She allows her stare to trail over me, as if she’s assessing me to see if I’m capable. I can assure her, I am. Victor and I have been training every day. He’s been in the gym with me, showing me how to fight, how to take a man down, and how to use a blade.
I love the way he teaches me, taunting me while educating me. Camila shakes her head, dipping her chin in a show of respect. “I apologize for my rudeness,” she says, her eyes locked on mine, even though her chin is bowed.
“You can leave now,” I tell her, with a wave of my hand, and watch as she stalks out of the office. Moments later, Javier saunters in dressed in a sleek black suit that hugs his muscled frame.
“What did she want?” He asks, unbuttoning his jacket before settling in the chair opposite the desk. He looks elegant, as if he were heading out for an awards ceremony in Hollywood.
“She was returning the key to the apartment she was staying in,” I tell him, as I settle in Victor’s chair.
Javi smiles. “You look good on the throne,” he appraises, gesturing to me in the chair. I’ve sat behind this desk a few times, but today is the first time I’m sitting here as Victor’s soon-to-be fiancée. He didn’t want to make a big show of it, but I know he’s planning something that’s going to blow my mind.
He loves surprises, and he loves to taunt me with them. “Thank you.” I smile at Javier. “I never thought you would be the one to tell me that.”
He shakes his head. “I had to look out for him. I’ve seen him heart broken, I’ve seen him violent with rage over it, and I never wanted to see that again. He may be a cold-hearted monster that could kill without flinching, but when it comes to matters of the heart, he has the biggest one.”
“He does.” I have to agree. I’ve seen what Victor can do. And even though he hasn’t changed very much with regards to his ruthless nature, he’s the man I love, and he shows me the reasons for my feelings every day.
He’s gentle in the way he conducts himself around the children within his compound, and he’s rigid in the rules he sets, but he’s fair.
“Welcome to the kingdom.” Javier smiles, rising from his seat, before pulling out a packet of the cigars he smokes. They look like cigarettes, but the paper is brown, and it offers up the sweet smell of cherries when he lights it.
“When are you going to fall in love?” I question, intrigued by the man who is always there when needed. He’s a good person, and I wish he would find happiness. It’s been a while since I first met him, and he’s seemed to have accepted me being in Victor’s life.
“Perhaps one day. Who knows what the future will bring us? We certainly didn’t know you would arrive and turn Victor into a pussy.” He chuckles, teasing his best friend, just as Victor walks through the door.
“I can still take your ass down in combat,” Victor reminds Javi with a grin. He passes him, giving him a slap on the back, before making his way toward me. His eyes locked on me in his chair, and he smiles.
“Yeah, sure you can, old man,” Javi taunts, causing me to laugh because they’re the same age. I know they grew up together and learning about their friendship has been eye opening.
“Yeah? Old? I’m only as old as the woman who’s going to one day soon give me lots of babies,” he informs Javi, as he wraps his arms around my middle, his large hand planted on my belly, rubbing it gently as if I’m already growing life inside me.
“I’m heading out if you don’t need me for anything else?” Javi says, as he glances at his wristwatch. He lifts his gaze, meets Victor’s, and he waits. I can tell he’s got somewhere he needs to be because there’s tension tightening his jaw.
“We’re all good,” Victor tells him. “See you tomorrow?”
He nods, offering a salute to us both, before leaving us in the office. Victor’s stubble tickles my cheek as he kisses me, his lips warm and soft against my neck.
“What are we doing tonight?” I ask.
“Practicing for that family I want so badly,” he murmurs, sending hot sparks of electricity through me right down to my core. His low, gravelly tone spikes the desire that’s flaring through me like a wildfire.
“Can we eat dinner first? I’m starving,” I tell him, as I spin in his arms. He nods, placing two fingers on my chest, right near my heart. When I was wheeled into surgery, he told me he’d never been so scared in all his life. I now bear the scar, and every night, Victor places soft kisses along the mark where I was cut open, where my new heart now resides, giving me a new lease on life.