Page 69 of Queen of Vengeance

Omara’s hand curved the cheap metal of the door handle, turning it until it clicked.

The door swung open, letting in the warmth and fresh air from the outside, along with the heavy scent of expensive oils and finery.

“Diesel?” She quickly averted her eyes.

There was something so intimidating about how he looked at her… Like he was hungry.

“Omara, you look well,” his deep voice rumbled in his chest as he stepped past her and into the house.

“Do I? I don’t feel well.” She held her head down as she closed the front door. “May I get you something to drink?”

“Don’t trouble yourself. I’m just here to extend a helping hand.” Diesel reached into his coat and pulled out a pouch full of coins.

“Oh, Diesel, I appreciate the kind gesture. I always do, but I don’t like accepting your money. We’ve been managing to make due on our own.” Omara waved her hands, trying to decline politely. She wasn’t fully aware of what Diesel did to earn so much money in such a poor village, but she decided long ago that it was better that she didn’t know.

“Yes, you and Jax have managed, but Jax isn’t here anymore. I don’t like the idea of having you all alone.” His eyes watched her earnestly, sorrowfully.

Omara could tell there was something on the tip of his tongue he’d been waiting to say. She didn’t want to hear whatever it was. “I’m fine.”

He stepped closer to her, and she didn’t budge. “Why do you have to be so stubborn, Omara?”

He dragged his knuckles across her cheek, brushing her silver and black stray hairs back. “Diesel, please. I am your brother’s wife.”

“My brother’s been gone for a long time, Omara. You are no one’s wife now.” As much as it stung to hear, he wasn’t wrong.

She was holding out hope that someone who wasn’t alive anymore would return for her. “What would Jax think?”

“Jax is a grown man. And you are a lonely woman. I’m more concerned with what you think.” Diesel moved closer to Omara.

This time, she stepped back into the counter. “I feared the day this conversation might come up. I had hoped you would have more respect for your late brother. I still love him, and you know that. Being with you would be like betraying him.”

“In what way?” He tilted his head. His wolf-like eyes burned into Omara. “There’s no capacity for my brother to still be with you. You’re not betraying him by trying to be happy after he’s long gone. I’ve given you a respectable amount of time to mourn for him. In the meantime, I’ve still cared for you and your son. I’ve done everything I could from afar to make you happy—to give you the best life that I could. Don’t you see that I’m also in love with you? I always have been.”

She raised her head.

Her eyes grew wide with shock.

His declaration left her breathless.

“I don’t know what to say.” Omara had looked at Diesel in a different light for the first time.

He was no longer the younger brother of her late husband. He was a capable man, speaking genuinely from his heart. “You don’t have to say anything. I’m only asking you to be open to the idea. I’ll still wait for you as long as I have to.”

“He has always shown me kindness… and been good to Jax. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad not to be alone anymore.”

Omara raised her hand to Diesel’s face, cupping his cheek.

He leaned his head into her hand and growled. His skin felt hot to the touch. “Omara?”

His voice barely sounded human now as he leaned forward, holding her face and pressing his lips to hers.

She melted into his kiss, imagining that it was not Diesel she was kissing, but that it was her husband. The last kiss she always wanted from him. It was her way of finally laying her husband’s memory to rest.

25

LEA

Asearing pain burned through me, waking me up from a deep sleep.

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