Page 71 of Titan

The floor was awash with blood, fingers and even two toes by the time the man talked. Gil drilled him for everything and put the man out of his misery with a shot to his head. He turned away from the scene after telling his men to clean it up and strode over to us. He gave the gun back to Edric.

“Make sure they do as they’re told. I’ll speak to you in the morning.”

“Yes,boss,” Edric replied with sarcasm lacing his voice.

Gil didn’t react. He merely grabbed my hand and tugged me away. I followed him without question. It wasn’t until we were outside, and he’d opened the car door for me, I looked up at him.

“Gil…”

“Get in the car, Theia,” he barked before shaking himself. Then he looked away and said in a much softer voice, “Please.”

I did as I was told. I wasn’t afraid of Gil, but I was worried about what was going through his head. He walked around the car and got in himself. He rested his hands on the steering wheel but didn’t turn the engine on.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that.”

“It’s okay.”

He turned to me.

“No, it’s not. You’re not one of my men. You’re…” he faltered and looked down at the hand break between us.

“I’m what?”

He sighed, turned his attention to the windscreen and turned the engine on. I closed my mouth, wondering if he was going to elaborate on what I was to him. At this point, I sure as fuck didn’t know. I’d given him more than enough time to deal with his mafia issue. It was time we talked about us… if there was an “us.”

“I’m what, Gil? What am I to you?” I asked again when he didn’t say a word after a few minutes of driving. “I need you to tell me because I’m confused and… and scared right now.”

He rubbed a hand over his face.

“Theia…”

“No. You don’t get to Theia me. You ambushed me with the voyeur scene, left before we could talk about it, then you turned up at my flat hours later and… and… well, you know what you did. Then you fucking left me again. I don’t understand what’s going on. You told me you weren’t interested—”

“I like you.”

My mouth snapped shut. He liked me? What the hell was that supposed to mean? He was going to have to be a damn sight clearer about his feelings than that.

“I mean, I… fuck.” He slammed his hand against the wheel. “I know what I said. I hadn’t forgotten about that, but it changed as I got to know you. Everything changed.”

It was probably a bad idea to have this conversation in the car, but it couldn’t wait any longer.

“Changed how?”

He glanced at me as he stopped at a red light.

“All I want to do is be near you… and not even just near you. I want to hold you tight and never fucking let go. I wantyou in ways I’ve never wanted anyone else. You are in my waking thoughts and my fucking dreams, Theia. And it scared the shit out of me, okay? My feelings for you scare me, but I can’t stay away.” He rubbed his chest with one hand. “I want you in my life. I want you in my bed. I just plain fucking want you. Every part of you.”

He turned his attention back to the road when the light went green. I didn’t know if I could form a response. I was too shocked by what he’d said to me. While I’d wanted the truth, I wasn’t expecting that. The way he’d said he wanted me like it physically pained him to speak the words. That confessing his feelings was difficult for him. But he wanted me. Hewantedme. Not only as his friend, but more. He wanted… more.

By the time I’d put my fucking head back on straight, we’d pulled up into his building’s underground carpark. Gil got out of the car and went around to the boot to get my bag. I climbed out and allowed him to lead me over to the lifts. We rode up to the top floor together, stepping out onto a small landing with only two doors. I wasn’t sure what I expected, but it wasn’t for him to have half a floor to himself.

Gil unlocked the door and led me inside. It was an open-plan living space with lots of natural light from the big windows. The building looked modern from the outside.

“You must be tired,” he said when I didn’t speak. “It’s late.”

I nodded. Today had been taxing for me with all the emotions and crazy shit that had gone on. Gil walked towards a small hallway off the living area. I followed after him. He stopped outside a door and opened it.

“You can sleep here. The bathroom is over there.”

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