Page 206 of Ruthless Kings of Havoc

“Blue,” he says with a wink. “Like your eyes, but you enjoy teal blue. Though I feel as though you enjoy pink due to a certain someone.”

He peers at Matteo as he observes us.

“I’m not going to ask what you’re talking about.”

“Bunnies,” Ares notes as he carries me toward the stairs that bring us to the deck platform. “Your obsession with them.”

“I’m obsessed with them because Sweet Precious loves them.”

“I do love them,” I admit, staring at Matteo as we approach him.

He had changed into something more casual—grey joggers and a black tank. You can really admire his physique this way now that I can get a better view in comparison to from the outside of the platform that hides his massive built frame.

“But did you actually use that as your organization symbol because of me?”

He stares at me for a hot minute, even as Ares lowers my legs and ensures I can stand on them.

“I did. You told me one time when you were waiting for Prescott to pick you up that your favorite colors are blue andpink, and bunnies were the cutest because of their red eyes. You wished there was a pink bunny, but couldn’t find any but said if there was, it would be your mascot. You couldn’t wait till you were older to help others but would rather be a gamer to shoot stuff.”

Catching onto the way Ares slowly looks my way encourages the flushed heat swarming across my cheeks.

“Shoo,” I end up telling Ares, who fights a snicker. “Go help Zander!”

“With what?”

“Anything!” I huff and push him to leave. He laughs but does what I ask after a quick turnaround and a firm peck on my lips. Giving me a wink as I stand there in disbelief, he’s gone inside, leaving me with Matteo.

“Seriously though,” I say as I turn around and walk back to where he’s leaning against the wooden ledge of the patio platform. “You remember all these things even I’ve forgotten.”

“Maybe you didn’t forget them,” he suggests. “They’re there in your mind. They just need triggering to remember.”

When I reach him, he offers an open arm. I look at my drenched self at first, worried he’ll get wet, but when he stays in place, I take that as an invitation to give him the hug I want to deliver.

Being in his arms is far too welcoming as I finally grasp what my three Ruthless Kings have done.

“You planned this all out for me,” I say in disbelief and lean back so I can look up at him. He looks so calm, far different from his usual demeanor.

Matteo always projects a level of calmness to the world at first glance, but here, in this moment of tranquility with the sky beautifully lit with alluring hues of pink and red, I can see he’s thriving off this level of serenity.

“My wife deserves a glimpse of peace,” he confesses quietly. “It may not be out of the country like a true vacation should be, but allowing you a glimpse of it will give you motivation when things get hard.” His hand ventures down my back and cups my ass as he lays a firm kiss on my shoulder.

“When you get a glimpse of what peace feels like, you wish to preserve it as long as possible. You begin to see who’s working overtime to ruin your state of tranquility and what lengths they’ll go to destroy the equilibrium you’ve strived to maintain. That’s why this is perfect for all of us. To have a taste while we learn about one another.”

He pulls away and looks to the beautiful lake that twinkles with the last bits of sunlight as the sunrise is at its final stance across the multi-colored sky.

Offering his cigar my way, I happily accept it, loving the effects it had the first time. Just an inhale invites that wave of calm, ridding the anxiety and nerves from thinking we’d lost. Bringing my attention to the horizon, I offer the cigar back after a few more hits and slip my hand into his.

I feel myself tearing up, trying not to cry, but for once in a long time, my heart is…

Full. Happy. Fulfilled.

I can understand a glimpse of his world and why he does everything in his power to shut things out before they can become a disturbance in his life.

To the world, he’s ruthless. A menace who doesn’t allow a moment of error or give the privilege for anyone to think they can plot against him.

They all think he enjoys being untouchable, but all he’s doing is protecting his peace. Allowing the world around him to keep rising in triumph and not be plagued with turbulence that will slow him down from his real goals and ambitions.

Peace is the equilibrium that has pushed him forward for years.

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