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I nod automatically, but my fingers find the collar of his shirt, smoothing over the fabric as I avoid his eyes.
He slips two fingers beneath my chin, tilting my face until our eyes meet. He doesn’t say anything because he doesn’t have to.
I wait a moment before finally admitting, “I’m worried for you.”
The confession loosens the hold around my heart as I inch closer into his embrace, needing his touch.
His eyes soften with understanding, his hand cradling my cheek. “There’s no need for you to worry.” His thumb brushes my skin in a slow gesture. “My brothers are coming with me, and the plan is simple. We go in, handle what needs to be handled, and we leave. I’m not making a spectacle of things.” His brows knit together. “Maybe once I wanted to make an example of him. Torture him and drag out his death for as long as I could. But I won’t risk not coming home to you and Clara. You two are all that matters to me now.”
I smile as emotions twist inside my chest. His words ease some of the anxiety that’s been brewing inside of me since last night, when he first told me about his plans for this evening.
But I need to remember that he’s an Alarie.
He’ll be fine.
And he’ll come home to me when all of this is done.
He has to.
A grin pulls at his lips. “And what are my two favorite girls going to do tonight while I’m gone?”
“Well.” I shift on his lap, twisting my fingers around his tie. “After I wake Sleeping Beauty from her nap, I thought we could make some spaghetti and meatballs for dinner.”
Alex groans, rolling his head back against the chair. “The thought of marinara sauce raises my blood pressure. You know that, right?”
“I know.” I laugh softly. “But I promise we’ll try not to make a mess.”
His brow arches. “Try?”
I bite back a smile. “We’ll do our best.”
He studies me for a moment, then shakes his head. “My daughter is happiest when she’s making a mess, isn’t she?”
“More than anything.”
He lets out a defeated sigh. “Then let her.” His expression softens. “I’ll spend hours scrubbing marinara out of the grout if it means seeing her smile.” His thumb glides absentmindedly against my hip. “One day she’s going to outgrow all of this, and I’m not in a rush for when that day comes.”
Something in my chest tightens, a familiar ache that only comes when thinking of these two who have each taken one half of my heart. I rest my hand against his cheek. “She’s lucky to have you.”
He brushes his nose against the tip of mine. “She’s lucky to have you too.”
I roll in my lip, tracing my finger along the base of his neck. “And after dinner, we’re going to go to the playground down the street before ending the night with a movie to fall asleep to.”
His expression turns serious. “The playground?”
I raise a brow. “Is that…okay?”
A conflict stirs in his eyes, and he hesitates before finally saying, “Just be home before sunset. Eli will be placing the estate on lockdown this evening.”
“Of course.”
“And it should go without saying, but Tommaso will be joining you.”
I smile. “Oh, I’m sure he’ll love spending his Friday night at the playground.”
He smirks. “He has no choice.”
I pat his chest, my fingers lingering over his heartbeat. I bite down on my bottom lip. “I know I sound like a broken record… But you promise you’ll come home?”
