Page 18 of Crimson Tears

It’s not a word I use often. Evie knows that. She knows me. Sometimes I feel like she knows Laney and me even better than herself.

“Why do you think you have to choose, Ness?”

My shoulders sag in relief because that is the only thing I wanted to hear. Evie found three husbands, Laney found two partners, and I was here struggling with understanding how that worked while hoping in the bottom of my heart that maybe, just maybe, it could work for me too.

“I’m afraid they might force me to.”

Evie stands up, moving to my side and pulling me to stand too. “If I have learned anything from my experiences, it’s that love chooses you. It’s never what we expect and definitely more than we think we deserve, but it’s ours. We just have to claim it.”

I try not to let the tears in my eyes show. This woman is fierce, strong, and everything I ever hoped to be. She figured it out. Can I?

“We have to fight for it, Nessa. If we don’t, the world surely won’t.”

I take her hands and squeeze them in mine, trying to make her feel just how much that means to me. I don’t think that can be my life though. Boris doesn’t seem like the type to share, and I don’t even know who Cillian is anymore.

“Thank you.”

“I’m always here, girl. No matter what.”

I smile at her, I’m so fecking lucky I have a place in this found family. A voice clearing breaks the silence, and at first I think it’s Cillian, until Alexi opens the door and steps out.

“Think I could have a word?” He gestures to me. Evie looks between us and I nod.

“Sure,” I say, letting go of her hands. She walks up to her man, pressing a hand to his perfectly tailored suit and kisses his cheek.

“Behave,” she warns.

“Only for you, Princess.”

The woman practically melts into a puddle before disappearing. Needing to break the growing tension between Alexi and me, I ask, “What do you want to talk about?” as I gesture for him to sit.

He undoes the buttons on his suit jacket before taking a seat, and I sit across from him.

“I wish to speak to you about my father.”

Well feck, I’m dead.

I knew Alexi would want to talk about me and his father at some point, but I had kind of hoped that day would never come.

“You are aware of his job, our lives, and who he is,” he begins. “You know what you’re signing up for, and I am not here to warn you away or tell you to stay. However, I will say one thing.”

His eyes narrow in a challenge, but I narrow mine right back. If he wants to doubt my intentions, fine. But this is not a time I will bow to his authority or demands.

“If you hurt him, this life of yours will cease to exist.”

I clear my throat as he stares at me.

“There’s something we need to get straight, Alexi.”

He stiffens at the use of his name, and I sit up to prove that I will not fall under his commands.

“You will not tell me who to love, and you will not threaten me with death like it’s something I was ever truly afraid of.”

My fingers tighten on the edge of my chair, trying to keep my voice low and neutral.

“I have proven my love for your father time and again, and so long as he continues to love me, I will be here. But if things go south and we part ways for any reason, you will stay out of it. I will not break my best friend's heart by coming for her husband. Got it?”

His face turns red, but I hold up a hand when he tries to speak.

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