Page 160 of Vega

I sat there, staring out at the empty street, wondering if she knew what she had just said, wondering if it counted if it was coated with liquor and fatigue, wondered if she would remember in the morning.

I knew what I felt. I loved her. If freedom took her from me, I would have to let her go. But until that day came, I was going to make sure she lived long enough to choose to stay.

SONNET ELLISON

My head hurt before I even opened my eyes. Pieces of last night came back slowly, and I smiled into the pillow. Being with Dior had made me feel normal again. I hadn’t realized how badly I needed his presence.

Vega was fine, the sex was incredible, and being around him could be a good time when neither of us was worried about somebody trying to kill me. Still, my life hadn’t felt like mine since he stepped into it. I wasn’t the girl who entertained a fine gangster and got good dick. I didn’t sleep in expensive hotels or ride around the city with fine niggas in expensive cars. Everything about my life currently felt foreign.

Dior reminded me of who I had been before murder, guns, and men with enough power to erase people came into my life.

I reached behind me because I didn’t feel Vega’s arm around my waist, as usual. I opened my eyes and rolled over. He was lying on his back beside me, scrolling through his phone. The lines across his forehead weren’t as deep as they had been before Lowe’s prognosis improved. Some of the strain had left his expression, but the worry remained. I knew that was because my life was still in danger.

As if he felt me watching him, Vega set his phone on the covers and turned toward me with a shit-eating grin spread across his face. “Good morning.”

I squinted at him. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

His smile deepened. “You don’t remember?”

My stomach flipped nervously. “Remember what?”

“You told me you loved me in the car last night.”

I pulled the covers over half of my face. “I did not.”

“You did. Right before you fell back asleep on my shoulder.”

Embarrassment rushed into my cheeks. I stared at the covers between us, wishing they could swallow me. “I was drunk,” I muttered.

“Were you lying, though? A drunk mind speaks a sober truth.”

I peered at him “I wasn’t lying.”

His teasing grin faded, and vulnerability settled into his eyes. His lips parted, but he remained silent, staring at me as if my admission had reached a part of him he feared.

“I love you,” I admitted. “I feel silly saying it because this happened fast, and none of it makes sense. I shouldn’t love you already, but I do.”

Vega’s eyes stayed on mine. The silence made me want to snatch the words back, but he reached over and pushed the strands away from my face that had fallen out of my bonnet.

“Loving you gave my enemies something they can use against me. I knew that before I let myself do it. I did it anyway.”

My entire body softened against the mattress. That was his confession. Vega wasn’t going to dress it up or make it pretty. He gave me his sentiments in words that sounded exactly like him.

“Anybody trying to get to you will have to survive me first.”

The promise frightened me more than it comforted me. “I don’t want you dying to prove you love me. I want you alive long enough to build a future with me.”

His mouth curved into a smile. “That sounds good coming from my woman.”

I frowned playfully. “When did I agree to that title?”

“The morning you chose to give me that pussy.”

“Having sex with you didn’t make you my owner.”

“I agree.”

“Then what are you talking about?”