Page 109 of Yours

Leena had rolled her eyes, but there was a faint smile tugging at her lips as she looked between us.

“You two are ridiculous,” she said, shaking her head. “But… I guess I’ll allow it.”

Her acceptance, though begrudging, felt like the final piece falling into place.

Ronan had done what he’d promised—he’d brought peace, or something like it, to New York City. The Benedettis were staying in their lane, the Ivanovich family was no longer a threat, and the city, for now, was quiet.

It was peace, or as much of a peace as I would ever encounter in Ronan’s world.

My laptop chimed from the corner of the room, and I forced myself to move, needing a distraction. I looked at the screen, seeing a new email. When I opened it, my breath caught.

After further review, we’ve decided to reinstate your full scholarship.

I sighed in relief.

Since the danger surrounding me had ebbed, I’d returned to my classes, and though balancing coursework with everything else in my life wasn’t easy, I was determined to see it through. Graduation was only a few months away, the finish line so close I could almost reach out and touch it.

Behind me, I heard Ronan’s footsteps, the steady sound grounding me as he approached. He stopped just behind me, his presence warm and solid.

“Penny for your thoughts?” he asked, his tone low and steady.

I turned slightly, glancing up at him. His gray eyes were softer than I’d seen them in days, the hard edges of his usual demeanor blunted by something that looked almost like relief.

“I was just thinking about everything,” I admitted. “About Marco, about the Russians, about Finn…” My voice faltered, andI looked away, swallowing hard. I hadn’t known the man, but I’d met his family, and I could tell he had a good heart. His loss touched me all the same.

Ronan’s hand settled gently on my arm, his touch firm but comforting.

“It’s over,” he said quietly. “We made it through.”

“Did we?” I asked, my voice tinged with uncertainty. “You did all of this—saved Leena, took down the Ivanovich family, held Marco at bay—but at what cost, Ronan?”

His jaw tightened, but he didn’t look away.

“I couldn’t have done it without you,” he said simply.

My throat tightened, and I took a shaky breath, my hands curling into fists at my sides. “I just… I wish there was something more I could’ve done.”

“You did more than enough,” Ronan said, his hand brushing lightly against my cheek. “Without you, we wouldn’t have had half the plan we needed to save Leena. Without you, I would have had Marco killed and started a brutal war that would have shaken the very foundations of this city. Don’t sell yourself short, love. You were incredible.”

My cheeks flushed, and I glanced away, the praise overwhelming. “I didn’t do that much.”

“You did,” he insisted, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

His hand tilted my chin up, his eyes locking with mine. The tension between us crackled, electric and undeniable, and my breath caught as he leaned closer, his lips brushing mine in a kiss that was soft and full of unspoken emotion.

When he pulled back, his forehead rested against mine, his voice barely above a whisper.

“And I couldn’t have done any of it without you.”

I smiled, and for the first time in days, the weight in my chest lifted. Whatever came next, we’d face it together.

And for now, that was enough.

Ronan’s hand lingered on my cheek, his thumb brushing lightly against my skin as he looked at me. His expression softened into something more tender, though the teasing edge in his eyes remained.

“You know,” he said, his voice dipping into that low, commanding tone that always left me feeling like the ground was shifting beneath my feet. “We’ve got some unfinished business, you and I.”

A flush crept up my cheeks, my mind immediately flashing back to his earlier threats—threats involving his belt and my bare ass.

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