We stand there for a few minutes while she explains the meaning behind her daughter’s name. I get it, especially after the shit she’s been through. Royal did a number on both of us. I will not bring either one of our experiences with that man up, though. Justice was served when he died.
“She’s a handful. Teething right now.” I know the feeling, I want to say. I don’t. I have no clue if Roan has told her or Cain anything. Instead, I focus on her baby. She has two dimples, blond, curly hair, and eyes that twinkle.
“Are you here to see Alina?” she asks politely.
I sigh and forge a smile. “No. Aidan, actually. I wanted to surprise him. I tried to call Roan to see if he could get me past security.” She cuts me off by reaching for my hand.
“You don’t have to say any more. Come on.” She guides me past the guard. We both say good morning.
“Thank you,” I say when we get to the elevators.
“You’re welcome. And Deidre,” she calls out as I step into lift. “Believe me when I say he’ll be happy to see you. We all are. I’m running late for work, we’ll talk soon.” With that, she turns and leaves.
I press the button for his floor. The second the doors close, I pace two steps one way, then two steps the other in the tiny compartment. The blood drains from my face the closer I get. I take a deep breath when it stops at his floor. The minute the doors shut behind me, I take one step toward his apartment and halt when I hear his loud voice from where I’m standing.
Damn it. I hope it’s not the same woman from last night. Alina assured me he wasn’t dating anyone. She was also very confident that he doesn’t do hookers. Yes, I went there with her last night. I couldn’t help it. Curiosity got the best of me, I guess.
Whomever he’s having a conversation with has him enraged. In fact, the more I hear him shouting, the more concerned I become.
I walk closer, pressing my ear to the door. The disagreement he’s having surprises me.
I hear everything. “Oh, my god. It’s his mother,” I whisper softly.
I take a step back, ready to press the button on his doorbell, when I hear declarations that instantly put me in protection mode.
I lose my shit when she says his step-father is dead and the voice of a man I assume is his brother starts talking about a young woman who wants money. The last thing I hear before I grasp for the door handle to see if it’s unlocked are the viscous words, “I want you to kill her,” coming out of his mother’s vile mouth.
“Honey, I’m home.” Three pairs of eyes turn my way. The only one I’m focused on is the man’s whose eyes look exactly like our son’s. They grow wide with shock, then travel slowly down from my face to my chest and then to my tanned legs. When they meet my eyes again, his brows furrow. I’m hoping he can read my expression trying to tell him to play along.
“Who are you?” His mother looks me over with contempt. Asking me like it’s her business of who I am.
“I’m his fiancée. Who the fuck are you?” I’m still spinning out of control from hearing her say the word ‘kill’. And fiancée? Good lord almighty, I’ve lost my mind again. I’m pissed. But it’s obvious he doesn’t want them here, from what I overheard, so it’s for a good reason.
My hands clench at my sides. I’m ready to lurch at her, to take her ass out, when Aidan strides to me, bringing me into his strong arms. My insides melt, filling up with this indescribable feeling. His warm, strong body pressed up against mine. His strong arms holding me close. Squeezing. My heart embraces him too, doing this little flip in my chest.
“What in the every loving fuck?” he whispers in my ear. I look up into his handsome face. His hair is darker than I remember, his eyes brighter than the sun glistening down on the ocean. I need to step back. My body feels all tingly from his simple embrace.
“Aww, baby, I missed you too,” I coo loudly enough for them to hear. “Now shut your big fat trap and play along. What’s going on here?” I demand quietly. Looking right at his mother, I try to escape the hold he has on me, to step around him. He resists. I think of those big hands more often than I should, and damn it, right now they have me all flustered.
“Nothing I can’t handle. These two were just leaving. Weren’t you?” He slings his arm around my shoulder casually. I tuck closer to him, because, well, he feels good. Too damn good. Like I-could-lick-him-up-and-down-and-all-around kind of good.
“You have a fiancée?” the man I know to be Ryan asks. Good thing this dip-shit spoke. I was beginning to visualize licking Aidan like you do with the extra batter on a wooden spoon.