Page 89 of Vendetta

The hairs on the back of my neck rose as I heard it once more, faint but certainly there. Was someone in my apartment?

My heart began racing a mile a minute as my fear took over. I slowly stepped out of the tub, setting down my glass of champagne and creeping my way to the doors.

My adrenaline kicked into overdrive, my mind racing to figure out what my options were. I had left my phone inside, so calling someone was out of the question unless I could find a way to get to it. Not to mention the fact that I didn’t even know the French number for the emergency line.

I had left all of the lights off, which put me at a small advantage. I had always been told that if someone breaks into your house, you should keep all of the lights off because you have the advantage of knowing the layout. This was my first evening in the new apartment, so it wouldn’t help me much, but I at least remembered enough from the tour to hopefully make my way around.

The kitchen was directly through the doors, so maybe I could make it to the knife block on the counter before anybody was able to get to me.

Maybe I was being paranoid. Maybe it was just the foundation or the plumbing. But something in my gut told me that somebody was inside my apartment.

Dread ran through me as I realized that I probably had a hit out on me. The Order was sure to have placed one on both Cashton and I after we killed three of their men. If anything, they were probably more motivated to quiet us now.

Would they really go as far as to send someone after me, all the way across the ocean? If it meant tying up loose ends?

I tip-toed my way inside, keeping my back to the wall as my wet swimsuit dripped over the hardwood floors.

Inching my way to the kitchen, I kept an eye on my surroundings. Making my way to the counter, I slipped the butcher knife out of the block and kept it at my side.

There was nobody here to protect me. If there was someone waiting to kill me somewhere in this apartment, it was up to me to protect myself.

I made my way across the hallway to my bedroom, checking behind every door, curtain, and corner. As I was about to turn to check the rest of the house, I caught movement in my peripheral, my breath hitching in my throat.

It all happened so fast.

One moment, I was bringing the knife up into the air. In the next, a large hand grabbed around my wrist and twisted, causing me to drop the knife before he yanked my hand behind my back and slammed me face-first against the wall. His hard body trapped mine, his free hand coming to wrap around my mouth as I began to scream.

I could feel his breath at my ear as he leaned down, my heart beating impossibly fast.

“I have to admit—That was quite the welcome, princess.”

My breathing came to an abrupt halt at the sound of that deep voice, the familiar scent of cedarwood and mint enveloping me.

He slowly released my mouth, moving just slightly enough for me to turn and face him, his body still caging me in against the wall.

“Cash…” I whispered, the shock of seeing him here keeping me rooted in place. So many emotions raced through me, words lodging in my throat. He was here. In Paris. In my apartment.

I wanted nothing more than to throw myself at him, to jump into his arms and show him just how much I had missed him over the last two days. But after the way our last conversation had ended, I forced myself to hold my place.

He noticed my hesitance, pain crossing his features for the briefest of moment.

“Landry…” he whispered, his tone sorrowful. “I’m so sorry.”

I swallowed down the lump in my throat, my heart jackhammering in my chest. I needed to touch him, to feel him, but I needed to hear what he had to say first.

“You were right. There’s nothing worth losing you, and I need you to know that. I love you. And I’m choosing you. I will always choose you, and I don’t know what I was thinking when I let you walk onto that plane alone. I’m not a perfect man, nor will I ever claim to be. And I’m broken in so many ways. But I’m making you a promise right now that I will never let my own stupidity and stubbornness get between us again.”

I couldn’t help the warmth that spread through me, the butterflies floating in my stomach at hearing those words.

“I made up my mind the second I watched that plane take off. And I’m sorry it took me a bit to get here. I got the first flight that I could, but I’m here, and I’m staying. And I’m sorrythat I hurt you, too many times to count, but I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you. It’s you, Landry. It’s always been you. And I will never do anything to make you doubt that ever again.”

He offered me a soft smile, his dimple making an appearance as his piercing green eyes studied mine.

“Say something, princess.”

The words kept getting stuck in my throat. I swallowed, his presence overwhelming me as I searched his eyes. Could I really stay mad at him? The same man who had taken a bullet for me just a few days ago?

“I love you too,” I finally whispered. I meant it with every bone in my body. I had loved him long before I’d even realized it.

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