It turns out that the Virtus organization is a mercenary group that operates out of one large compound a few hours’ drive from here. She grew up in the compound, and it’s basically a school for the younger people—though they teach a lot more than just your standard education, including weapons training and fighting—and once they’re old enough and have graduated, then they’re inducted into the main purpose of the organization.
Assassination.
Lana told me that she’d only been on a dozen assassination missions before she fled, as though her casually killing twelve or so people is no big deal… my girl sure has her quirks. She also explained that if she wasn’t female, the company would have defected to her after her dad’s death, since the company had always run in her family and her dad inherited it once her grandfather died.
All I know is, no matter how much shit she went through when she was younger, she came out of it being the strongest person I’ve ever met, and I’m lucky as fuck to call her mine.
I take off my jacket and hang it on the back of a chair before taking a seat on the end of the bed. Just as my ass hits the mattress, the door opens, and Lana stands there, looking beautiful in my hoodie and a pair of leggings with her hair tied up on top of her head.
Her bruises slowly faded during the last two weeks, and now you can barely even tell they were there to begin with.
It’s been torture, holding her in my arms every night and not being able to touch her, but I’ve wanted to take things slow. Everything happened so fast between us that I didn’t want this to be the same. I didn’t want to rush her healing—physicallyoremotionally.
“Hey, pretty boy,” she murmurs and closes the door behind her. My eyes track her movements as she walks toward me until she’s standing between my legs, my eyes meeting hers.
“Hey, baby. How’d things go with admin?” I ask, and her brows scrunch for a moment before smoothing out.
She shrugs. “Fine. I guess I’m having to actuallypayto be a student here from now on.”
I snort, shaking my head. “You weren’t paying before now?”
“Nah… Dare was taking care of it,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper.
I take her hands in mine, squeezing them softly. “You okay?”
She nods. “I’m okay. It gets a little easier every day. I’ll never not miss him or my dad, but I know things have a way of working themselves out.”
I reach out and swipe my thumb across her cheek.
“God, baby. You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met.”
She lets out a derisive laugh. “I’m not strong, Cole.”
I shake my head, wholeheartedly disagreeing with her, and I pull her down so she’s sitting sideways on my lap.
“You are though, Lana. You are the strongest, most resilient person I’ve ever met. You can do anything you set your mind to…” I take a deep breath in preparation for the next words I’m about to say. “You made me fall for you, baby. And no one on earth has ever done that before. You are so damn different to anyone I’ve ever met, and I’m proud as fuck to call you mine. My little menace. My girlfriend. All. Mine.”
Her eyes widen and her mouth parts. “I made you fall for me, like… you love me?”
I smirk. “Yup.”
Her brows knit together, and I almost laugh at the innocent expression on her face. “How do you know? What does it feel like?”
I tilt my head and look down at her, a smile pulling at my lips. “It feels like… like you’re a part of me. I don’t have to hide who I am when I’m with you. Idon’t wantto hide who I am. I can show you all of me, and I know you’d never judge me for it. It feels like I’d do anything for you. I’d die to protect you, to keep you safe. When I’m with you, nothing and no one else matters, because it’s just you and me.” I tighten my arms around her before I continue. “I know I love you because there’s not one damn thing about you that I’d change. I want all of your crazy, your stubbornness, your messiness,” I say and glance around my room, taking in the clothes that are strewn all over the place and have been since she moved in here.
“I know I love you because I want to keep you around fora long-ass time, and I’ve never felt like that with anyone before.”
Her eyes glisten, though this time it’s not because she’s upset or grieving. It’s because of me. A small smile pulls at her lips, and she whispers, “Well then, I guess I love you too.”
I let out a soft laugh and bury my head in her hair, inhaling her scent.
“Yeah?” I murmur, and she nods before pulling back to look down at me.
“Wait, girlfriend?” she asks with a look of distaste, and I chuckle.
“Yeah, baby. I’m not giving you a choice anymore. Got that?”
She sighs. “Just kiss me, pretty boy.”
