If I’m right… Oh my God, if I’m right this is so much bigger than me. Logan and LaSalle’s names have never rung in my head so loudly. Now John’s causal mention of them bangs like drums inside my skull.
The meeting I never set up before leaving for DR. The two associates from New York. I’m not ready to tell John what I think I know. I don’t know how he will feel about any of it. Hell, I don’t know how I feel about it.
“What if this is too much? What if what I need to do crosses that line?”
“If you haven’t noticed, I’m the line crosser. Which means, I was made to be here for you.”
I pause to think and nod my head. He leans in and crushes my lips. His soft but firm mouth grounds me and all the emotions floating around inside me.
“Let me see that,” John says as he breaks the kiss, reaching for the phone in my lap.
Plucking the device up, he splays our linked hands on my belly. He opens my phone and taps at it until the song changes. “For the Love of You” by The Isley Brothers starts.
I turn my lips up into a small smile and lift a brow. He gives me a crooked grin and kisses the tip of my nose. “This is what I remember my parents for,” he says in reply to my questioning look.
“Really?”
“Yeah, my father wasn’t home a lot when we were little, always away on a mission or away on a case. But when he was home, on any given Saturday you could walk in on Cass and Joe Black swaying to songs like this or something from back home. We got it all in our house,” he says.
“I’ve always wondered where you and your brothers get so much rhythm and skills from.” I laugh.
He does too. “Interestingly enough, it’s because of Dad.”
“Joe? You have to tell me this one.”
He shrugs. “It was Uncle Ronan that told us the story. Apparently, Mom has two left feet, but she loves to dance anyway. She, Uncle Ronan, and some friends were on holiday and went dancing.”
He stops to laugh and shake his head. “She was on the dance floor flailing around and Dad walked up and started to guide her around to the beat. From how Uncle Ronan tells it, Dad danced his way into her heart. She was gone from that first dance even though she gave Dad a hard time and made him chase her,” he explains.
“That’s sweet. So, your dad taught you all how to dance?”
“No, mom put us in classes and had teachers come to the house. She was adamant we learn to be as smooth on our feet as Dad. And I repeat: when you little fuckers are old enough, nothing will get your dicks wet faster than being able to show a lass you can dance.”
I bark out a laugh and it feels so good. Some of the burdens on my shoulders seem to lift for a moment. John’s laugh grows.
“That sounds so like Cass. I love her.”
“She loves you too.”
“Are you guys sure we shouldn’t have taken her to the hospital?”
“Mom is tough as nails. She’ll be fine. She’s been fussing over everyone else.”
“I would have lost my shit if something happened to her.”
John smiles and drops a kiss on my lips. I search his eyes when he pulls away. The love I see there makes my heart squeeze.
He turns the music up, then pushes the front seat up to open the passenger’s door. He tilts his head to gesture for me to get out. I look at him curiously but climb over him and out of the car. He follows and closes the door.
The next thing I know, I’m in his arms and he’s swaying us to the music. I can’t help smiling. I place my head on his shoulder and allow him to distract me from reality.
This is exactly what I need. To be made to feel normal before the concept floats right out the window. His scent wraps around me like a comforting blanket.
“I love you, John.”
“I love you too, princess and I plan to spend the rest of my life making sure you know that.”
I smile. Does he know how sexy this is? He has this two-step down. When he slips his leg between mine and moves my hips with his, my panties are ruined. He lifts my hand he has in his to his lips and kisses my fingertips.
I lift my head to look up at him. My heart aches. I don’t want to lose this. I know what he has said, but I wonder if he’ll stick to his word when the full truth comes out. I have no idea what the impact of being Eliam Pérez’s daughter will be.
“Promise me something,” I say as I stare into his eyes.
“Depends.”
I cup his jaw. “Val once told me that Uri had to bring her back from the darkness. Promise me, you’ll never allow me to lose myself in all of this.”
He draws his brows in. “You know I will always take care of you. Whatever level you need me to take you to, I’m here to do it. I’ll set you free whenever you need.”
I can’t say the words that are caught in my throat.
“I see you, baby. You don’t have to ask, just let me heal you,” he murmurs against my forehead.
I close my eyes and nod, basking in all that is this man. It’s in this very moment that I know I have the perfect man for me. I may push the boundaries of our relationship, but without his dominance, John would never be able to handle me. Especially now that the real Cherone Pérez will be resurrected.
Chapter 59
Tell Me Now
John
As Roni and I are led into Misha’s office and I swear I’m counting to ten to keep my head from exploding. I glare at Torque as he sits on the leather sofa with his head down. When he looks up his eyes grow wide and pleading.
“Roni and John, I’m sorry. I didn’t know he was going to help us find Natasha. I thought Roni was in danger,” Torque jumps up and says.
“Sit. Down,” I snarl.
He clamps his mouth shut and sits. When I turn my focus to Misha, he’s staring at Roni with his eyes narrowed. Something about the look raises my hackles.
He definitely knows something more about Roni. However, it’s not lost on me that Torque’s the initial reason we are all here in Russia. I still have no clue why Torque’s actions have garnered so much of Misha’s attention.
This kid has really stepped in it this time. My head is still reeling with how I fix this, whatever it is. Roni nor Torque can come out of this with a single hair harmed.
“Welcome, John. It’s good to see you, my friend, da.”
“Yeah, wish it were under different circumstances,” I say, shooting Torque another glare.
Misha nods his head at Torque. “He is problem yes, but I have things I want to see clearer.”
“What does that mean?” Roni says.
“You remember nothing, not even who you are, da?”
Roni tenses up beside me, balling her fists at her sides. I place a hand on the small of her back to remind her that I’m with her. She shrugs her reply.
“Sit,” Misha says. “Your guard is up. We are not enemies.”
I guide Roni into one of the chairs in front of Misha’s desk before I take the other seat. He is still watching her closely. Curiosity lights his eyes.
It hasn’t slipped my notice that Roni hasn’t told him what she has remembered. I hold my tongue to see what she’s up to. However, Misha gets my attention with his next words.