My brother is driving me crazy. I know he means well, but it feels like I’ve gone from one hostage situation to another. Ever since we got back from the hospital, he’s hardly left my side. He put me to bed with my pain meds which thankfully knocked me right out. However, when I woke up this morning, he was asleep in the armchair in my room. I mean, that’s creepy, right?
Thankfully, Mila came in to check on me. When she saw him there, she kicked his leg to wake him, told him to stop being a big jerk, and shooed him away.
“Thank you,” I say as she puts the chamomile tea down on the nightstand.
“How are you, sweetie?” Mila asks, perching on the edge of my bed, gently stroking my hair away from my forehead. She’s so kind and sweet, the complete opposite to my bullish brother.
“The meds are making me a bit groggy, but I guess I’m okay.” I shift against the pillow and wince as my whole body protests. “Maybe a little sore as well.”
“That’s understandable.” I notice Mila’s eyes fill with tears and she turns away. “You’re so brave,” she sniffs.
“Oh hey,” I say, rubbing her arm. “I’m fine, really.”
“I know. I just don’t know how Matt would’ve coped if anything had happened to you.”
“He’s strong,” I sigh. “And he has you.”
Mila pulls me into a soft hug, and we sit and chat while I drink my tea. Eventually, Matt returns, fresh from the shower, looking suitably sheepish when Mila glares at him.
“I don’t have practice until three so I can take you to the police precinct if you want,” he says, putting his hand on Mila’s shoulder, rubbing it lovingly.
Shit, this is going to be awkward. “Alex is going to take me,” I say quietly. We texted briefly last night before I passed out, and he offered to go with me. “He has to confirm his own witness statement, so it makes sense.”
“That’s the only reason, is it?” Matt growls as Mila glares at him and nudges him with her shoulder.
“I think that’s a great idea,” she says. “It seems you two have some things you need to talk about.”
“The fuck they do,” my brother mutters, turning away and pacing the room. “What the hell’s going on with you two? Have you been running around behind my back?”
“Matt!” Mila scolds, but he holds his hand up to silence her.
“No, Red. I think I deserve some answers. Especially if she’s been fucking one of my teammates after I expressly told her not to.”
That’s it! I’ve had a gutful.
“You know what? I don’t owe you anything,” I yell. “You’re behaving just like Etienne—trying to control me and tell me who I can and can’t love.” I sweep back the comforter and climb out of bed gingerly, hissing air through my teeth as pain shoots up my back.
Matt looks devastated by my outburst, and even though it makes my heart hurt, he has to be told. There’s being a protective big brother, and then there’s what he’s doing now. I will not go from one controlling relationship to another. As I storm past him into my bathroom, he mumbles “I’m sorry” before I slam the door.
After a tentative shower, I apply some concealer to my face to try and cover the ugly purple black bruise and quietly head downstairs. When I find Mila alone in the kitchen, I raise my eyebrow, and she confirms that Matt has gone to the gym to sulk.
“I’m sorry about what I said,” I say quietly, fixing myself a coffee and bagel.
“Oh don’t be. He needed to be told.” Mila laughs. “I’ve been telling him for weeks to ease up on the overprotective shit, that you’re a grown ass woman, but you know how he is.”
“I know,” I sigh. “And I love him for it, but sometimes he just needs to back the fuck off.”
Mila chuckles. “Ain’t that the truth.” She eyes me warily and grins. “So, you and Thor?”
I feel a blush heat my cheeks at the mention of his name and the memory of what he whispered to Matt last night at the hospital. He thought I didn’t hear him drop the L-bomb, but I did and even thinking about it now makes my stomach flip with excitement.
“That dreamy look you have on your face tells me everything I need to know.” She laughs, wagging her finger at me. “He’s a good man. You could do a lot worse than Alex Bergman.”
I scoff and sip my coffee. “I think you’ll find I already did worse, a hell of a lot worse.”
Mila scrunches her nose up. “Sorry, honey.”
“It’s okay. Etienne is finally out of my life for good, and I’m ready to move on.”
“With Alex?” Mila asks hopefully.
Just then, my phone pings, and a message from Alex lights up the screen, telling me he’s waiting outside.
“Possibly,” I reply, cryptically. “Anyway, he’s here to take me to the precinct. See you later.” I press a kiss to Mila’s cheek as I grab my purse, heading outside where Alex is leaning against the side of his Lexus, muscular arms folded, smile on his face, looking absolutely delicious. My stomach flips and I feel giddy with anticipation. Every time I see Alex Bergman, he takes my breath away.
“Hey there, big man,” I say as I approach. But instead of replying with words, Alex gently cups the uninjured side of my face in his big hand and kisses my lips with such tenderness my breath hitches in my chest.
“Hey, baby,” he whispers, pulling away, his eyes clouding with concern as he looks at my smashed-up face. “How are you feeling? If you’re not up for this, we can reschedule.”
I shake my head with determination. “No, I want this done so I can forget about that crazy French bastard forever.”
“That’s my girl.”
And before I can stop myself, I ask, “Am I? Your girl, I mean?” I bite my lower lip and wince as the cut stings, averting my eyes from Alex’s in case I’ve misunderstood the situation.
But he tenderly tilts my chin up so I can see the sincerity in his eyes.
“Yes, Lana Landon, you are my girl. That is, if you’ll have me. I guess the cat’s out of the bag with your brother, and I’m still breathing, so that’s a good sign.” He chuckles and presses another kiss to my lips, my heart soaring with excitement.
“Don’t you worry about that big idiot.” I laugh. “C’mon, let’s get this over with.”
“Anything you want, baby.” Alex opens the door for me, and I kiss him again before sliding into the car.
A few hours later, I feel completely wrung out. Giving my statement was tougher than I thought, and I ended up crying angrily in front of the detective. She was so understanding, explaining that she deals with a lot of domestic abuse cases and that with my testimony and those of Alex and Raymond, Etienne and his mom should both serve some jail time; at the very least, they’ll be deported.
As Alex drives me home, I feel both peaceful and slightly uneasy.
“You okay, baby?” he asks as we drive out of the city toward the Sound.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I guess I just can’t believe it’s over,” I reply. “I mean I’ve been afraid for so long, it feels quite disconcerting to not have that in the background all the time.”
Alex reaches across the center console and squeezes my thigh. “I’m here for you, whatever you need.”
“Thank you.” I put my small hand on top of his big one and that feeling of safety fills me with warmth. “I guess we need to figure out what to do about Matt. I told him off this morning, so he knows I don’t want him butting into my life anymore, but you still have to play together. How’s that gonna work?”
“Don’t you worry about that,” he reassures me. “I’ll talk to him today. Maybe take him out for a beer after practice and straighten this all out. Perhaps I should go all old school and ask for his permission.”
Alex smirks when I gasp in indignation at the suggestion and swat his chest with the back of my hand. “You’re as bad as each other.”
“I’m joking, babe. But if the only way he’ll be okay with us dating is for me to get on my knees and beg, then I’ll do it.”
“Don’t you dare, Alex Bergman!” I cry, laughing. “My brother has enough of a God Complex!”
Alex chuckles as we pull up to the house, putting his car in park and leaning over to kiss me. His lips feel warm and wet against mine, and despite the slight sting from the cut, I deepen it. My tongue glides against his as his hand slides into my hair, causing a thrill to shoot down my spine and land in my panties. God, I want him so badly.
As if sensing things are getting a little out of control, Alex pulls back, both of us panting slightly.
“I think we should stop before I move us into the back seat and do unspeakable things to you,” Alex growls.
I huff out a breath and shift in my seat, the thought of what Alex just suggested not helping the situation in my panties.
“You’re right, damn it,” I pout, folding my arms. “We should really get everything sorted with Matt before we go any further.”
“I promise I’ll talk to him today.” He leans over and kisses me one more time. “Now you go in and ice that cheek, take your meds, and have a nap. I’ll text you later, and if you’re feeling up to it, perhaps we can have a night in watching a movie.”
“That sounds perfect.”
And the thought of snuggling up on the couch with my boyfriend does sound absolutely perfect.