“Evangeline…” I say my name as if it’s a foreign identity, taking in the realization that he not only marked himself with the same symbol as the one on my neck but further specialized it with my name.
My name…
“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” he quietly whispers as his hand cups my cheek, lifting my head so I can peer into his soothing gaze. “No one will ever replace you, Eva. No one else is worthy of my loyalty,” he vows. “I’m yours.”
I’m on the verge of crying all over again.
“And if no one believes it, they can suck my pierced cock,” he encourages with a wink, causing me to laugh through the tears.
“You’re crazy.” I giggle. I couldn’t be happier.Couldn’t possibly feel so fulfilled.
“A lot of people tell me that,” Zander hums and moves to give me a tight hug. “I don’t believe them, though. I think I’m just extremely smart.”
“Extremely, huh?” I offer. “Don’t let Ares and Matteo hear that. I feel you’ll have competition.”
“Never,” he dismisses them. “C’mon. We have one more surprise for you.”
“R-Really?” I feel like this is enough. “And what about the challenge?”
“We have to finish it,” he says with a wink. “That means getting your new toy up the path.”
“This is really mine,” I whisper, finally acknowledging that this uniquely designed motorbike is mine. “I’ve never seen this model before.”
“It’s brand new. Don’t know how Matteo managed it, but I told him Ares and I wanted to get you a survival gift, which was a bike, but I wanted something new with loads of safety features.”
Slipping his boxers on, he makes sure we have everything before walking over to pick up the helmet.
“They’re not releasing this one to the public for another two years,” he reveals. “You’re the first to get it. I think the second one is reserved for some heir in India, but that’s it.”
“Two… in the world.”
“One still,” he says with a wink. “We made sure whoever is getting theirs would have a hint of a delay in receiving the shipment.”
“Zander!” I emphasize his name and watch the boyish pride bubble through him.
“They didn’t need it right away,” he speaks as if he knows the owner. “They’ll survive.”
“That’s tampering with others property. Aren’t you guys going to get in trouble?”
“Nah.” He dismisses it. “They can try us, but the moment they realize it’s for Matteo’s ‘wife’, they’ll shut up real quick.”
“W-W-Wife!” I exclaim. “Don’t tell me he’s telling everyone that.”
“Telling?” Zander has the biggest smirk on his lips. “It’s been told. Emphasized. Made into a law in our society that you don’t mess with Matteo’s ‘wife’ unless you have a death wish.”
“You don’t believe people are going to respect that, right?”
“They don’t have to,” Zander admits with a shrug as he slowly lowers the helmet onto my head. Lifting the tinted visor, I get to admire his face up close as he peers down at me. “But let them try. I’d fight them until my dying breath, and if I’m down for the count, real hell will get loose ‘cause Keir would ruin them.”
Keir… meaning…
I want to ask, yet I hold my tongue, feeling unsure whether I’m allowed to ask about that. I’ve seen and heard the signs between the two of them, but I never felt it was my right to ask.
To delve into unknown territory… or trauma.
“Half,” he whispers, giving me a glimpse of the truth. “His existence wasn’t his fault. Nor my father’s. Forced circumstances to remain in this fucked society.”
Zander smirks then, and though he tries to hide it, I can see the hurt is still raw.