Page 17

Amelia

Sebastian’s body suddenly stiffened. I followed his gaze just as he leaned close and muttered under his breath, low and sharp, “Don’t say a fucking word.”

The fuck?

I turned to him, one brow raised. “Excuse me?”

But before he could respond, two people walked up—approaching like they had all the time in the world and none of the courtesy to match.

Detective Inez Grayson looked stunning. Tall, confident, her strides sharp and deliberate in sleek black trousers and a tailored jacket that screamed authority.

She’d let her thick dark curls down, and her signature smirk? Devil incarnate levels of smug.

The man beside her was broad-shouldered and handsome, his tan skin dusted with stubble, brown eyes alert and flicking across the room like he’d already mapped out every exit. Sharp cheekbones, subtle scar down his jaw. There was something quiet and dangerous about him. But no Damien in sight.

Seb’s jaw ticked.

I straightened as they reached us and offered a polite, “Good evening, Inez.”

“So good to see you again, Amelia,” she said smoothly, offering her hand to me, her grin widening like she already knew every thought I’d ever had.

I didn’t get a chance to respond before Seb ground out, “Officer Grayson.”

Inez didn’t even blink. She just smiled, slow and lethal. “It’s Detective Inez Grayson, Ranger.”

My brows shot up.

Ranger?

Oh, this just got interesting.

“This is my partner,” Inez continued, gesturing casually toward the man beside her. “Detective Mateo Cuesta.”

Mateo gave me a polite nod. “Pleasure to meet you.”

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed as he cocked his head. “What happened to the other one? Ran him away, did you?” He said, low and harsh.

Mateo blinked, confused. “Wow! Inez, you don’t have to—”

But Inez just let out a soft strained chuckle, eyes glinting. “Still salty about that? That was years ago, Sebastian.”

I glanced between them, their animosity growing. Mateo was looking at Inez like she was a time bomb ready to blow any second. But she seemed fine to me.

Inez turned to me, then, finally giving me her full attention—and holy hell, it was intense. Her eyes dragged over me from head to toe, slow and deliberate, and the smile that followed?

“I didn’t know you could look this gorgeous,” she said, gaze flicking briefly to Sebastian, who looked like he was about to combust.

“Seriously, Amelia, you’re a knockout. It’s… honestly distracting.”

Her tone was silky, amused.

I blinked. “Oh, wow. Uh… thank you?”

Inez stepped a little closer, eyes still locked on mine. “You always look this good, or is it just the dress?” she murmured, clearly unbothered by the fact that Seb was two feet away seething.

My brain short-circuited for a second. She was flirting, right?

Then, I smirked. “I clean up when required. But don’t let the dress fool you, Detective. I can kill a man just as easily in heels as in combat boots.”

Inez whistled low. “God, that’s hot.”

Sebastian muttered something under his breath that sounded vaguely like a death threat.

“She’s flirting with me,” I said flatly, turning to Seb.

“She always flirts,” he snapped, eyes still on Inez.

“But it’s working,” Inez added with a wink. “Admit it.”

I tilted my head, teasing. “Maybe a little.”

Sebastian stepped back like he’d had enough, his jaw locked so tight I could practically hear his molars grinding. Without a word, he turned and stalked off.

“Oops,” Inez said, smiling innocently as she watched him go. “Still gets all possessive when someone shows interest in his girl.”

“I’m not his girl,” I replied automatically, but the words didn’t land as convincingly as I wanted them to.

Her grin grew. “Good. I don’t like competition.”

I coughed. “You’re… bold.”

“Always.” She leaned in slightly. “Let me know if you ever want to find out how bold.”

Mateo gave her a long-suffering look. “You promised you’d behave tonight.”

“I am behaving,” Inez said, eyes never leaving mine. “This is me on my best behavior.”

She bit her lower lip, slow and deliberate. God help us all.

A laugh escaped me before I could stop it—light, awkward. And then, just as quickly, my gaze was yanked away… straight into Kabir’s.

He was across the room, jaw clenched, his stare locked on me with the same quiet fury I’d seen on Sebastian just moments earlier.

Oh, for fuck’s sake.

They were both actually seething?

Inez was clearly joking. Mostly. Probably. But still, riding the high of her boldness—and maybe trying to feel something other than shame—I asked, “The flirting… that was just to get rid of Seb, right? Or… something else?”

Inez tilted her head, a little smirk playing on her lips. “Something else,” she repeated. Then, with a tiny shrug, “I know y’all are on lockdown, but when things die down—go out with me?”

I choked on air, coughing hard enough to set my champagne glass rattling on the table. “I’m… flattered,” I managed. “But uh…”

The words trailed off, unsure of where to land. Because the truth was? I had questioned my sexuality before. I had wondered because I never dated anyone. But I knew one thing for certain—there was no room in my heart for anyone else. Not any other man. Not any woman. Not anyone.

Kabir already owned all of it.

I turned to look at him again, but this time, his eyes weren’t on me. He was talking to Zane now—reluctantly, half-distracted. And somehow, that hurt even more.

“Gah! Shit luck,” Inez muttered, clicking her tongue. “I thought weddings were good for picking people up.”

“Inez…” Mateo groaned, rolling his eyes as he dragged her away.

I offered them a small wave, even managing a weak smile.

But as I turned back to the table and lifted my glass again, the champagne didn’t taste like anything at all.

I’d made a mess of everything.

Kabir was slipping further away. And I didn’t know how to fucking talk to him anymore.

Kabir

She looked radiant.

I had watched her walk down the aisle with a grace that had blinded me. Those supple curves hidden behind the wavy ripples of her lavender dress.

Fuck.

This was hard—keeping my thoughts friendly .

I knew she was looking at me during the vows. I could feel her gaze heating up the side of my face.

Knowing I’d fail and glance at her, even briefly—I made sure to engage in non-sensical conversations with Zane.

I was doing fine until Sebastian had slid his arm around her waist, his eyes challenging me to do something.

But I didn’t.

I had promised Amelia I wouldn’t interfere. So I wouldn’t.

But it was so fucking hard to not stride over to her and yank her from his embrace.

Everyone was seated now. I couldn’t find Amelia initially. But then I saw her—standing next to the makeshift stage.

It was time for the speeches.

The second Logan took the mic, I braced.

This man never opened his mouth without chaos riding shotgun.

He tapped the mic, leaned into it like he was about to confess to murder, and grinned. “Hi. I’m Logan. Best man—to the bride and the groom. Certified nuisance.”

A ripple of laughter followed. Zarek visibly exhaled through his nose. Already tired.

“But I’m also the guy who’s been with Zarek since before he decided to stalk his now-wife like a Victorian ghost.”

The crowd laughed louder this time—Leora most of all. Zarek shot Logan a flat look. The kind that usually preceded a threat.

“Oh, don’t look at me like that, Zar,” Logan said, waving him off. “You were a full-blown menace. Remember when you planted cameras in Leo’s house? The devices she used to call you a coward!”

Leora was doubled over in laughter now. Zarek’s ears were turning red. But all I could think of was how I had never called him Zar. Not once.

“And you’re lucky it was me being the voice of reason,” Logan went on, placing a dramatic hand over his chest. “Which, I’ll admit, was new for me.

Usually I’m the guy saying ‘sure, Ghost, let’s breach the cartel base with no backup and a bad attitude.

’ But this time, I said no. I said— ‘maybe don’t stalk the woman you have every intention of claiming. ’”

Zarek covered his face with his fist. Probably to stop himself from snapping the mic in half.

Logan grinned. “But look where we are now. You got the girl. She didn’t file a restraining order. So yeah—my brother married my sister. Which doesn’t sound that weird if you say it super fast.”

He paced a step, spinning the mic in his hand. “And let’s talk about the tattoo. Yep! Zarek got inked, folks. This man, who once claimed tattoos were a distraction and ‘not tactical’ now has a tattoo inked over his chest.”

Seb chuckled from across the room. Dylan smirked. Leora threw her head back laughing while Zarek slowly shook his head, mouthing Why me?

“What does it say, Zar? I keep forgetting!”

Leora laughed again, wiping at her eyes. Zarek was muttering something to her under his breath.

The crowd laughed, but I wasn’t looking at them.

I was watching Amelia.

She was biting the inside of her cheek, trying not to smile. But her eyes? They weren’t light. They were heavy. Worried. Distant.

Her fingers tapped against her glass in a rhythm I recognized too well.

She was next.

And she was nervous.

And I couldn’t fucking help her.

Onstage, Logan’s voice dropped.

“But in all seriousness,” he said, turning toward Zarek and Leora, “I’m glad I’m here.

Not just haunting the back of your minds or name-dropped in a toast. Really here.

Glad that I got a lecture to not object at the wedding, instead of those words being immortalized in a freaking note I never gave a second thought to. ”

His smile softened. “I joke a lot—mostly to avoid talking about things that aren’t funny. But this?” He looked at Leora. “This is something I’ll never joke about.”

He raised his glass. “To twenty-one saves. And to the one that finally saved him.”

The toast echoed across the room.

He took a few steps off the stage before quickly running back, his gaze landing on his girl. “Oh and Kaylan! I love you, baby,” he then looked right at Zarek and Leora. “What? She ordered me to mention her during the speech if I wanted a reward, so…”

“Logan!” Kaylan hissed but I could see she was trying hard not to laugh.

Logan was grinning as he stepped down, handed the mic off, and walked straight to Amelia.

He leaned in, kissed her cheek, and mouthed, “You’ve got this.”

Amelia’s eyes glistened.

And mine burned.

She walked up slowly.

Too slowly.

Her napkin dropped to the floor, and she didn’t even notice. She was clutching the mic like it might bite her, like it held every answer she didn’t have.

Why was she this nervous?

It was just a speech.

I didn’t realize I’d stopped breathing until she glanced my way.

Her legs looked like they’d betray her at any second, but she held.

Barely.

Sebastian walked up to squeeze her hand in silent encouragement as she passed, and I could’ve decked him for it. Not because of jealousy—well, maybe a little—but because I knew how fragile she felt. The kind of fragile that cracked under the wrong kind of comfort.

She made her way to the center of the stage, lips parted like she was whispering her speech to herself. But I knew her well enough to see it.

She’d forgotten the whole damn thing.

Or abandoned it.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she adjusted the mic stand. Then, she took a breath—shaky, unsteady, beautiful—and smiled.

“I had a speech,” she said, voice low and wavering. “I had note cards and bullet points and this whole plan to be witty and charming and make you all cry. Hoping I’d outshine this menace of the squad.”

The crowd chuckled softly as she gestured at Logan, who was puffing his chest. But Kaylan was quick to swat him on his thigh.

“But… I left it somewhere between my room and this mic. So I guess I’m winging it.”

She swallowed and glanced at Zarek and Leora, but her eyes didn’t stay there long.

They found me.

And stayed, causing me to frown slightly.

“Tonight, I saw what love looks like. Actually I’ve been seeing it since the day we added a new trainee.”

For everyone else, the new trainee clearly meant Leora. But my stupid heart couldn’t stop beating erratically at the thought that she meant me.

Her voice was steadier now. “Not just love, but trust. History. Madness. Obsession.”

Zarek gave her a look, like he wasn’t sure how much of that was about him. But Leora just smiled.

“And when I say love,” Amelia continued, her voice softening, “I don’t mean fairy tales. I mean the kind that shows up in the ugly, broken, irreparable moments and stays anyway.”

She looked away for a beat—like the words were too big to carry.

Then, she found me again.

And I felt it in my goddamn marrow.

“I’ve spent years thinking I wasn’t built for that kind of love. That maybe people like me don’t get it. That maybe it’s just a mission I’m never going to complete because too many other missions were weighing me down.”

I didn’t realize my hands were clenched tight and I was almost hyperventilating until Zane elbowed me lightly under the table.

But Amelia was still speaking. Still winging it with more fire than I’d ever seen.

“But I think… I think we all meet someone who makes us wonder. Who makes us rewrite our plans and second-guess every decision. Someone who makes you so flustered that you end up making stupid decisions. A love… that doesn’t leave you another choice .

” She looked at me with such fierceness that my vision blurred.

She exhaled—just a little. “Zarek and Leora found it. And I’m sure they will hold on tight until their last breaths.”

“I think I found it too.” She added in a voice so low that the mic barely caught it.

The air in my lungs turned to ice.

She wasn’t looking at the crowd at all.

She wasn’t looking at Zarek or Leora.

She was looking at me.

And all the mourning I’d wrapped myself in like armor suddenly cracked.

Because she was smiling.

And that smile?

It wasn’t for anyone else.

“To Zarek and Leora,” she finished, lifting her glass. “To finding love… and not running from it.”

The applause erupted, but all I could hear was the heartbeat in my throat.

She stepped off the platform, nerves still tangled in her step—but she was glowing. On fire.

And I realized something horrifying. Something that would absolutely bind me to this damn world.

I needed her to mean… Every. Goddamn. Word.