by Aliyah Burke
* * * *
When she opened them next, Hector was beside her. Sunlight filled the room and she realized she’d been out all night. Thankfully, she felt stronger today.
Embracing her brother, she allowed him to wipe the tears from her face. “I’m sorry, Hector.”
“Lex, I’m just glad I didn’t lose you as well. When I heard what happened”—he put a hand over his heart—“it wasn’t good.” He gestured to the bed. “What happened that you’re here though, if you weren’t in the house?”
“I need you to listen to me, Hector. Let me finish before you interrupt, okay?”
He glanced between her and Valentino, who refused to leave the room but had moved back. “Fine.”
“I was working on an operation with Valentino. That’s why we had the pretense of being married.” Val’s gaze hardened then shuttered at her claim. She swallowed and forged ahead. “I was shot in the final showdown, I guess you could call it. Don’t be mad. I’m fine.” She lifted a shoulder indolently. “Or will be.”
“And you didn’t think I’d want to know—”
“Hector.” She leveled a look at him.
Hector held up his hands. “Sorry. Continue.”
“This isn’t easy for me to tell you. Really not easy.” She dampened her lips and searched for the courage. Val stepped forward until she waved him back. “No, I have to do this.”
Hector’s frown didn’t encourage her any. Well…it encouraged her to hide under the blanket.
“Eugene is alive.”
Her brother stared at her for a bit. Then he ran his hands down the sides of his face, and readjusted the chair.
“I’m sorry, what?” There was no humor in his tone. In fact, it was harder than she’d heard it in years.
“Eugene is alive. He’s still in a coma”—she paused and looked to Val for confirmation on that, continuing when she got it—“but he is alive.”
“Let me see if I have this right. My sister’s house blows up, but she’s not in it. However, she is part of some undercover operation that gets her shot. Her lung nicked, yeah, I can read a chart. Then she wakes, for which I’m glad. Tells me she’s been lying to me about her entire relationship with her husband. Oh, that’s right, it’s fake. So this man she’s pretending with as they hunt for some people is not who he claims either. Great. Swell. Now after watching my brother’s body be wheeled from a hospital room and having a funeral for him, you’re telling me he’s still alive?”
She worked her fingers in the blanket and wouldn’t look at him. “Yes.”
“This was your idea?”
Lexy didn’t know who he spoke to, so she snuck a glance at him. Hector was looking at Valentino.
“All of it. Don’t blame Lexy. We really didn’t give her a choice.”
He was shouldering the responsibility? Not fair, she couldn’t let him do it.
“That’s not—”
“It is true. All my group’s doing. She didn’t want to leave you out of the loop about Eugene, but we had to insure people didn’t know so we could keep him alive.” Valentino crossed his arms. “That nurse who turned up dead after his staged death was part of this group we were after.”
Hector got to his feet and stood toe to toe with Valentino. Whatever words they exchanged were too soft for her to overhear. But her heart stopped when Hector left without another word to her.
“Hector?” she called after him.
“Let him go, Lexy. He needs time to digest this all.”
“Leave me alone, Val.” She rolled to her side. “Just leave me alone.”
“We need to talk.”
A nurse came in to run some more tests and Lexy breathed a sigh of relief when he stepped out. The woman smiled at her.
“Your husband has been here every second. He is so in love with you.”
How she wished it were true. “He’s something else,” she admitted. “He’s truly something else.” Problem was, he was that for someone else and not her. Ignoring the pain in her heart and soul, Lexy tried to think about how she was going to recover from this. She needed to turn her attention to herself and not what she couldn’t have any longer.
* * * *
Valentino shut the door of his indigo-blue, metallic Jaguar F-Type V8 S and strode up to the woman who stood there overlooking the remnants of her home. He’d been there watching her for a few moments before he’d deigned to go up to her. It had been two weeks since he’d seen her.
After she’d gotten out of the hospital, she’d gone to stay with a friend—not Hector, that was still a relationship that needed some work. Valentino had already had his say to her brother, but the two of them had to get through their issues on their own. He couldn’t fix it, despite wanting to. She hadn’t gone to Jaydee, he knew because he’d called there enough.
So he’d begun stalking this place, knowing sooner or later she would show up. And she had. Two fucking weeks later.
“Hello, Alexsa.”
He stopped slightly behind her and ran his hungry gaze over her. The day was cool and the gray sweatshirt hung nearly to mid-thigh on her. Her brown slouch boots were on the outside of her jeans, their heel adding three inches to her height. He liked their buckle and stud detail.
Her entire body stiffened briefly before she slowly rotated to face him. Sunglasses hid her gaze from him and he longed to remove them so he could see her eyes. She gave a little shrug.
“Hello.”
This wasn’t the woman he’d expected to face. There was no fire, no Lexy. This person he saw was a hollow shell of the woman she’d once been. And it’s all my fault.
“How’s Eugene?”
“Talking.” Her smile was slight. “Not sure when he’ll be allowed to go home. Thanks for asking.”
A stranger. That was who she was. He shoved his hands in his slacks pockets. “Can we talk?”
Another uncaring shrug. “Sure.” She yawned and looked up at him. “What?”
“Not here. Somewhere we can sit down and talk.” He held out his hand, noting how her head tilted slightly as if she were looking at the ring on his hand. “Come.”
She didn’t take his hand, but she didn’t put up any argument as he led the way to his car and held the door for her. Once she was in, he went to the driver’s side and got behind the wheel. As the engine purred to life, the music came on and he hesitated as Chris Young’s Tomorrow came on, filling the car with his words. Slanting his gaze to Lexy, he saw her shift and knew the words were affecting her as well.
He began driving. “Where have you been staying?”
“With a friend.”
“I know, but where?”
“Virginia Beach.”
He headed that way and as they drove he wanted to stop the car and pull her to him. “Didn’t think to call me?”
“And interrupt your time with your wife? I don’t think so.”
He ground his jaw and tightened the reins on his temper. It would serve no purpose for him to lose it. Not now. Weaving amongst the traffic, he eventually got off on the exit he wanted. Not much later, he pulled into the parking lot at Mount Trashmore.
They exited his car and he locked it before moving to her side and offering his arm. She tucked some hair behind her ear and put her hands in her jean pockets. Damn it!
They walked until they reached a bench overlooking the lake. She sat at one end and he stared at her before he sat beside her.
“How are you doing?” He undid the button on his suit coat and rested his arms on his thighs.
“Coming along. Won’t be running anytime soon.” Another of her damn shrugs. “I’m alive so I won’t complain.”
“Theta Corps will buy you a new home, or have one rebuilt there.”
“I know, Masters told me.”
He frowned. “You’ve talked to Masters?”
“A few days ago.”
So his boss had known where she was but had refused to tell him. More anger churned. He muttered something unkind in Italian and l
eaned back against the bench before putting one ankle on his knee.
“We need to talk about the marriage.”
She couldn’t hide the stiffening this time. “What’s to talk about. Technically it wasn’t even legal, so it doesn’t matter. I sent the ring to Jaydee, figuring you’d be out there sooner or later and could get it from them. Then do what you will with it.”
“No way.” His words were bitten off.
“No way what?”
“We’re still married.”
“Right.” There was nothing in her tone. No fight and it broke his heart. “I don’t need to play games, Valentino. I’m sorry I forced you to break your vows to Alyssa.”
“Why would you say that? You know how I feel about her.”
“Because you’re an honorable man and marrying another while still married can’t sit well with you.”
“I notice you’re not sorry for kicking her ass.” He watched her closely.
The briefest of lip lifts. “Not sorry for that.”
“Look at me, Alexsa.” When she refused to comply, he captured her chin and slowly turned her toward him. “I’m not married to her. I’m legally bound to you. Your name is still Alexsa Cassano and you should be wearing your wedding ring, not having shipped it off to Oregon.”
“Why the farce? Why are you insisting on carrying this out?” She shook her head and pulled free of his touch to stare back over the water. “Do you remember Zurich?”
“Every single second.” Damn it, he wanted to hold her.
“I came to a realization then and I think it still fits now.”
He didn’t like the sound of that at all. “What was it?”
“You want me for the booty call and I was fine with that. I mean, let’s face it, the sex was off the charts.”
He smirked. “It was.”
“But I can’t do that anymore. It’s…not good for me.”
He slid closer to her and draped his arm along the back of the bench. “Why?”
Lexy never took her gaze from whatever she was pretending held her attention more than him. “It’s just not.”
“How about I tell you what I think?”
“Knock yourself out.” She tugged her sweatshirt sleeves down over her fingers. Fingers which had rings on most, but the one finger he’d put a ring on sat empty.
“I think it’s because you still think I’m married to another woman. I swear to you I’m not. She was declared dead. I was a widower. I’ve checked. We’re still married, Lexy. You and me.” He reached out and traced along the whorl of her ear. “Then there’s the fact you’re in love with me.” She clenched her jaw and he touched it as well. “Don’t deny it, you told me in the mountains.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
The hell it doesn’t! “It matters. Why would you say it didn’t?”
“Because I won’t be in a relationship with a man who shows no feelings and can’t let me in. I can’t be with a robot. If that’s the case, I’ll stick with my vibrator and change batteries here and there.”
“We can keep the vibrator and see, but you have to give me a chance to show you I can let you in and show feelings.”
“It’s just sex between us. I want more than that.”
“Give me a chance to prove you wrong.” His heart slowed as he waited for her answer.
She sat there for a while, still not looking at him, and fidgeted. When she turned toward him, her face was devoid of any emotion, and he wasn’t sure what to make of that. “Okay.”
He released the breath he’d been holding, cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. Slowly, he dragged his tongue along the seam of her lips, waiting for her to part them. When she did, he dipped inside and allowed her taste to swarm him. Eventually, he ended the kiss and pulled back.
He took off her glasses. “I want to see your eyes.”
“I don’t know if this is going to work.”
He knew she was trying to shore up her defenses against him and he couldn’t let her do that. Shaking his head, he stood and pulled her up as well. “Come on.”
“Where are we going?”
“Somewhere private.”
She didn’t speak again until he got them to Barclay Towers and registered for a suite. In the elevator, he held her close in his arms, grateful she didn’t push him away. She wasn’t overly welcoming, but she didn’t shove away. He counted it a big success when she rested her head on his chest.
In their suite, they walked past the fully stocked kitchen as well as the couch facing the television.
She didn’t argue or say anything as he took her to the bedroom then turned to taking off her clothing. He pulled off her boots and set them to the side. Skimming his hands up the sides of her legs, he moved to the button and undid her pants.
“What are we doing?”
“Hush, Lexy.”
He drew them down and lifted her feet free, one leg at a time. Her socks followed. Moving up, he removed her sweatshirt and dropped it to the bedspread. She stood there, silent as he trailed his fingers over the scar from her surgery. For a moment, he relived that one moment when her blood was pumping over his hands and he nearly panicked. He removed her bra and panties then guided her to the shower.
As the water adjusted to the temperature he wanted, he shucked his own suit and entered with her. He washed her carefully, doing his best to keep his desires in check. Once they were done, he dried her off—himself as well—and carried her to the bed.
They slipped beneath the covers and he gathered her close. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed his chest. He closed his eyes.
“You don’t want to have sex?”
“I do, more than you know. But this isn’t about me, it’s about us. Let me hold you, Lexy. Just hold you and feel your body against mine.”
She didn’t say anything else. He knew when she fell asleep and brushed his lips along her temple. “I love you, Lexy,” he murmured. “I’ll find a way to make this work.”
* * * *
He chewed on his thumb as he stared at the couple who walked from the store to the car. Trevor watched from behind the wheel of his car and wished he’d placed an explosive in the car. Now wasn’t the time, but he wasn’t ready to let them go enjoy their happily ever after or whatever they were having.
But he had other plans. He would be keeping an eye on them and when the time was right, he would exact his revenge. And it would be beautifully poetic. Then they would carry on with their original plan and bring the government to its knees.
Epilogue
“Come on, Alexsa. Trust me.”
Valentino patiently held out his hand and stared down at her from where she sat—after a spirited debate—in the passenger seat. One he’d been thrilled to have, it meant she was on her way to becoming the Lexy of old.
He beckoned with his fingers. “Lexy.”
She stared at his fingers like they were going to bite her and Valentino—not for the first time—wished he could read her mind just to figure out what was cruising in that head of hers. Finally, she harrumphed and swung her long legs to the asphalt before taking hold of his hand. He drew her up and brushed their lips together.
“It will be fine.”
“It’d better be,” she groused.
Locking the car, he shook his head. “What’s your problem with this place?”
She gave a derisive sniff and tugged on the side of her pale green and gold long-sleeved shirt which hung over the waistband of her faded denims. “You take me from home where I was recovering and drop me off in a place teeming with Yankees.”
He laughed aloud, sliding his arm around her waist. “Sweetheart, I hate to break this to you, but there are some down in Virginia as well.” It felt good to laugh aloud and if he had his way, he’d be doing much more of it.
“But I’m there as well. Not up here.”
“Not everything above the Mason-Dixon line is bad.” He kissed her ear. “Deal.”
“Fine,” she said with a huff.
“Let’s see what you have planned. Let’s not forget you’re not a Southerner so you couldn’t possibly understand.”
He tipped up her chin. “No, but I’m married to one.”
She flashed him a grin, not quite what she used to do but more than the barely there smile he’d seen after she’d been shot, so he’d take it. “So you better learn.”
He wanted to climb to the top of the Empire State Building and shout for joy. Her comment wasn’t what someone who was planning on securing a divorce would make. Not that I’d let her go, despite my promise at the beginning of this journey we’ve been on together.
Valentino paused at a corner and smiled at the old man who halted his horse and carriage before them.
“Beautiful,” she cooed.
He glanced at her, not the least bit surprised to find her attention on the horse. Her entire body relaxed and a gentle smile curved up her full lips. Having been with her at work and being with Hector he’d learned this was a roan. And he told her so.
“You did learn something,” she teased. “Hector would be so proud.”
Slipping behind her and hugging her, he whispered, “A few things, here and there. Come on, your carriage awaits.”
“Really?” She wheeled in his arms to face him. “We’re going for a carriage ride?”
The joy in her eyes humbled him in ways he’d never realized would happen to him. He tapped the tip of her nose.
“As soon as we get in.”
Lexy barely allowed him to help her up. As he climbed up after her, he swore he saw their driver fighting a grin. Once seated beside her, he placed his arm along the back of the seat. With a snap of leather, the horse set off.
“This you get excited for,” he remarked with false offense.
“It’s a carriage ride in Central Park. Of course I’m excited.”
He idly stroked his hand up and down her arm. Lexy relaxed into him with a contented sigh.
“You are a crazy woman, Alexsa.”
“What’s it say about you that you stuck around despite that knowledge?”
I’m totally head over heels in love with you and don’t want to spend a day without you as my wife. “I’m brave.”
She laughed and he smiled at the infectious sound. He shifted his weight and felt the box in his pocket poke him. He’d gotten her ring back from Gio. His mind raced with the possibilities of how this would play out. What’s the worst that could happen? She says no. Which would rip my heart out.
