Page 63 of Dragon Strife
“Would that be a problem?” The vulnerability shining from her eyes steals the words from my mouth, but she finally puts me out of my misery and shakes her head. “He’s not here. I’m actually in Jaeger’s room. Laith is across the hall.”
“It wouldn’t be a problem,” I admit. “I’m sorry if I came off as jealous. I just miss you. You haven’t been away this long before.”
“I know,” she murmurs as she shifts on the bed again. “I came here to rest, but all I could think about was my father and his state of mind in those last months. The things Jaeger is telling me sounds ridiculous, but so is making your daughter the President of a club.”
“I think he saw something in you and he was correct. Look at what you’ve become, how hard you’ve worked to achieve it. He knew it was buried inside of you.” I sit up straighter and the sight of my bare chest has her groaning loudly.
“I can’t concentrate,” she whines. “I miss you so much. Where’s Malik?”
“He’s back at the club. He thought it would be smart to let the brothers know what’s going on, in case we need to get you out of there.” My eyes rove over her tired face and my heart swells in my chest. “I’m worried about you. I hate you there without one of us.”
“It’s already difficult bringing them around.” She sucks in a deep breath. “Quinton is testing me and he’s already making his rounds, telling people I’m nothing but an emotional princess.” Her eyes drop as her lashes kiss the swell of her cheeks. “I was that princess once. I can’t blame him if that’s how he remembers me.”
“Prove him wrong.” I give her a look through the screen. “Show him what you’ve become and turn the tables. Show the club how weak he is. You’re his weakness. It’s not hard to see that.”
“I may have something in the works.” The grin she gives me lights up her entire face. “I sent Chip on a mission.”
“Chip. The surfer-looking dude?” She laughs at my description and I roll my eyes. “He was there when we found Delia. He looked cozy with her, and protective.”
“Really?” She sits up straighter. “Chip is a good guy.”
“Delia will not be hanging out with Steel Dragons,” I growl as Genevieve laughs heartily.
“I’m a Steel Dragon.” Her eyebrow rises as heat pools in the depths of her eyes. “You’ve been fucking a Dragon for months, Diego.”
“I’ve been loving one too.” It’s out of my mouth before I have time to think it through, and when her face slackens and her eyes widen, I curse out loud. My eyes avert from the screen as I inwardly cringe. “I didn’t want to say it like that, and not over the phone—”
“Montez,” she whispers, cutting me off. “Did you say you love me?”
“Can we just forget that happened until I’m face to face with you again?” I plead. “It just flew out of my mouth because I’m missing you.”
“Diego.” She stops my rambling and I finally look back at the screen. I find her smiling as tears slip from her eyes. “I love you so much. You saved me and you’re the one who made me cherish life again. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.”
“I can’t wait to rub it in Charles’ face.” I laugh as she joins in.
“Which one?” She winks, and the laugh leaves me.
“Am I going to find myself between a set of twins?” I ask seriously. “Because I know it’s everyone’s fantasy, but I haven’t really had time to sort it out.”
She laughs loudly once more and I smile in response, loving that I can pull her from her troubles, even if only for a little while. “I don’t know.” She shakes her head as her chuckles recede. “When I look at him, I melt a bit. I know he looks like Malik, but at the same time, he doesn’t.”
“They look nothing alike,” I intercept. “Sure, features are similar, but it’s like they use them differently. Malik is dark and cunning, whereas Laith is welcoming and sincere.”
“Like a yin and yang,” she adds. “If only they would bury the hatchet and work together. They would be unstoppable.”
“Maybe you’re the key,” I suggest. Genevieve is mine. It makes no difference to me how many men she adds to this relationship. She fills my heart to completion.
I can hear the door opening in the room she’s in, and then Laith’s voice filters through the phone. “We should head down there.” Her face completely transforms with worry at his suggestion, and my stomach swirls with apprehension. I hate that she’s feeling torn while dealing with her brother.
“Okay,” she tells him and then looks down at the screen. “I have to go talk to Jaeger again.”
“I love you,” I say it loud and clear, hoping Laith knows there’s no replacing what she already has. He’ll have to learn to play nice. “Be safe.”
“Love you.” She nods and gives me a watery smile. “I’ll see you soon.”
The screen goes dark and I fall back against the pillows. It feels wrong lying here while she’s facing something she’s been dreading for months. She may feel a certain way about Laith, but can we truly trust a Dragon?
The longer I think it through, the worse I feel, so I call up Malik’s burner phone. I know he wanted to have a chat with Davis to make sure he was okay after Genevieve put a bullet in his dad’s head, but I can’t rest with her in the Dragons’ lair.
