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“It’s nice to meet you, princess Sally.” He extended his hand, then shook hers.

“Can I sleep here with you, please?” She lifted her tired eyes to me and I nodded, running my hand down the back of her head.

“Of course.” I adjusted the blanket around her shoulders, and she laid her head on my chest, snuggling up in my embrace.

Nereus decided to save the rest of the life updates for another time and instead, focused on the love story that had blossomed. Him and Cesar. I was swooning as he filled me in on what he and Cesar had been up to. While simultaneously feeling guilty too. I took that from him. From them. Antonio was right.

Nereus admitted that Cesar needed to come back a couple times, but this time, Antonio needed him back permanently, so they decided that it was time.

According to him, Cesar hadn’t told Antonio that he let Nereus live. So they’d been hiding. Both of them feared for Nereus’s life if Antonio found out, and I understood that completely.

But one day when Cesar showed up with a hickey, Antonio demanded the truth because Cesar hadn’t gotten over Nereus. He quickly figured out the truth and thankfully he wasn’t upset. He didn’t even care. And a large part of me knew that it was because of his soft spot for Cesar. He knew how much Cesar loved Nereus, and he wouldn’t hurt him like that.

He agreed that Nereus could come back with Cesar and he wouldn’t kill him. Although, I was confident that that wasn’t set in stone, and one wrong move from Nereus would set Antonio off.

Right now, none of that mattered. All I cared about was Silvia and Nereus both being safe. I couldn’t be happier to have my brother, my other half, back.

* * *

It was 8 a.m. when I woke up to Nereus lying on his side with Sally balled up against his back.

I smiled, carefully climbing out of bed and pulling the sheets up to cover her. I yawned, and tiptoed to the bathroom. I tied my hair back into a ponytail before brushing my teeth.

When I reentered my bedroom, they were still fast asleep so I slipped out unnoticed and headed downstairs.

After pouring myself a tall glass of orange juice, I slumped onto the bar stool, chugging it all down and appreciating the silence and peaceful kitchen. I loved both Nereus and Sally, but I could confidently say that the peace and quiet wouldn’t last long.

I dragged my legs out of the kitchen and upstairs, yawning as I passed Antonio’s door. I stopped, fiddling with the loose thread of my pajama shorts and turned, heading over to knock lightly. I exhaled heavily. Relax, Nirah.

The door swung open to reveal him… shirtless, covered in water droplets with a towel around his waist. Great… just fucking great.

I crossed my arms over my chest. “Where’s Silvia?”

“Silvia’s fine.”

My eyes narrowed. “That wasn’t my question.”

“Isn’t that what’s most important to you?” He asked and I scoffed, shaking my head at him.

“You’re ridiculous.” I turned to leave but he grabbed my arm and pulled me to his chest before pressing his lips to mine.

He released a faint groan, slinging his arm around my lower back as he pulled me inside, slamming the door shut.

His hands grabbed and squeezed my ass as he pulled my front to his, causing my hands to fly to his shoulders as I pushed him back.

“What the fuck are you doing!” I shoved his chest and he stepped forward, reaching out to pull me closer by my waist.

“Kissing my wife. Come here.”

I sarcastically laughed. “Your mood swings are causing me whiplash.” I yanked myself free from his hold.

“I didn’t hurt Silvia, and I gave little Nereus back to even after what you did. I deserve a little kiss, yeah?” He grinned down at me and I scoffed in disbelief.

“A kiss?” I placed my hands firm on his chest and shoved him back. “You kidnapped and humiliated me!” I pushed him again. “You don’t deserve a damn thing!”

“Humiliated you?” He gripped my forearms, walking me backward until my back hit the wall. “Humiliation is leaving me for dead on our wedding night. Humiliation, Nirah, is being betrayed by the person you’d lay down your life for.” He eliminated any and all space between us and I swallowed in an attempt to wet my dry throat. I didn’t know whether or not I was breathing. Something icy transformed his words like I’d never heard before. “You don’t get to talk about humiliation.”

My lips parted. My blood ran cold.