“You’re not useless,” I say emphatically. “You’re the strongest, bravest person, I’ve ever known.”
“Aside from superman there in front us.”
“He might be strong, but he’s no hero.”
He snorts a really pissed off sound. “Yeah and neither am I, Alex. You just like to think I am. And you think I don’t see that he’s got feelings for you.”
“He hasn’t got feelings for me,” I laugh.
I hear the break in my voice, so I know he does too. I don’t want to lie to him. But I also don’t want to upset and piss him off more than he is right now. And the fact Zeff made a declaration of love to me a few weeks ago is of little consequence to me.
“Don’t treat me like an idiot. The guy’s clearly in love with you. I spotted that the second he put his eyes on you. And he wouldn’t be doing this if he wasn’t. Remember who he is.”
“Whatever reason he is doing this is nothing to do with me. He’s doing it for his own reasons from the past, between him and his brother – whatever they are.” I’m not sure if even I believe that statement fully, so I know he’s not going to. “Whether he’s in love with me or not, is irrelevant.”
“Is it?” He looks at me, a mixture of fear and anger in his eyes.
“Yes.”
He looks away. “The irrelevance depends on whether you have feelings for him or not.” His voice has dropped a few decibels lower.
“I don’t have feelings for him. I’m not having this fight with you again.”
“Alex, I know you feel connected to him. I see it in you. I have from the moment you got back. And I get it – I do. It’s taken me a while, but I’ve accepted it. He’s your maker. God, I saw how you reacted to Craig the first time you met him.” He releases a humourless laugh.
“I didn’t react to Craig in any way at all!”
I’m angry now.
“And so fucking what if he’s–” I jab a thumb at Zeff’s car in front of us. “My ‘maker’.” I air quote. “I am not in love with him!” I hold my breath for a moment, tears in my eyes again. “He’s not you.”
I can hear Nathan’s own breathing. It’s ragged. He glances steady eyes at me.
The cracks are starting to set in between us again, and we’ve only been driving for half-an hour. We’re going to end up right back where we were six months ago.
Our honeymoon period sure is over.
“Are we going back there, already?”
His steady gaze slides to confused, but softens in transition too. “Back to where?”
“To the people we were together six months ago. To the people who fought in that hotel room that night.”
His eyes flick back to the road, then back to me. Reaching his arm over, he slides it behind my neck, around my shoulder, pulling me over to him.
I rest my head on his shoulder. His presses his lips to the top of my head.
“No,” he murmurs, muffled by my hair. The heat from his breath warms and soothes me. “We’re not going back. It’s just me and you now, and we’re good. We’ll always be good.”
He presses another, firmer, kiss to my head again. “And whomever happens to have to join along for the ride – if it means keeping you alive and safe – well then fine, but they’re not getting in the front seat with us, okay? We’re a two seat ride.”
I laugh, lifting my head. “I think those shocks are effecting you worse than you’re letting on. That analogy sounded like the kind of shit I would come up with. You’re spending way too much time around me, Hargreaves. I’m starting to rub off on you.”
He laughs again, louder this time, but quickly quietens, putting his hand to his sore wound.
“Rub away,” he says, managing a cheeky glint.
Pressing a quick, soft kiss to my lips, he looks back to the road ahead.
And I know, no matter what, we’ll get through it together. Whatever is out there waiting for me. Whatever they choose to throw at me, I’ll get through it, because I’ve got Nathan by my side, in front of me, and covering my back, watching out for me, always taking care of me.
Zeff might be able to work his magic and kick ass to the end of time, but Nathan is the one who will always keep me safe. The one who I’ll always feel safe with.
I glance back at my makeshift family in the car behind us, then up at Nathan again. I press a kiss to his cheek, then snuggle in under his arm, moving in closer. He welcomes me gladly.
He takes hold of my hand, entwining our fingers he kisses my ring, holding it to his mouth, his breath warm on my skin, heating my heart.
I may have the world’s two most evil creatures after me. One wanting me dead. The other as his sex slave. Their part equivalents hot on my heels - thanks to Elijah’s bounty. And the added complication of Zeff as a now permanent part of my foreseeable future.
But I couldn’t feel more loved and more protected than I am right now here, with Nathan – and with them behind me in the truck; Jack, Craig, and Scarlett.
And I know whatever comes at us. It does just that. It comes at us.
I’m no longer alone.
I have a family again.
~The End~
Nicky, maybe this one’s Paris...
Love ya!
Acknowledgements
First and foremost, I want to say a humongous thank you to Poppet. You’re not just my friend; you’re my mentor, my guide, my light when I’m lost. I adore you!
A huge thank you to my family. The important ones. You know who you are.
And also my online family – Jess, LilyCat, Reg, Rob, Shalini, Suzy, Mandy, Johanna, Heather, Mike, John, Janus and Hannah – I love you guys!
Thank you to Tim Roux and Kathleen McKenna for all your support.
Mum, as always, thank you for everything you do for me.
Thank you to my gorgeous husband, Craig, and my two beautiful children, Riley and Isabella. This is it now. This is where it begins. I love you three, beyond any words I could ever write.
And lastly, I want to say a massive thank you to all my readers. Thank you for living Alex and Nathan’s story with me. Thank you for loving them as much as I do. The support I receive from you guys on a daily basis astounds me. I treasure each and every one of you, and I especially love our man candy days … long may they continue!
Original Sin Page 28
