Page 122 of Chemistry: The Chemist

“What’s the matter?”

She lifted, fixing her clothes as she wiped her eyes. “I’ve known it all along, too. I tumbled and have been falling for a mighty long time. I love you. I feel it in my heart from the moment I open my eyes until I close them. And when I fall asleep, you’re there too. You’re not alone. Don’t ever think you are. I feel it too. I feel it all.”

Her words soothed me. I wasted little time exiting the truck that had grown clammy in the midst of my divulging. Eden followed. Before taking off, I pressed her body against the back door and smoothed down her ponytail. Her eyes had swelled slightly and still had signs of moisture. I cleaned it with the handkerchief in my pocket.

“Choc,” I began. “There is something you have neglected to mention.”

“Is there?”

“The name of the ex that broke your heart.”

“Chemistry.”

“His name.”

“No, because he has a wife and family now. I will not allow you to take him away from them.”

“He doesn’t get to live peacefully while you continue to live with a broken heart.”

“My heart okay, Chem.”

“Oh, I don’t doubt it. I’m going to make sure of that. But, you still live with the results of his actions.”

“No.”

“Yes, Eden.”

“Then, promise you won’t lay a hand on him.”

“I promise.”

“I feel like you’re lying.”

“I haven’t lied to you yet. I’m not starting today.”

“Adonis. Adonis Von.”

My thumb slid down my tongue. I cleaned the tear stains from her face with the saliva assisting.

“Good. Good. Thank you, Choc.”

“Don’t lay a hand on him, Chemistry. Don’t even say a word to him. Don’t break your promise to me.”

“I’d never, Choc.”

“Did you really just use spit to clean my face?” She chuckled.

“You let me.”

It wasn’t until she began to resemble the Eden I knew and not an emotionally scarred, shockingly gorgeous model who’d been turned down for her dream gig that we pushed through the private entrance of the family jeweler. She took the hand I was extending for her to grab. Her empty hand reminded me of why we were here.

I was ready to weigh Eden’s finger down with a block of ice, but there was one problem. I didn’t know her size. That was the point of our visit. Once that was settled, I could get the ball rolling. Before my father took his last breath, Eden would take my last name.

THIRTEEN

The stress of the case was weighing on me. Familiarity wasn’t debatable at this point of the investigation. I missed my mother. I missed my best friend. I missed the freedom of going and doing as I pleased. And I missed the time I spent with Chemistry before I discovered his identity.

“It will all be over soon, Johanson. We just need more specifics. Where does he live? Does he have any secret locations we should know? Tailing him has led us nowhere. I am afraid I’ll lose one of my agents if he catches wind that we’re following him so we fall back. You’re our only hope.”

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