Page 65 of Crimson Fate
She smiles at me. “But... maybe... maybe we should take a step back. Just until you’ve settled things with Gia.”
The suggestion hits me like a gut punch, knocking the wind out of my sails.
“Are you having regrets about last night?” I ask, trying to make sense of her sudden shift.
“God, no!” she blurts out emphatically.
“Then what is this all about?”
She hesitates briefly. “I heard you and Marco mention Gia, and I know things with me have only complicated everything. You tried to shut things down between us last night, and I was the one who came into your bedroom. If you’re feeling torn between us, I don’t want you to feel like you—”
“Torn between you?” I blurt out and then start to laugh. “That’s what you think Marco and I were talking about? That I can’t decide between you and Gia?”
Tears well up in her eyes, and she nods, looking embarrassed momentarily.
“I’m sorry, I never meant to assume anything,” she apologizes.
I take a deep breath, trying to process what I just heard. I reach out and take Eva’s hands in mine.
“I heard you mention her name, and I thought... I don’t know.” She takes a deep breath. “I guess I was worried about making things more complicated for you.”
“You’re not making things complicated, Eva,” I assure her. “Gia and I... it’s not the same as us. You and I have a connection deeper than anything I have ever experienced. I don’t want to lie to you. I care about Gia, and given enough time, I think I could feel something for her—but it could never be like what I feel for you.”
Her lips curl into a small smile. “Thank you for saying that. Last night, after you sent me to my room, I thought maybe you were having second thoughts about the kiss. I knew I shouldn’t have come to your room, but I couldn’t quit thinking about you.”
I squeeze her hands gently, not wanting to let go. “I’m glad you did. I mean it, Eva. I’ve never met anyone like you before. You’ve changed my life in ways I can’t begin to describe. And I won’t let anything or anyone stand in the way of what we have.”
Eva’s eyes shimmer with tears of relief and happiness. “Vincent, you have no idea how much that means to me,” she whispers.
“I want nothing more than to be with you,” I say, my voice filled with sincerity. “Honestly, I only sent you to your room because I didn’t think I was good for you. A life with me comes with so much danger and the thought of something happening to you... fuck. I can’t put into words what that would do to me.”
She shakes her head, her expression determined. “I know what I want. I want to be with you. I don’t care about the risks.”
I lean forward, bringing my face close to hers. “I promise I will keep you safe, no matter what it takes.”
Eva’s eyes meet mine, her gaze unwavering. “I know you will,” she says softly. “I trust you.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Amelia,” I answer, keeping my voice even, betraying none of the concern gnawing at my insides. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Do I need a reason to call my brother?” she chimes. “I wanted to check in and see how things were going. Is everything okay with you?”
“Everything’s fine here,” I lie smoothly. “How are things with you?”
“Vincent, it’s like stepping into another world here.” Amelia’s voice dances over the line, her excitement palpable even across the continents. “The snow is endless; a white blanket swaddles everything. And the traditions, they have one for everything!”
“I’m glad you’re having fun, Sis,” I reply.
“Last night, his family threw a feast for us. It put anything we have ever hosted to shame. They’re all about preserving their culture here. I wish you could see it.”
“That sounds amazing, Amelia,” I say, not wanting to reveal how uneasy it makes me to have her so far away, where I can do nothing to protect her.
“Vincent”—Amelia’s voice crackles through the line, a soft note amid the clamor of my thoughts—“I actually wanted to let you know that it looks like we’ll be here a bit longer than I realized.”
“What do you mean? Is something wrong?”
“Oh no. It’s just that things here are a little complicated. I guess Alexei’s cousin had surgery, and he needs to stay for a few more weeks to help with the family duties and his grandmother.”