There were not many like it as he was always there in her life, riding her ass.
“It’s different for girls. You should have been playing dolls or something. Not fighting.”
“It’s why I don’t want Ava near any of it. I wanted to buy a small place. You know, have a nine-to-five job if possible. I’d work damn hard, too. I had so many plans. To be the kind of mom I always wanted, you know. Being able to make cookies and sit with her, do her homework. I’d be that shoulder to cry on, and if a guy hurt her, I’d be able to hit him where it hurt.” She took a deep breath, looking at Drago’s hand around hers.
“You’re going to be one hell of a mother.”
“I haven’t held her in weeks, Drago. I feel like a failure. I failed her, and now, I can’t … I need this to work more than anything. I know these things take time, and I get that, I do. but I’m struggling. I love her so much. She’s been my reason for living for over a year now.” She sniffled. “I can’t cry. Not tonight.”
He squeezed her hand a little tighter. “We’re going to get her back for good. That I promise you. I don’t make promises I can’t keep. We’re going to do this.”
“I’m a bad mom. I should be with her right now.”
“No, being a bad mom would be getting her, running and hiding for the rest of your life. That’s not right for her or for you. Trust me with this, Belle. I know it’s hard to do.”
“I know. I know. She has this really cute smile she makes when she passes wind. The doctors say it’s because she passes wind, but I don’t think it is.”
“You really do love her.”
“With all my heart.”
“Then I know I’ll love her the same.”
Belle stared at him, not really sure what to say to him in that moment. Words failed her, and as the waiter brought out their food, she was thankful for the distraction. Drago wasn’t an easy man to sit with. His presence alone made her feel things she’d long thought weren’t her right to feel.
Her tits felt heavy, her nipples hard as she watched him.
When they were alone again, Drago held up the wine. “Relax, enjoy, and this night is for us. Ava is perfectly safe. I’d go and get her myself, but your father has her hidden well. I also don’t want us to ruin what we’ve started. I know it’s killing you to be away from her. I’m begging you, just give me some more time. Once this is all over, you’ll never have to look over your shoulder and we’ll have saved a lot of kids’ lives. So they didn’t have to have one like ours.”
“You don’t have to keep reminding me. I’m not going to screw this up. Not with how close we are to getting these scumbags. I can do this.” She gave his hand another squeeze. He lingered a few seconds longer before finally releasing her.
Picking up her fork, she carved into the steak, which was of the medium rare side. One bite and she let out a moan. The steak was like butter with just the right amount of pepper to give that savory edge. She’d never tasted something so good.
“You’ll become addicted. Believe me. I stopped here once, and I now pay for my own booth once a week.”
“I don’t know how you could have someone else cook for you. This is just … there are no words.” She took another bite and closed her eyes, loving the textures and taste explosion that was going on in her mouth.
“I want to marry the chef,” she said.
Drago burst out laughing. “I think his wife would take exception to that.” He held his glass of wine up. “A toast, to friends, to food, to good people, and to victory.”
She clinked her glass with his and took a sip. She saw the way he looked at her, recognizing the heat of his gaze as it traveled down her body. It had been a long time since she’d been with anyone.
Drago looked like the kind of guy who knew what he was doing. Would he be able to set her world aflame? Licking her lips, she thought about his body pressed against her own. The way he’d be able to hold her. She’d be at his mercy.
There was no doubt in her mind that Drago was in fact stronger than she was. He’d be able to take his pleasure from her. She didn’t mind that though, which shocked her. In the past few weeks, he’d proven to her that he was a good man. He just had to do bad things, but deep down inside, he was someone she knew she could fall for.