loss of your father.” She almost sounds like she means it.
“Thank you.” The reply is automatic.
Ursa’s gaze flicks to the collar around my neck. “I didn’t realize you were a patron of the Underworld.”
Neither Beast nor Gaeton seem that inclined to jump in, but it’s just as well. At the end of the day, they are generals and I’m the sister of the new territory leader. I have to be able to stand on my own, or run the risk of telegraphing a weakness that will have sharks circling, scenting blood in the water. Ursa’s already at our doorstep. We can’t afford to have anyone else sniffing around. “It’s a recent development, brought along by a mutual interest.” I lean back a little, letting Beast and Gaeton’s strength cushion me on either side. “I’m sure you understand.”
“With those two delicious specimens, no one can blame you.” She finally gives the men her full attention. “It is both of you, isn’t it? I would hate to see another situation like before, where you’re hauling these boys around by their heartstrings. It’s an entertaining spectacle, but hardly sends the message of strength.”
“Ursa.” I draw on every bit of training I’ve had growing up, knowing how to wield