Илона Эндрюс - Emerald Blaze (Hidden Legacy)

Nevada sighed. “I regret it, Catalina. But if I was back in that moment, knowing only what I knew then, I would do it again. It wasn’t a mistake. I did it deliberately because I wanted to protect you.”

“I know. I don’t view it as a mistake. It was a sacrifice, Nevada. I understand. I would have done the same.”

Tears wet Nevada’s eyes. Connor put his arm around her. “You got this.”

“Something occurred to me,” my big sister said. “At the start, you made a big deal about keeping the family separate from House Rogan. And then in February you made a one-eighty. I pulled your voting record in the Assembly. You always vote with Connor. You sit next to him in the chamber.”

“He’s my brother-in-law.”

“Oh, it’s more than that. I’ve been wondering for months why you made sure that everyone in Houston knew that our two houses are a package deal.”

“Why wouldn’t we want to be allied with House Rogan? They are powerful, dangerous, wealthy . . .”

Nevada smiled at me. “You tied us together. In the eyes of the public, we are impossible to separate. Victoria can no longer target House Rogan without dragging House Baylor down.”

I didn’t say anything. It didn’t seem like a reply was needed.

Nevada tried to get up off the chair and Connor gently helped her to her feet. She came over to me and hugged me.

“I love you so much,” Nevada said. “I know exactly what you’re doing because I did it too for the same reasons. But we can’t do this anymore. From now on, let’s talk. Let’s tell things to each other, because I can’t do it the other way. It tears me up inside and I know it’s hard on you. You have me and Connor, and Mom, and Arabella, and the boys . . .”

Heat built behind my eyes. I held on to her. My nephew kicked me.

“We love you. We will help you. Don’t repeat my mistakes.”

She held me for a few more seconds, then let me go. “I’ll see you in the morning.” She looked at Alessandro. “Do not hurt her.”

She walked away.

“We have some matters to discuss when things settle down,” Connor said. The Scourge of Mexico smiled at me and followed his wife.

Mom sighed, kissed my forehead, and left the kitchen.

It was just me and Alessandro.

“Family,” he said.

“Yeah.”

“I like yours better than mine.”

“Are you leaving?” I managed to keep the desperation out of my voice. I didn’t want him to leave. I wanted him to stay and hold me while I fell asleep.

A shadow crossed his face. “Do you want me to?”

“No. I want you to stay.”

We stood barely three feet away from each other but suddenly the distance gaped between us.

“Do you want to stay?” I asked.

“More than anything.”

“Then stay.”

He faced me. The muscles along his jaw locked.

“What is it?”

“When I said I don’t deserve you, I meant it. I can’t give you anything, except myself, Catalina.”

“That’s all I ever wanted. I already told you I don’t expect anything else.”

He opened his mouth and closed it without saying a word.

“Alessandro, I’ve had an awful day and you’re scaring me.”

The mask hiding his face dropped, torn. He wrapped his arms around me. “I’ve got you.”

“Come with me.”

He let me go and we walked down to my bedroom. He followed me in and raised his eyebrows at the wall of swords.

“Catalina, I like a good blade, but you might have a problem.”

“Do you like it?”

“I love it.”

“Good, because that’s where we’re sleeping tonight. In the morning, if you’re good, I’ll let you touch some of them.”

“Only some?”

I smiled at him. “We can negotiate.”

He grinned back. “I love negotiating. I can be very persuasive.”

I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him. He made my head spin. “So can I.”

The kiss ended and he looked at me, his eyes wild.

There were so many things to worry about. The Abyss, Cheryl, Runa outing me to my family and what Linus would do about it, and the distance that had yawned between us in the kitchen . . . I couldn’t deal with any of it right now.

Whatever it was that Alessandro was trying to find a way to tell me, it would wait until tomorrow. Tonight was ours and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Chapter 16

I stood by the counter, drinking my morning tea, basking in the sunshine streaming through the window, and tried to come to terms with Alessandro in my kitchen. He wore beat-up jeans and an old T-shirt, which he had gotten out of his car. His hair was tousled. Stubble traced his jaw. He looked terribly . . . casual? Domestic? I wasn’t sure there was even a word for it.

Alessandro poured black coffee into his mug, tried it, and made a face. Next to him on the floor Shadow looked terribly disappointed. She’d glued herself to Alessandro the moment he stepped into the kitchen. Apparently my dog was convinced that if she stared at him long enough, he would drop something yummy.

“Weak?”

“Bitter. Where did you get this?”

My phone chimed. A text from Patricia. Albert Ravenscroft is here.

Why? Why, why, why?

Do you want me to let him in?

Yes. I’ll talk to him outside.

“I’ll be right back,” I told Alessandro.

He nodded.

I went to the front door, Shadow at my heels. Outside the sunshine poured from the sky, bringing heat with it. It would be another sweltering day.

Albert was walking toward the house. He saw me and sped up.

“How can I help you, Prime Ravenscroft?”

Behind me the door swung open. Alessandro sauntered out with the coffee still in his hand, looking unconcerned. On the left, Connor walked out of his HQ. A mug of coffee floated next to him.

How considerate of my boyfriend and my brother-in-law to invite themselves into this conversation.

“Look,” Albert said. “I thought about it. Nothing’s changed.”

He had this grim, determined look on his face.

Connor leaned on the wall by the door, looking at something on his phone, plucked the mug from the air, took a sip, and put it back, just in case Albert forgot that he was the Scourge of Mexico.

“Albert,” I said gently. “What are you doing here?”

“We have something, Catalina. Something special. Black wings or no, I don’t want to lose that.”

“Black wings?” Alessandro muttered and looked at Connor.

Connor didn’t look up. “Long story.”

“Albert, this isn’t going to happen. You know why.”

He shook his head. “My father hates you, but it doesn’t matter. This time next month I’ll be the Head of my House. My parents have made arrangements to retire to the coast. Patrick is away studying at Florida State. It would be just me and you. I really want to make this work.”

“I understand, but I’m not in love with you. I don’t think about you in that way.”

He clenched his jaw. This would have been so much easier without an audience.

“Is there someone else?” Albert asked.

“Yes.”

“Is it him?” Albert looked at Alessandro.

“Yes.”

Albert’s expression hardened. He seemed to come to a decision. “I don’t know who you are and I don’t care. You should leave.”

Alessandro’s voice remained pleasant. “Or?”

Albert seemed to be caught off guard. “Leave. This is your only warning.”

Connor Rogan smiled.

I put some snap into my voice. “Albert, your welcome is withdrawn.”

His gaze bore into Alessandro. “No, I’ll fix this, and then we’ll talk.”

“Anytime,” Alessandro said.

“Fine. I tried to warn you.”