Page 33 of Recklessly In Love With A Ruthless Savage 2
“Blue’s digging. Nothing's been confirmed, but it’s enough to make me question everything.”
I reached for his hand.
“I’m not here to stop you from finding the truth.” I whispered.
He didn’t answer, but he didn’t have to. I tried to put myself in his shoes. How would I have felt if my lost love came back into my life after being dead for years.I watched him stare at the wall like it owed him answers. Crew hadn’t spoken since Blue met with him earlier. Most likely giving him whatever intel he’d been holding. His back was rigid, and his fists were clenched.
I moved closer to him and wrapped my arms around his waist.
“Talk to me,” I said softly.
He was quiet for a few beats before he finally let out a deep sigh and spoke.
“She was working against them,” he said. “Until she wasn’t.”
I stayed quiet.
“She was gone, Nova. I thought she left me because my life had become too much for her. I thought she was killed by one of my enemies, but the truth was Kyle’s family helped stage her death. They helped cover it up and make it look like a local gang murdered her.”
I felt his pain like it was stitched into my own ribs.
“But she’s not dead?” I asked.
“No,” his voice was hollow. “She’s alive. And now she’s helping them.”
My stomach turned. “You think she’s coming for us?”
“I don’t know.” He turned to me, his face finally meeting mine. “But I can’t lie, Nova… I loved her once. And I have to find out what happened to her.”
I cupped his face. “I’m not mad at you for loving someone before me, Crew. I’m scared that maybe part of you still loves her now.”
“I don’t,” he said instantly. “Not like that.”
“But enough to chase the ghost of her,” I whispered. “Even while I’m standing right in front of you.”
That silence between us said more than his next words ever could.
“I can’t change what happened,” he whispered. “But I choose you. Every damn time.”
“Keep that in mind when you find your truth.” I told him.
It was the kind of evening we didn’t get often anymore. Crew sat at the head of the big dining room table with Janelle going over some purchase orders for a few facilities. I sat to his right, chin on my palm, watching them both. Black was on the couch, reading a picture book out loud in his rumbling baritone while Tati snuggled at his side. Blue sat nearby assembling a small pistol with Timberly, breaking it down and explaining each piece in patient, quiet words. The fact that my seven-year-old was learning how to use, take apart and clean a gun was wild to me.
August and Anesia had come by earlier to drop off food like pregnancy had stolen my ability to cook. And now the house smelled like roast chicken and peach cobbler. He also had a colleague of his brother Archer stop by and check on me and the baby since Crew refused to let me go out for fear Kyle would ambush us again. For a moment, it felt normal, and I felt good except for the dread twisting in my belly that it wouldn’t last. After lunch Crew left to workout in our home gym before he was supposed to train with Black and Blue later today.
I found him in the gym. Sweat dripping down his chest, his fists bare and bleeding as they slammed into the punching bag like it owed him a life. His jaw was clenched, muscles flexing, and back heaved with every breath. Raw rage poured out of him, silent but violent. He was so focused on hitting the bag, he didn’t hear me come in. Or maybe he did and just didn’t care.
I stood in the doorway, arms folded, wearing one of his T-shirts that barely skimmed the tops of my thighs. No panties. No bra. Just skin, cotton, and the ache of distance that had been killing us both. I normally wouldn’t walk around like thiswith people in the house, but I knew everyone else was out back. It had been three days since he found out about Sabrina. And since then, he hadn’t touched me. Nothing but silence, one-word answers and quick pecks here and there. Just Crew pacing through the house like a lion who’d lost his pride. But nothing really sexual. But that ended right now.
I was done waiting.
I crossed the room and stopped just a few feet from him, but he still hadn’t looked at me.
“Crew.”
His knuckles slammed into the bag one last time before he froze, arms trembling. His chest rose and fell, breaths sharp and uneven.
“You shouldn’t be in here,” he muttered.
