Remembering the man in question, yeah he didn’t seem the type to give up if he wanted something. “He’ll break you down, particularly since you want to be broken down.”
“I know.”
Ryder jumped from the bed. “We should join the others because dinner is almost ready.”
Before we went to dinner, the guys and I sat in the library as they once again briefed me on what to expect.
“Once you know the restaurant, my team will setup the surveillance. You will not be alone with him. Silas will drive you and my men will be posing as waiters. You’ll be covered every second.”
“I’ll be fine.”
I had never seen Damian like this. And I appreciated that I’d be feeling the same had the roles been reversed, but Guy wasn’t getting away with this.
Cam reached for my hand. “I get what you’re feeling. We all are, but control your temper until we have him. He wants something from you so make him feel comfortable to ask for it. Anything he says could help us with nailing him. We only need one thread and his shit will unravel.”
“I got this.”
They all looked grim, but it was Anton who said, “We know you do.”
Cam then did the weirdest thing. He stared at Damian then me and back again.
“You and her finally got it together?” he asked.
Damian didn’t even blink. “Yes.”
“What are your intentions?”
“Are you serious, Cam? Ignore him, Damian. My brother’s a moron.”
“I’m not kidding. What are your intentions?” Cam demanded.
I rolled my eyes because honestly. “You’re being an idiot, Cam.”
“Damian?” I knew that tone of Cam’s and couldn’t believe he was actually being serious.
“Cam, cut the shit.” I was getting pissed now.
Damian’s focus shifted from Cam to me. The hard lines smoothed out and warmth moved into his gaze. “To offer her a blanket and my body when she watches a scary movie. To hold her hair when she is sick and to supply the water when she drinks. To keep the house stocked with cookie ingredients and working fire extinguishers. To make her eggs and bacon and two cups of black coffee with two sugars every morning. To fall asleep next to her every night and to wake to her beautiful face every morning. To plant my babies in her, to build a life and family with her, to grow old with her…watching as life etches itself on her face. My intention, Cam, is to spend the rest of my life with her.”
No words would come after that breathtaking vow, so instead I stood and walked on unsteady legs to the man I loved and buried my face in his chest.
“Fucking finally,” Cam said after a few minutes.
I had just climbed into bed when Damian entered. I hadn’t stopped playing his vow over and over again in my head. For a man who conserved words, he sure as hell could string some really fucking great ones together. Still I teased him. “Did you and Cam agree on my dowry?”
“He loves you.”
“I know that. I love him, doesn’t mean he wasn’t being an idiot.”
“Concern for his sister does not make him an idiot.”
I was reminded of Amelia and how Damian wouldn’t ever get to have that with her, so I changed the subject.
“Mrs. Cooke is very forward thinking with her room assignments.”
That earned me a look from over his shoulder. A shoulder that was now bare since the man was undressing for bed. I suddenly felt overdressed in my nightshirt.
I waited for him to finish preparing for bed because that included getting naked. Yes, the man slept in the nude. I had said once I didn’t walk in the light. I would like to retract that statement.
He climbed into bed and pulled me under him, his hands brushing my hair from my face. “Follow the plan.”
“I will.”
“Don’t take any chances.”
“I won’t.”
“And if you feel uncomfortable, drop your napkin.”
I ran my hand down his face, brushed his lips with my fingers. “You will be right there. I’ll be fine.”
“I want a lifetime, Thea.”
“We’ll start with that.”
And then he kissed me.
It was weird being home, but I had missed it. I had called Uncle Guy as soon as I got home and scheduled the dinner. The man would make an incredible actor because he sounded so happy to hear from me, so familial and yet the bastard killed my dad. We were meeting in two days, Damian was even now wiring the restaurant and setting up the surveillance, drilling the teams. While he was busy doing that, I went about business as usual and spent yesterday cleaning the apartment and stocking my fridge. While cleaning the dreaded bathroom, I snapped the chain of the necklace Dad had given me. I almost lost my key down the toilet. I would have to replace the chain, but in the meantime I hung it on a shorter one because not wearing it wasn’t an option.