Page 33 of Desolation

He is watching me carefully, like he thinks I might run.

Taking his hand, I link my fingers through his, looking into those beautiful blue eyes of his. “I love you. Thank you.”

He lets out his breath in a woosh and gathers me close. “Anything for you, Bug. Always.”

CHAPTER 27

DRAKE

Iwas nervous as hell when I told Elodie what I did to her parents. I knew she wouldn’t be upset that they were gone, but I was worried she’d be upset that I was the one who did it, that she would have to look at me everyday knowing I killed them.

I definitely was not expecting her to profess her love.

But I’m so happy she did.

It’s early. The sun is just peeking through and starting to come through the shades of the bedroom window. Elodie islaying on her back with her face turned slightly to me in her sleep. She is so beautiful. Perfect in every way. I don’t understand how anyone who knows her could ever treat her less than.

I know what I did could have ramifications in the future. But I will still walk the path I always have, until the time comes that I need to make changes. My hands are dirty now. I still wouldn’t change what I did. They needed to die and I wanted to be the one who did it. No one else was going to take that away from me.

Gently running a finger down her cheek, I try to wake her. “Hey, do you want some coffee and some breakfast? We’ve got a lot of stuff to plan today so we need to get an early start.”

She groans and stretches. Opening her eyes, she remembers that she is naked and her cheeks redden.

“Stop that, you better get used to it because this is how we are going to wake up every day. Or with my mouth on you, or me buried inside of you,” I say with a smirk.

She rolls her eyes. “You are incorrigible,” she says with a laugh. “It will take some getting used to for sure, but I think I’m up to the task. What was this about coffee?”

I roll out of bed, stretching, and watch Elodie’s eyes trail down my body and she swallows. Well at least I know I’m not the only one that’s a little hungry this morning but it’s going to have to wait for now. I wink at her and head to the closet. Opening the door to my room, I grab a few things and then walk back into the closet to find Elodie grabbing a few things too.

“Let’s both get ourselves ready for the day and then meet back in your room,” I say. She nods and then heads toward her bathroom.

I take a quick shower and brush my teeth. Once I’m dressed I walk back over to her side to see that she’s just coming out of thebathroom too. She slips on her teddy bear slippers and takes my hand.

Ellen has a huge breakfast already laid out when we get there. My father and Anthony are already sitting at the table. They both say good morning when we walk in and things are silent for a while as we all drink some coffee and gather our thoughts.

Dad clears his throat and says, “The information you gave us had led to a discovery, Elodie.”

She looks shocked. “Already?”

Dad nods. “We had him followed as soon as you told us and he met up with Dominic at one of my warehouses.”

“Wait, what?” I say.

My dad looks at me and says simply, “Aiden is a traitor.”

I’m shook. I know I asked Elodie to talk to them about things that she saw, but I never imagined it would be something like this. Maybe a glimpse into how Dominic runs things and what problems they might be having. But this? Then it clicks. “The dinner. It was with Aiden wasn’t it?”

She nods. “Though I didn’t know who he really was at the time. Just his name and his wife’s name.”

Holy shit. “So what are they using the warehouse for?”

“I think they are planning to house people there for auctions,” my dad says.

I’m instantly nauseous. I know we have always said I will stay out of business matters but I just can’t do it anymore. “I killed Elodie’s parents,” I blurted out.

Dad and Anthony just laugh. “You think we didn’t already know that? Louis drives you around and he is loyal to you, but atthe end of the day, he is still my man, not yours. Who do you think got the fire department to let it burn?” my dad asks.

Well shit. I just thought it was because it had already gotten so far and they called it a loss.