Page 102 of Romancing His Heart

Is it just me, or were the words little brother dripping with contempt? Does Loki know something we don’t?

“Why do you think I’ve spent my entire adult life alone? Never, not once letting anyone get close to me?”

I feel like he knocked the wind out of me.

No one? Not even me?

“I live a solitary life because having a relationship is a liability. I learned that the hard way with Trevor, Preston, and Dex. Are you willing to take that chance with Nadja? Is it worth the constant fear that someone could grab her? Because I sure as shit never found anyone worth that risk.”

My stomach heaves, and I double over, trying to catch my breath.

How could I have been so stupid?

“Yes! Fuck, Loki. She’s worth everything. I’ll walk away from it all tomorrow if it guarantees we can live in peace together. She’s my life. I’ll do anything in my power to make sure she’s safe.”

Lucky girl.

“Hey, you okay?” Seth asks, climbing the steps behind me.

With my hands on my knees, I take a deep, cleansing breath before plastering a smile on my face and standing.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I just stubbed my toe. But, I, ah, I forgot I need to check on Dick and Harry, my raccoons. They’re in the shed. I’ll be right back. Help yourself to the coffeepot. Loki can tell you where everything is.” By the time I’ve finished speaking, I’m already down the stairs and halfway around the cabin.

When I glance back, I see Seth standing stock still with his hands on his hips, shaking his head.

Chapter 33

Loki

Aburst of cold air accosts me, and I turn in my seat, expecting to see Red. When Seth shuts the door, an unexplained sense of dread washes over me.

“Where’s Sloane?”

“She said she had to check on her raccoons, Dick and Harry? Is she messing with me?”

I can’t help but laugh. “No, she really named those beasts Dick and Harry.”

Why is she checking on them now?As far as I know, it’s been weeks since she’s been out there. All it took was a short video about rabies, and she lost interest fairly quickly.

“Was she okay?”

Seth shrugs his shoulders. “She was on the porch for a bit because she stubbed her toe, but I didn’t see it happen. This is a lot to take in, though, man. Maybe she just needs a breather.”

“Maybe,” I mumble as the sickening feeling creeps higher into my chest like a lead weight.

“Listen,” Luca picks up our interrupted conversation, “I don’t care what it takes. All I care about is being with Nadja. Are you telling me you plan to stick with SIA for the rest of your life? Because I have to tell you, that sounds like a pretty fucking miserable existence. You deserve more, Loki. We both do.” The conviction in his tone has me nodding in agreement.

“No,” I finally admit. “Once we put Vic away and clear my name, I’m out.”

“Me too,” Seth informs Luca as he takes a seat at the table.

“So we need a plan to take him down,” Luca states.

“It’s not just Vic,” Ashton makes a point of acknowledging Luca. “Not if Mikhailov is after you, too. We have to end this all, or you’ll be running for the rest of your life.”

I’m not sure how I feel about my half-brother right now. Our goals are aligned, and maybe they always have been, but it’s hard to turn off a lifetime of hatred. Staring at him, though, I know deep in my soul I’ll help him. He didn’t deserve the life we’ve led anymore than I did, and he doesn’t deserve to be hunted for the rest of his life because he fell in love.

What would I do if someone was after Sloane?