Page 132 of Aching for His Discretion

“I still want some,” she said softly as I brushed the hair out of her face, and her eyes fluttered shut.

“Anything for you, Tesoro mio,” I whispered and took a look at the envelope on the end of her desk that would have to wait to be opened when she woke up.

“Absolutely anything for you.”

Going down the steps to the basement as my Tesoro slept peacefully on the couch, I was met with the boy whose head was down. Upon hearing my footsteps, he lifted it and glared at me silently.

“I really want to kill you,” I muttered, and he remained quiet. “I’ve never given this many second chances. Only to her fucked-up brother… and I need to protect my sweet Tesoro. I can’t let just anyone stand in the way of her achieving her dreams or being safe and happy.”

“But you’vechanged… right?” Jacob whispered with a slight hint of sarcasm, and I hummed as I nodded.

“You’re absolutely right. I have changed. I was actually thinking about letting you go… allowing you a chance to get away and start fresh, you know. Working on my sense of empathy and understanding. It’s what my bastard therapist wanted me to do.”

“And now?” he started, and I shrugged, leaning down slightly to be at eye level as I recalled what he said earlier.

If I ever… and I mean ever get out of here, you’re fucking mine.

“Now...you’ve dug your grave.I would be an idiot to let you go free now, after you threatened what’s mine face to face, hmm?” I said, waiting for an answer, and he didn’t say anything in response.

Reaching into my back pocket, I pulled out my brass knuckles as I smirked. Once I pulled them onto my fingers, his eyes widened slightly as I whispered, “Oh, and I truly hope you enjoyed the show earlier.Thought I’d use it as a chance to show you who she truly belongs to.”

Chapter fifty-seven

Teegan

Waking up on Levi’s couch in his office, I rubbed my eyes softly as they adjusted. The only light in the room was from the lamp on his desk that illuminated his broad figure sitting in the chair.

He looked over at me as he toyed with one of the rings on his fingers and beckoned me over with his other hand. Standing up slowly from the couch, I approached his desk slowly, his eyes darkening slightly as he gazed at me. After I rounded his desk, he pulled me over gently, allowing me to sit on his lap comfortably.

“How did you sleep, Tesoro?” he asked, and I leaned my head on his shoulder.

“Fine...” I whispered, and he hummed, his hand running up and down my leg softly.

“I hope I wasn’t too rough with you,” he whispered, and I shook my head.

“No... it was perfect,” I replied honestly, and he placed a small kiss on my head.

“You’re perfect,” he muttered, and my eyes glanced over to the closed basement door. My face flushed at the memories ofjust a few hours ago, and my heart raced slightly as I thought of whether Jacob was alive.

I wasn’t sure how Levi would have handled the situation, and for some reason,I didn’t want to know.Looking back over to him, I watched as one of his hands leaned over slightly to grab the envelope on the desk.

“I have something for you,” he continued, and my heart fluttered as he handed it to me. He held me closer to him as I looked down at it. “Open it.”

Slowly but surely, I tore open the flap and pulled out the letter. Glancing down at the folded paper, I opened it cautiously and read the page. A few seconds had gone by… then a minute... then most likely ten.

Levi didn’t say anything as he simply watched me, waiting for me to speak when I was ready. But what could I say?What could I say when the paper I read was an invoice for my largest loan?

Medical school isn’t cheap. I couldn’t work due to studying, and my parents couldn’t afford both my tuition and living expenses. I took out loans for my entire four years and had to use them to pay for everything in my life.

I was planning to pay them back after residency with the help of a small trust fund my parents had for me. Though it would have taken me ten years, I would have paid it off. But now, there was no need.

Looking over at Levi as he continued staring at me, I pondered for a moment. Sometimes, I have trouble understanding how much power, status, or money he has. To me, he’s Levi, Mr. Amante, my first true love, but to others, he’s a business owner, a mafia boss,the devil.

$450,000 PAID

It was all that was written in large bold on the invoice. I didn’t even know what to say. “Thank you” wasn’t enough. It felt like I was in debt to him, and it was true for many different reasons.

I owed him my life for taking care of me, for protecting me, for cherishing me, for loving me, for everything he has done for me. We had our ups and downs, and through all of it, he was still willing to learn, change, and grow for me and for our relationship.

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