Page 54 of Filthy Liar

“I hate feeling insecure, and she really yanked it to the surface without even doing anything. She’s?—”

“She’s not you,” he said as he cut me off, sliding both arms around me to bring me closer. “You’re gorgeous, Raven. I love it when you fight me on things, sometimes, and that you’re not a kiss-ass just to please people. You call me on my bullshit and don’t care that I could fix all your money problems in an instant. You’re independent, but you also lean on people when you need to. I don’t even mind that I have to share you with the guys because they’re family to me too. I want this more than I can put into words, and I just have to hope that you’ll believe me enough to prove it.”

“What happens with Dante when you guys take down Stefano? Will you go back to Italy with him? I won’t leave, you know that.”

He shook his head before I’d even finished the sentence.

“I never wanted to live in Italy. I was born in the States, and I intend on staying here when this is all over. Dante wants me to go back with him, but running the mafia is his thing, not mine. I just want to stop looking over my shoulder and make a home here with you.”

“Okay,” I sighed, making him frown.

“Okay?”

“Yeah. I really need you to deal with your dad, though, because him being alive is going to be a deal breaker,” I joked, a chuckle leaving him as he stroked my hair affectionately.

“I can do that. I need to find out where he’s keeping Dante, and hopefully we can get him out and find their main base before they move it. It’s been too quiet since Dante was taken, so I know Stefano’s going to make a move soon.”

I leaned forward to snuggle into him, resting my head on his shoulder as he held me.

“I’m scared of losing you,” I whispered, his hand moving up and down my spine.

“We’re getting through this. Then we’ll all get a big house, get married, all that normal shit,” he answered.

“I just want to go home. I miss feeling like Josh is somehow around.”

He was quiet for a second before answering, his voice strained. “We’ll figure it out once Stefano’s gone. Your dad can be the priority after that.”

“It’s going to need so much work. Maybe Dad’s liver will give out and kill him. Then we’ll be able to put the house in my name, right?” The thought perked me up a little, and I already started plotting it in my head. We’d have to renovate heavily, which would cost money.

If we all started saving now, we could have it in even better condition than it had been when the guys had left.

It could finally be really ours, and it was big enough for all of us too.

“Lie down with me for a little?” Ander asked, breaking the silence and waiting for me to nod before moving us so we were curled up on the couch with a throw blanket over us. “I’ll work harder at dealing with Stefano, then whatever you want to do, I’ll make sure it happens.”

“You’ll buy me a new oven?” I teased, his lips pressing against my forehead as he pulled me closer.

“I’ll buy you anything you want since all this mess is my fault. If you want an oven as an apology gift, it’s yours.”

It didn’t take him long to fall asleep, and I didn’t have the heart to get up and leave him here on his own, so I closed my eyes and tried to go back to sleep myself, managing to drift off sometime after I’d planned out our new bathroom in my head.

CHAPTERELEVEN

RAVEN

The smell of pancakes woke me, and I blinked against the bright light coming through the crack in the curtains.

“Morning,” Reid murmured as he walked over, not hesitating to bend down and drop a kiss to my forehead. “We tried not to wake you, but Logan wanted to make you pancakes.”

“He’s not really doing much other than getting in my way,” Zavier called out, making me chuckle.

“What time is it?”

“Almost twelve. You must have been tired. You two figure things out, or is he holding you hostage?” Reid asked, sitting on the coffee table in front of me.

“Definitely holding me hostage.”

I yelped as Ander jabbed me in the ribs, his sleepy voice coming from behind me. “Am not. Do I smell food?”

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