She looked tired.
I was watching her from one of the private boxes, one that had a view of the nightclub. I first came to work, thinking Katya would help clear out my mind, but eventually found myself migrating to where I could see her and she couldn’t see me.
This wasn’t going away, the pull to have her, to claim her, and my uncle’s favor wouldn’t stop either. There had to be a compromise, but there wasn’t.
Tonight would be the final straw. If she didn’t know who I was, she would, and she’d hate me. But family was family.
I’d do what I’d have to do.
A door opened behind me. The sounds of the club sounded clear and then muted.
I didn’t move, knowing who it was, and a second later, Ashton came to stand beside me. He had a drink in hand. I looked to see him watching her as well. He took a sip of his drink, the ice rattling in the glass. “Are you going to be okay with this?”
No. “I’ll have to be.”
He glanced my way, studying me. I turned my attention back to her. It was her. It had always been her. Ever since I’d first seen her.
“Maybe she won’t find out? Intel said they weren’t close.”
I shook my head. “I doubt it, but we’ll deal with it.”
“You sure?”
I gave him a look, a hard one. He knew the situation. We got an order.
He gave a nod, a wary look coming over him. “Let’s do this then.”
I took one last look at her, one lingering long look because everything was going to change.
