The guy looks at her with pure despair in his eyes. In that moment, I can see the Dove bug has bit him too. He's head over heels for her, he wants her. Maybe not as badly as I do, but he does. Too bad for him, because I'm not letting it happen. Ever.
"Fine," Raphael mutters, admitting his defeat. "You get yourself out of this one, Dove."
He leaves us there, and the silence that falls on the alley is deafening.
"What the fuck happened?" I ask Dove. "Why was he so upset?"
"It doesn't matter." She runs a trembling hand through her long dark locks. "It's okay now."
"I'm sorry I stepped in, but him hitting the wall... it looked dangerous for you."
"I can defend myself, Nox."
The moment she says my name, she exhales shakily. I can tell seeing me is fucking her up, and I hate that I'm doing this to her.
"I'm sorry, Dove," I say again. "I... I shouldn't have intervened."
"No." She shakes her head, still avoiding meeting my gaze. "It's good that you did. He was really angry, and I was scared."
I nod, not knowing what else to say. "I'll be on my way, then."
"Wait." The word means everything to me and I stop in my tracks. Our eyes finally connect and I see it all laid bare for me in her beautiful gaze. The pain, the expectations, the love. It's all there, and it all exists only for me. "What are you doing back in LA?"
"How did you know I wasn't here the whole time?" I ask, unable to resist my smirk.
"I... I didn't feel like I was being followed anymore."
"You told me not to," I remind her.
"I didn't think you'd actually listen."
I smile. She knows me so fucking well. "I... I left for work. I've done some shows around the globe. Life's been good."
I half-expect her to attack me. I know she thinks I don't deserve this. Robin is the one who should have had all these experiences, all this life ahead of him. But I ripped all that away from both him and Dove. But it's okay. I'm going to make it fucking right.
"I'm glad," she whispers.
"We should get out of this alley," I mutter. "Can I grab you a ride home?"
She nods, but I can tell she's hesitating. I don't mean to tangle her up in my business again, but I can't stop the question leaving my lips.
"Do you want to come back to my hotel? I promise it's not as shitty as last time."
"Why?" Dove stares me down.
"I have something to tell you," I go on. "And I have a favor to ask, too."
"A favor?" Her eyes darken.
"Yeah. Come with me. I want to tell you everything."
I can see the battle going on inside her pretty little head, but I don't want to pressure her any more. Regardless of her answer, I'm going to do what I came to LA to do.
"Okay," she finally whispers. "You still got your bike?"
I laugh out loud. "No, not anymore. I'll call us an Uber."
We wait in charged silence until the car pulls up. We get in the back and I tell the driver the address for my hotel. As the car pulls away, Dove's hand comes to rest between us on the seats. Slowly, I lay my fingers over hers, and she easily intertwines her hand with mine. I'm afraid to even breathe. I didn't expect this. I thought she'd be as angry as she was when we first went our separate ways. But Dove seems gentler, sweeter. It's surprising, but it doesn't change what I have to do to earn her forgiveness. Being with her tonight has only strengthened this belief. It was an idea first, but tonight, it has morphed into a plan.
We pull up in front of my glitzy hotel. If Dove's surprised, she doesn't show it. A doorman opens the car door for her and helps her out. We walk inside where I'm greeted by last name, which seems to surprise her.
"Going by Miller again?" she asks me softly.
"Why not," I grin. "I'm done running from my past."
We take the elevator directly into my suite. It's beautiful here, with gorgeous night views of the city. Dove carefully sits down on the white leather sofa while I pour us both drinks. Something strong, to get the nerves out of the way.
I hand her the glass and we both down our drinks in one go, sharing a nervous smile.
"So," she says. "Why are you really back here, Nox?"
"First, I want to tell you about somebody who's very important to me," I tell her with a smile.
"Oh?" Her eyebrows crease. Is that a hint of jealousy I'm seeing? It pleases me.
"Her name is Willa."
I watch Dove's face fall. She is jealous. It turns me the fuck on.
"Who is she?" she asks.