Page 72 of Abandoned Oaths

I wanted to shake him for being obtuse. “I mean, you have feelings for her.”

He sighed and leaned back against the wall, neither of us pressing the button to head up. “Yeah, she’s incredible. She’s perfect, for all of us, but it doesn’t matter.”

“Why not?”

“Because at the end of this, we’ll split up.”

“It could just be a few weeks of fun.” I pressed the up button.

He smirked. “She’s not the type to play without claws. I’m not sure any of us would walk away whole.”

Unfortunately, that threat might not be enough to keep me away.

We stepped inside, slipping back into silence as we entered the apartment.

“You’re back.” Emilia peeked out from the kitchen as we took off our black jackets.

“You’re up.” Marco eyed her as he passed.

I went to the fridge, grabbed a beer, and tossed it to him before getting one for myself.

She leaned her hip against the counter. “I couldn’t sleep.”

“Something wrong?” I fought the instinct to go to her, to check her over.

“No, my brain just wouldn’t shut up.”

Or was she waiting for us? “Where’s Derek?”

“He wouldn’t let me in. He said I should be sleeping.” She rolled her eyes.

“He’s not wrong,” Marco teased. “But since you’re up, we can go over what we found out.”

Her eyes lit up. “What?”

“We’re pretty sure Dias has a sister.”

She straightened. “Really? There’s no record of her.”

“We know. It’s something we’ll keep investigating, but it might just be easier for you to ask him about his family. If he’s keeping her existence off the record, there must be a reason.”

She agreed. “Yeah, I’ll bring it up next time I see him.”

Marco walked around the island to the bin and dropped his bottle. “Well, unlike you, I’m exhausted. I’ll see you guys in the morning.”

“Night.”

She smiled at him as he passed and watched him until he disappeared down the hall before turning to face me. A blush warmed her cheeks when she realized I’d caught her.

I finished my beer in a few gulps. “Want to know my favorite thing to do when my brain won’t shut up?”

She turned to me, a brow lifting. “Train?”

I shook my head as I moved closer, pinning her against the counter between my arms. “Fuck.”

She searched my face like she was waiting for me to break and laugh, but I was serious.

I lowered my head until there was less than an inch between our lips. “It’s the best way to relax.”

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