Page 122 of Titan

“We have to go. I have business.”

I nodded, immediately getting up from my seat, and hurrying over to say goodbye to Zayn, thanking him for dinner. I hadn’t noticed Ari had come back into the room, so I gave my goodbyes to her before I approached Rina and Arlo. Gil was talking to his cousin.

“Are y-you going to v-visit Merry and Pippin s-s-soon?” Rina asked with a shy smile.

“Are your cats missing me?”

She nodded.

“If I promise to come over very soon, can I bring Theia to meet them?”

“I’d l-l-like that.”

“Consider it done. I’ll see you both soon.”

I made my goodbyes to Arlo and Rina before Gil whisked me out of Zayn’s house and down to the car. I turned to him when we were settled, and he’d set off.

“What’s happened?”

“Edric said something is happening at Devlin’s, a meeting of sorts. I need to be there. I don’t have time to take you back to the penthouse.”

“Okay.”

Gil reached over and squeezed my hand, giving me a tight smile. I wasn’t going to complain about having to go with him. I understood this was important. He had Edric and his men monitoring this guy, and they were hoping it would give them a lead. It was becoming more and more imperative they found out where his cousin’s missing shipments were. One of his cousins, who he’d told me was called Nino, had been in touch with him, saying another one had gone missing yesterday. Gil was a little on edge because of it. He didn’t want more bodies turning up, either.

“I don’t think we’ll have to intervene, but if we do, stay down and keep close to me.”

“I will.”

He pulled his hand away to change gears. I sat back and watched the buildings pass us by. It was dark out now. The city was bathed in the light from the streetlamps, with people going about their night without a care in the world. I’d never be like them. Not with the life I had. And I didn’t want to be either.

I used to wish I could have a simple life back when I longed for freedom. Now, I wanted a life with the man beside me, no matter how complicated and dangerous it was. We would protect each other. Even if I couldn’t physically keep Gil safe, I’d be his mental shield, helping him through the emotional side of things. He needed someone in his corner, fighting his battles with him. And loving him for who he was.

I wanted to tell him how I felt. With all the shit going on, it didn’t feel right to blurt it out. Was there ever a right time to tell someone you loved them?

The car pulled up behind another one, jolting me out of my thoughts. Gil reached over me, opened the glove compartment and pulled out a gun. I didn’t flinch at the sight of it. He’d told me it was there. He tucked it away on his person before undoing my seatbelt and placing a kiss on my forehead.

“Just stay close, okay?”

“I promise.”

“Good girl.”

I shivered at his praise and caught him smiling before he got out of the car. He knew exactly what he’d done by saying that. Shaking myself, I got out, finding him and Edric talking by the bonnet of the car. Tucking my hands in the pockets of my dress, I made my way over to Gil. Edric’s eyes widened when he saw me.

“You bought your girlfriend?” he asked, giving Gil a frown.

“We were at Zayn’s, I didn’t have much choice.”

“You couldn’t have left Theia with them?”

Gil gave him a dark look.

“No. I need her where I can see her.”

Edric rolled his eyes.

“So possessive,” he muttered.

---