I shook his hand. “Where’s my wife?”
“Asleep in the bedroom.”
I moved past him and into the building. The other guards greeted me as I rushed up the stairs. The closer I drew to her room, the more cautious I became. I didn’t want to make any noise that would wake her up.
The door opened after a gentle creak, revealing the dark interior. She was supposed to be asleep. Yet it was dark in here, and Celine liked to sleep with the lights on.
Strange.
I walked in stealthily, heading straight to the bed. However, the closer I drew, the more I realized the bed was empty. The sheets were a tangled mess, indicating that someone had been lying there not long ago.
The source of light in this dark room was the full moon streaming in through the open window.
I took one step at a time as I moved through the shadows, questioning if I was in the wrong room. But I knew I wasn’t, because I caught the scent of her perfume in the air. Where was she? In the bathroom?
When I halted beside her bed, I heard the sound of a gun cocking behind me.
“Who are you?”
It was her voice.
She couldn’t recognize me in the dark, especially with my black outfit.
“You’re not supposed to be in here,” she added, her voice laced with the familiar growl of a dangerous individual. “Don’t make me ask a second time. Who are you?”
I raised my hands in the air where she could see them and then turned around gently. She was standing at a corner, the gun held up in front of her, ready to pull that trigger.
“You asked me to return in one piece. Well, here I am,” I said calmly, spreading out my arms.
Her breath hitched, and she rushed to turn on the lights. The excitement in her eyes when she saw me clearly warmed my heart. Her hands trembled as she set the gun on a table and covered her mouth.
“Are you just gonna stand there?” I teased.
Before I could finish talking, she ran into my arms and hugged me tightly. She didn’t let go. No. Instead, she held on as if she wanted to be sure she wasn’t dreaming.
“Are you really here?” she whispered amidst sobs.
“Yes, I am.” I stroked her hair backward, my other hand wrapped around her waist. “I promised you I was gonna come back, didn’t I?”
She lifted her head and met my gaze, her hand finding my cheek. “Turns out you always keep your promises.”
I responded with a genuine smile.
“Is it over now?” she whispered, searching my eyes for the truth before I spilled them.
I nodded.
She let out a soft sigh of relief. “And Rocco?”
I drew a deep breath. “Let’s just say he took a trip to the world below.”
“Hmm. I’m pretty sure he and the devil have a lot to discuss.”
I laughed.
That was the first genuine laugh I’d had in a long time. Her eyes sparkled, just like mine, as we held each other's gaze.
“Beautiful,” I said, watching the gorgeous grin on her lips. “You’re beautiful.”