Page 180 of Only Fools Rush

My heart warmed. Theyhadtalked about this. Maybe we could actually make this work.

I thought this before, but it laced through my brain once more.

We were inevitable. All of us.

We just needed to figure out how to work together. And once we did, we’d be unstoppable.

50

CASPIAN

She’d saidyes. Somehow, she’d forgiven me. We were officially engaged. She was wearing the ring. She’d stared at it all night, tilting her hand to watch the diamond sparkling in each shift of the light.

I wouldn’t ever put her in that position again.

I walked through the kitchen on my way to the gym, pausing at the island to run a hand over the counter. Leona had always been the place I’d sought refuge. When I’d get scolded by her father or Alessio, I’d always sneak into her room, and she’d let me rant about how they were hardasses. She’d listen and laugh and cheer me up with stupid jokes or silly impressions of her dad. Then she’d give me a big hug and everything else would melt away. Her arms had always been my comfort. But this penthouse was finally starting to feel like home.

I couldn’t believe how close I’d come to almost losing her. I’d never get that close again.

I grabbed some water and then continued down to the gym to do my physical therapy exercises. It had been almost exactly a month since they’d rescued me from the basement where Max had tortured me, and I was finally feeling more like myself. I’d video chatted with Willow to update her on my progress, and shewas happy with what my knee and shoulder could do. I just had to keep with it—and not let Ryuji beat me in a fight anymore.

It was going to be hard to find common ground with him, but we were in it now.

The private elevator doors opened, and I caught sight of both Ryuji and Leona training. He had her lined up on the range where he practiced his throwing knives, standing behind her so he could give her tips and adjust her grip and wrist position.

Quietly, I watched her flick her wrist, and the knife landed dead center on the target’s heart.Damn.

“See, Queenie?” he said, grinning. “I told you I’d make you the most powerful woman on Earth.”

She huffed. “I’ve got a long way to go.”

“Oh, bodyguard!” Ryuji called as he caught sight of me stepping to the mat so I could stretch. “Come to watch how deadly our girl can be?”

Our girl.

She glanced at me as red tinged her cheeks.

“I know how deadly she is,” I responded. My muscles protested when I twisted my back over my legs. It was a few moments before they relaxed and allowed me to deepen the stretch. Every day, I got stronger. Once I returned to my full strength, I’d stand toe-to-toe with them. And when I inevitably faced off with Max again, I’d be ready. “But that’s what she has us for.”

He rolled his eyes. “Still on that, huh?”

“Got something to say?” I narrowed my eyes. “Am I wrong?”

“So fucking?—”

“And here I thought you two worked out all your shit yesterday,” Leona interrupted, folding her arms over her chest.

My lips thinned. Meanwhile, a shit-eating grin plastered itself on Ryuji’s face.

“Slow and steady,” he sniggered, draping an arm over her shoulder. “Don’t worry, he’ll come to like me just as much as you do.”

“Doubt it.” I snorted, then sighed. “Yeah, we’re on the same team now, I guess, but he’s still a dick. You can’t undo the asshole programming overnight.”

“I wear that badge with fucking honor,” Ryuji replied with a laugh. My skin heated. Every word he spoke got under my fucking skin, no matter what. That smirk, like he knew just how annoying he was, and his practicallydeterminedattitude to be in conflict with me at all times—it drove me crazy. “Everyone wants me to belessof an asshole, but have you guys ever stopped to think you should bemoreof one?”

I opened my mouth to snap back, but Leona raised a hand.

“Enough. I’m tired of your bickering. Get up. Both of you, follow me.”