Chapter 68 Fear and resolve
Gavin’s POV
I sat in my car outside the penthouse,with the engine off, my hands were still gripping the steering wheel.
Stephan’s blood was on my knuckles. It was already drying, making it dark.
I pulled out my phone and dialed Kane.
He answered on the first ring. “Yeah?”
“Are you still following Melissa?”
“Yes. They’re at Rossi’s. She’s drinking.”My jaw clenched. “And Jason?”
“Talking.” A pause. “You want me to intervene?”
“No. Just watch. If anything happens, inform me okay??”
“Copy that.”
I ended the call and stared at my bloody hands. What had Stephan done to her?
The question ate at me like acid. The marks on her neck. Her bleeding lip. The fear that must have been in her eyes when he…
I slammed my fist against the steering wheel. Stephan.
My twin.
We weren’t identical when we were born. Close, but different enough that people could tell us apart if they looked carefully.
But that hadn’t been enough for him. It was never enough. When we were twenty-three, Stephan underwent surgery. Extensive, painful surgery to look more like me. To become me.
The doctors had reconstructed his face over multiple procedures. Broken and reset his nose. Shaved his jaw. Changed the shape of his eyes. Made him into my reflection.
But Stephan wasn’t me. He could never be me.
He was broken. And obsessed.He’d always watched me with this strange intensity, he always wanted what I had. Always tried to be where I was. To have what was mine.
And now he’d put his hands on Melissa.
Now he’d hurt her. Terrified her. Made her think it was me.I looked at my bloodied knuckles again.
I’d never felt fear in my entire life. Not when Zeus beat me as a child for failing to memorize shipping routes. Not when I’d walked away from the empire with nothing but the clothes on my back and a determination to be different. Not when I’d built everything from scratch, working three jobs, sleeping in my car some nights.
I’d faced down business rivals who wanted me dead. Had stared down the barrel of guns more than once. Had navigated corporate warfare that would have destroyed lesser men.
None of it had scared me. But I am scared now.
Terrified of what Melissa had felt when Stephan grabbed her. If she’d believed it was me.
I was terrified that she might never forgive me for what my brother had done. If she’d ever trust me again.
I got out of the car and took the private elevator up to the penthouse.
The place was dark and quiet. Diana was asleep in our room.
I went to the bathroom and scrubbed my hands. The water ran red, then pink, then finally it was clear.
But I still felt dirty. I dried my hands and looked at myself in the mirror.
I left the bathroom and stood in the hallway, my mind working through different plans.
I’d spent too long being careful. Zeus wanted a war? Fine. He’d get one.
But Melissa wasn’t going to be a casualty. She was going to be my queen.
Whether she knew it yet or not.
I went to my room but didn’t sleep. Just lay there in the darkness, planning my next moves.
When dawn finally broke, I got up, showered, and went to the kitchen.
———-
I’d learned to cook out of necessity when I first left the empire.
I tied an apron around my waist and pulled ingredients from the fridge. Some eggs, tomatoes, peppers and other spices.
I worked in silence, as I dived, sauté and seasoned the dish. The kitchen was filled with the scent of cumin and paprika.
When it was ready I plated it carefully. Garnished with fresh herbs.I smiled at how good it turned out.
I heard the sound of a long, drawn-out stretch. That little sound she made when she was working out the kinks in her muscles. Then footsteps padding closer.
I didn’t turn around. I just kept my focus on the food. When I felt a presence in the doorway. I turned round to see Malissa standing there, frozen mid-step, with her mouth slightly open in shock.
She was wearing an oversized t-shirt…one of mine, I realized with satisfaction…and shorts that barely peeked out from under the hem. Her long brown hair was a mess, falling around her face in tangles.
She blinked. Rubbed her eyes like she was seeing things. Then she looked again.
I almost smiled at how cute she looked. Confused and rumpled and completely unaware of how stunning she was even like this.
Fucking beautiful.
She wasn’t tall…average height, maybe 5’4”…but perfectly proportioned. The oversized shirt couldn’t hide her curves. The swell of her breasts and pointed nipples. The curve of her hips. And those legs.. long and slightly bowed legs that I’d felt wrapped around my waist.
I forced myself to focus on the stove, to act like her presence didn’t affect me. Like my heart hadn’t just kicked into overdrive at the sight of her.
She moved closer, her breasts giving a soft bounce beneath the T-shirt. Slowly. Keeping her distance but drawn forward anyway.
I noticed the marks on her neck when she came closer. They were fading to yellow-green now but still visible where her shirt had shifted.
Fury blazed through me so hot and sudden I had to grip the counter to keep it from showing it.
“This smells good,” she said quietly.Her voice was rough with sleep.
I didn’t answer. Just picked up the plate and set it on the counter between us.
“I didn’t know you could cook,” she said.
“Hmm. Would you like a plate?”
“Yeah.”
I plated another serving and slid it across to her.She picked up a fork. Took a bite. Her eyes closed briefly. “Mhmmm”
I watched her throat work as she swallowed. And the way she moaned when chewing.
“Melissa.” My voice came out rougher than intended. “I’m sorry about what…”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” She cut me off, her eyes fixed on her plate. Avoiding mine.