Page 22 of Fighting

As long as neither of the men I care for get hurt, we’ll make things work. Somehow.

With Val not yet fully recovered, I am leaps and bounds faster than him, so once we are up the stairs, I dodge Val's arm as he tries to grab me and rush out the open front door.

I can see the front gate blown to smithereens. The guard shack beside it looks untouched. There is a guard on the ground I can barely see, but he is moving. Hopefully the blast didn't do any serious damage. Five all black SUVs are making their way up the driveway. When they get close to the house, they fan out around the third vehicle. I know instantly that one is where Killian will be.

All of his cars are bullet proof. I can hear the pings of the shots from the guards on the roof bouncing off the armor. Killian’s men aren’t returning fire. I keep running, not slowing even as Luca and Ricco yell for me to stop. I’m halfway to the vehicles when Val screams for a ceasefire. Silence follows, so I stop. I don’t go any further. I don’t want Val to think I’m choosing Killian by leaping into his car or arms. I just wanted the bullets to stop long enough for everyone to talk things out.

I feel a presence at my back. I don't need to turnaround to know it’s Val behind me. Thankfully he's smart enough not to touch me. I'm not sure how Killian would take it. I've never hidden anything from him. He knows Val was my first love. My only love. He knows the truth about why I had to leave him, even though I didn’t want to.

The moment of silence ends as the driver’s door of Killian’s car opens. It’s Grady. His right arm is down and hidden from view, as is most of his body. He’s using the armored door as a shield in case they start shooting again. I hope they don’t.

Grady gives me a smile as he asks, “you escaping, or are we rescuing?”

I give a small laugh and smile back. “Neither.”

The back door opens and Killian steps out. I can hear the guns being raised behind me, and feel the tension quickly escalate as Val's men and family come to learn just who stormed their compound.

“Killian.” Growls Luca. I can hear the disbelief in his voice. It’s understandable. Under normal circumstances Killian would never dare to attack the Italians. That’s the shit his cousin likes to pull.

Killian straightens his suit jacket and strides confidently towards me. He doesn’t flinch at the sight of the guns trained on him, nor does he have his own weapon out. “Evening Luca.” He says with a chin lift towards the house. Then he turns his attention to Val. I hadn’t noticed, but Val has moved closer. “You have something of mine. I came to get her back.”

Val takes the last step towards me. Grabs my waist and pulls me behind him. “You aren't taking her.” Val replies with venom.

Killian gives a smile. “You best let go of my fiancé.”

Looking at Val, I see an entire catalog of emotions flicker in his eyes as his gaze remains locked with Killian’s. He must find whatever he is looking for, because he turns to me. Giving his entire back to Killian. It’s not disrespectful. In this instance it is a sign of trust. Trust that Killian won’t shoot him in the back. It makes my heart thump louder for him. He doesn’t know Killian, not personally. I do, and he’s trusting me to know I don’t associate with someone who would hurt him.

He moves closer to me, invading my space. His hands come up to cup my cheeks. His thumbs rubbing circles. “Do you love him?” He asks.

“We're engaged.” I reply.

“Not my question.” He says. Then he moves one hand from my cheek to the back of my neck and pulls my forehead to his. “Do. You. Love. Him?”

I chance a glance at Killian. He must see the indecision warring in my eyes. He gives me a nod before turning to Grady to give him a nod. It must be one of approval because Grady holsters his gun and moves out from behind the door.

Turning my attention back to Val, whose forehead is still pressed to mine. I lean my lips forward and kiss him. It’s quick and innocent, but I needed him to not only hear my answer, but feel it. My voice is barely a whisper as I reply. “No.”

I feel him relax against me. “You loved me once.” It’s a statement not a question. I nod anyway. “Could you love me again?” He hasn’t let me go. I need a moment, but I don’t want to step away from him. I don't want to lose this connection. So I close my eyes and take a few deep breathes. My engagement to Killian is important. A lot is riding on our union and the lies we’ve told and will need to tell.

I’m loyal to Killian. He’s protected me for seven years. Given me a family.

But this is Val.

Tino. My Tino.

I hadn’t let myself call him that in days. It didn’t feel right if he wasn’t mine.

All the memories we had, if they had never been tainted, if the cruel manipulations of Santo had never touched us, what would our lives have become? We had dreams of our future. But those were dreams for the people we once were.

We aren’t those same people anymore. Are the new versions of us compatible? Could we step back into the relationship we once had, or would we need to start from scratch?

What would that even look like? We aren’t kids anymore. He is in the Italian Mafia, brother of the Don, and I am the fiancé of the heir to the Irish Mob.

I open my eyes. Tino hasn’t moved. I'm not sure he has even blinked. I see the strength in his gaze. The certainty. The love. It’s the look. My look. The one reserved for me. It tells me all that his words can never say. He hasn’t moved his hands. Mine are resting on his hips since I wasn’t sure what to do with them, and felt awkward letting them hang at my sides.

Moving my hands up, I skim up his abs, feeling the hard planes through his shirt, and then grab onto it. Right over his heart. I pull his body closer to me.

“If ever I could love again. It would be with you.” He brushes away the tears I didn’t realize had fallen from my eyes.

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