Page 210 of The Consequences of Love and Vengeance

“It’s not D’s fault,” she scolds. “Well, other than pulling a Luca and not wrapping his junk.”

“Look,” Drago starts, ignoring both of their remarks. “You want to skip class today? Fine. Don’t make this a habit. Tomorrow, you’re going. Got it?”

“I have a 4.0. I don’t know what you’re so worried about. It’s not like I’m a slacker.”

“Got it?” D repeats.

“Yes, sir. Roger, sir.” She salutes, making me laugh. Drago gives me a look that tells me he doesn’t find the humor in her sarcasm. Seeing Summers holding back, I kick him in the shin from under the table, making him release the laugh. “So, I can stay here a couple of days, though?” Her tone turns serious, her eyes raising to meet her brother’s.

“Of course you can.”

“Even with the adjustments you already have going on?” she asks, talking about Gabriel.

Caprice is right about the adjustment part. I see the struggle in Drago’s eyes every time he looks at his son. But I also see the fierce protection he has for Gabriel too. Nothing about these circumstances are easy, but Gabriel was placed in our life for a reason. I have to believe that. I do believe that. Even if for the mere reason of bringing us both together—he was meant to be with us.

“Your room is your room. It’ll always be your room, CC, for as long as you want it. Just as this house will always be your home too.” Drago steps next to his sister. Looking down at her, he lifts her chin. “You never had to go back to that house. You can stay here or live here. The choice is yours.”

And he’s worried about being a good parent.I mentally shake my head. Drago has years of practice with his brother and sister—which proves to me he’s got this. He just has to realize it.

* * *

After ensuringGabriel is still napping, I head down the stairs with the intention of locating my phone, so I can research baby monitors. Drago and I haven’t discussed how long he wants Gabriel and me here. I know he needs time to adjust to his son, as well as my pregnancy. The last thing I want to do is smother him with too much all at once.

I’m not rushing for us to be this big, happy family that lives under the same roof either. I love my independence. As much as I love Drago and Gabriel and want us to be a family, I also don’t want to lose the life I’ve created for myself. I don’t want to lose me.

My condo is small, and although perfect when it was just me, it won’t be big enough for me plus two kids. I also don’t want to move in with Drago should that be on the table—at least not yet. We need time to develop and grow in our relationship, and I wasn’t kidding myself when I said he has to earn back the trust he broke.

Drago shut me out of his life for weeks. That isn’t something I’m going to get over today or tomorrow. We both have things to make up for and make right. Rushing what we have growing between us—a love that is strong, fierce, and full of passion—isn’t something I’m willing to chance.

We need to date like a normal couple, not spring forward, jumping through stages before we’re ready. Getting back to the life I had before Drago and Gabriel took over will help stabilize us. The first step in that is going home, which I’m betting now that Vincent Acerbi is back isn’t going to go over well with D. But it needs to happen. He has to accept me for the strong woman I am, or we aren’t going to work long-term.

The second thing I need is my job back. My real job, not thison special assignmentbullshit Eric cooked up. Speaking of E...

“Hey, you,” I call out, stepping off the last step.

“Easy, Cat Woman.” He holds up both hands, palms facing me, in mock surrender. “I was just leaving. No need to bring out any claws.”

“Oh, it won’t be claws you have to worry about.” I snicker. Stopping a few feet in front of him, I cross my arms. “We need to talk about ‘our partnership.’ I want my job back. I want my unit back. I even want my desk back. And I want you to make it happen.”

His dad is the director of the DEA, and although I wouldn’t normally ask for special treatment or favors, I am in this case. I want normalcy back, and I’ll be damned if anyone stands in my way of getting it.

“Yeah, I’m not sure if you recall, but they don’t want you back.”

“That was before Tom found out about Houston’s involvement with Diaz,” I fire back. Everything has been a cluster fuck since all of that went down. I haven’t spoken to the Chief, but surely, he’s realized by now the person he forced me to work with was working for the bad guys this whole time.

Last I heard, former Detective Lance Houston was out on bond after being apprehended at the hospital when he checked himself in with a gunshot wound to the left shoulder from Diaz’s bullet and another to his right side from where Drago shot him.

I was surprised to learn he wasn’t dead on arrival from the loss of blood. The wound D created looked pretty bad from what I remember. Then again, that’s the thing about GSW’s. They can look so much worse than they are and the ones you think aren’t fatal, can be.

“That fuckwad didn’t give two shits about your years of stellar on-the-job performance when he discovered you had a personal relationship with D. If you think for a second that he’s going to welcome you back with open arms, you aren’t as smart as I pegged you to be, Bri.” The playful Eric is gone. In its place is the serious, doesn’t care if he hurts your feelings, Special Agent Alders.

“Won’t know until we try.”

“Well, you’re on our own with that then. Frankly, you’re wasting your talent with PD when I could use you on my team.” He sighs, his eyebrows furrowing as he trains his warm, dark eyes down at me, softening. “I want you to consider the DEA training program.”

Hell. What do I say to that?

I’ve thought about it. The thought of becoming DEA kept me awake many nights. It helped keep my mind preoccupied from worrying if Gabriel’s foster family was taking good care of him. Wondering if they could tell the difference between his cry if he was hungry or fussy because he needed to be changed. But the desire isn’t there. What each law enforcement agency does is commendable. It just so happens my passion lies with the city police department.

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