Twisted Fate (Dark Heart Duet #2) - Ella James Page 0,109
went into hiding or skipped town.” He swallows, his eyes peeking open. “Alesso or Leo would take over. Or there’s some other guys. Ant or Lisa.”
“Is Lisa really a guy?”
He smiles. “Girl. A woman.”
“You could just leave?”
“I wouldn’t put it like that. But the Armenians…lashed out already. My car got stolen. I just checked my texts…Alesso told me. And these two warehouses Aren knew about…are burning. Our warehouses.”
“Oh my God.”
“Someone lit them on fire.”
“Is one of them that Queens location?”
He nods. “That’s where we would do the pink ops.”
“Is it? That’s why you said if I’m looking at that, I need to talk to someone at the FBI.”
He nods again.
“Some people there really knew what you were up to?”
“Just one or two. The main one…had a baby.” He frowns. “That’s why she wasn’t there to intervene…when the Aren stuff happened.” I watch as he takes a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment. “How do you feel?” he asks softly.
“I’m okay. I should be asking you that.”
He quirks a brow, and I watch him scoot to the bed’s edge. I’m going to ask if he needs help getting up, but he stands before I can. “I should go,” he murmurs, swaying slightly. “Let you think.”
“Think about what?” I sit up, frowning.
He shuts his eyes, grabbing onto Ree’s desk chair. “You can’t work…because of me. I’m still the guy…you’re not allowed to date.” He looks pale.
“Okay, but that’s not by your choice.”
“I almost got you and the baby…killed.” His voice goes low and throaty on that word, and pain twists his face. “I don’t know.” He shakes his head once, pressing his forehead to his arm. “I just…don’t know.”
“So what are you saying?” My voice wobbles.
“You should think about…letting Jace claim the baby. And keep your job.” He lifts his head slightly, looking at me. “At least…until your term is over. We can be together later.”
I can’t even speak for a long moment. I realize my mouth is hanging open, and I shut it. “Is that how you really feel? That it could wait between us?”
He presses his lips flat. “Well…it’s logical.”
“Would you continue being in your line of work?”
“I don’t know.” His gaze falling to the floor. “I’d have to transition.”
“You said it’s going to be dangerous. In the hospital stairwell. You said the Armenians would start a war.”
His gaze slides to mine as his lips twitch. “I was high on morphine.”
“You said you wanted me.” I swallow hard, so I don’t break down.
“Doesn’t matter. We’re adults. Sometimes what we want…doesn’t work.”
“I don’t want this life. I want to be with you.” My pulse surges. I start scooting toward the bed’s edge—if I can hold him, I know I can soothe whatever cold feet he has—but he’s moving toward the door.
“I don’t have a life to give you. Not yet. Maybe never. I could get pulled in tomorrow by the FBI.” He takes a deep breath, looking tired as all the world. “I just took out a big fish they had…battered up for frying.”
Tears spill from my eyes. “I thought you said you were okay with them. That they knew. And you were just saying you wanted to be together!” Am I crazy?
“I do…want you. I want you happy. I want you to…have some options.” He sounds breathless.
“Like you do?”
“I’m fine.”
“You look like you’re going to pass out if you don’t sit down.”
He shakes his head slowly. “I have to go.” His eyes seem less than focused. He won’t look at me as he wraps his hand around the doorknob. “I’ve got…things to do. To protect my brother and my friends.” He bows his head. “I don’t want to fuck up again.”
“So you’re leaving right now?” I get off the bed, trying to decide if I’m furious or devastated.
“I have to.” His eyes are pleading. His mouth twists downward like he’s upset, and he shuts his eyes as he breathes deeper.
“Just stay with me one more night. Please, Luca. I think we need to talk more. Talk this out more.”
His face is regretful. “I can’t.”
Tears start falling again as cold panic grips me. “Will you call me this time? Please? Don’t give up on what we have. You have to promise me you won’t. Don’t be afraid of being happy with me. Promise me that.”
He nods. “Promise. I’ll put the baby and you first.”
I get up and cross the rug to him, and then I hug him. He rests his chin on my head, and I stroke his warm