Chapter 27: Loyal (Gianna's POV) I cleared my throat and grabbed my drink, sipping on it while staring out the window. I don't exactly know why I said that, but I meant it. I think I did. Making him miserable is one thing but there's still right and wrong. And he killed Chase, nothing can change that, that's the truth. But the truth is also that Chase killed someone first. I'm in no position to say which one of them was right and wrong, but that was the past. And it's not my past, it was Allister's and Chase's. My past was my dead brother and his killer. And my present is my husband and my murderer brother. And I have to pick a side. I don't know what went down in the past and he won't tell me. And in my present, I have a caring husband who is actually prioritizing me. So what do I do? Who am I loyal to? My brother, who killed someone? Or my husband who killed my brother because he killed someone? "What are you doing, Gianna?" "What do you mean?" I mumbled, biting down on the straw. "I mean who are you loyal to? Your brother or me?" "My brother is dead." "That doesn't mean you can't be loyal to him, sweetheart. He's your brother." "And he killed someone." He watched me carefully. "Brother or not, he killed someone, Ace. And husband or not, you killed my brother. It doesn't matter that he was my brother or that you are my husband. You're both murderers. And I have to choose which side I'm on. Murderer A or murderer B. But I don't fucking know who Chase killed and you won't tell me." "You think it can be justified? I'm a murderer, you can't justify that. And so is he." "I'm not trying to justify either one of your actions. I'm just trying to understand them. Who did he kill? Ace." "Gianna, no." He shook his head. "No." "Fine," I sighed in defeat. "Okay, hubs. Okay." I threw the empty cup, empty fries box, and wrapper into the brown bag. I looked outside and spotted a trash can. "I'll throw this out." I picked up the bag, crumpled it up, and stepped out. I walked to the trash can, tossing it inside, mumbling curses under my breath the entire walk there. "Fuck, man." I laughed dryly to myself. "He can't tell me anything, I can't stop liking him, what the fuck do I do?" I turned back around, walked to the car, and climbed back in. "Do you have time to drop me off at work? Otherwise, we can just go to Delirium, I'll take a cab. I left my car at the office." "You took a cab to Delirium?" "Yeah. I didn't want anyone to follow me." "I'll drop you. But can I ask you something first?" "Of course." "Who do you want to be loyal to? Your brother or me?" "That depends on what he did." "No, it doesn't. You know it doesn't. When you're loyal to someone you support them and fight for them no matter what. You can still try asking them to do what you think is right but even if they do what you think is wrong, you still support them. That's what loyalty is to me. So, who do you want to be loyal to?" "You." He stared at me. "And him. I don't fucking know yet," I scoffed. "That's okay. You'll figure it out." He put his hand back on my thigh, his thumb stroking me. "You will." I frowned, staring at him. He leaned in, kissing me. "You'll figure it out, it's okay," he whispered against my lips. "You tempt me," I sang, pushing him away. I have to slow down. I'm too confused with my feelings and I need to get myself in check. So, I better take things slow. "Take me back to work, please. I have a client coming in soon." "Yes, ma'am," he smiled. I chuckled, grabbing his hand which was resting on my thigh. We spent the drive there in silence and when he stopped at the entrance, I unbuckled myself and turned to him. "Bye, hubs." "Bye, my love." I bit back a smile and pushed the door open but he pulled me back before I could step out and leaned forward, kissing me. He pulled away after a while and smirked at me. "Bye, Allister." "Bye." He winked. I laughed, climbing out of his car and walking back inside, swiping my ID at the entrance, and then walking past the front desk and to the elevator. "Ms. Phoenix!" I stopped, turning to the front desk where our receptionist, Caroline, was calling me. "It's Mrs. Allister, Caroline. Tell me," I laughed, resting my arms on the table. "Ah, yes. There were two men here to see you. They said it was urgent and they demanded to be let into your office. I asked them to wait down here but they weren't listening and then they just left. They said they're looking for Mrs. Allister, so…" she trailed off awkwardly. "Two men?" I echoed. She nodded, shifting uncomfortably. "I was about to call security on them." "Who let them into the building? Obviously, they don't have IDs. How did they come inside?" I pulled my phone out, dialing Ace's number. "Where's the security that was sent with me this morning?" She blinked in confusion before shaking her head slowly. "There was no security sent after you this morning, ma'am." I dialed Ace's number and put it to my ear. "Yes, wife?" "Did you send security to my building today?" "What?" "Ace. Yesterday, you said you'd send a bodyguard," I said, talking softer and turning my back on Caroline. "I told Owen to send one, why, what's wrong?" I sighed, "There were two men here to see me. My receptionist is saying she wanted to call security on them. I'm a little worried, Ace." "Do you have the gun on you?" That question makes me panic. "No, it's at home." "Gianna," he huffed. "Bring it with you, always." "How can I bring… Okay, okay, later. Just please tell me what to do." "Don't get nervous and don't go upstairs." "I'm not!" "Okay! Stop panicking, I'm on my way! I'm almost there." I started pacing, still on the line with him. "Mrs. Allister." I turned back around to look at Caroline. She gestured to the entrance and I looked over, spotting him walking over. I rushed over and swiped him in. "What happened?" "I don't know. She just told me two men came in looking for me and tried going straight up to my office, they didn't listen and then just left." He sighed and started walking to the elevator but I grabbed his arm, pulling him to a halt. "Where the fuck are you going?" I hissed. "Upstairs. Unless you want to talk out here?" I sighed and walked with him, still clutching onto his arm. "Why didn't you bring the gun with you?" He asked when the elevator doors closed. "You wanted me to bring a fucking gun into my office building? Seriously?" He sighed, turning to me. "I'm not asking you to take it to show and tell. Just keep it with you for safety. Otherwise, what's the point of me teaching you how to use it?" "I'll bring the dagger." "Okay. Whatever you're comfortable with." I finally let go of his arm and stepped back, leaning against the railing. "It's okay," he said, standing beside me and taking my hand in his. "Don't get scared." "I better get used to it, huh?" I turned to look at him. "I wish I could say no. But yeah. You might want to." I wanted to fucking cry. If marrying him means my life is at risk at all goddamn times, then I start to regret it. I don't fucking want that. The doors opened and we walked to my office. I fell into my desk chair and sighed, burying my face in my palms, feeling my eyes water. I knew he was walking around, making sure nothing was gone, even though they never came up here. I stood up and walked to the glass window, looking down at the street. "You should probably check the security cameras to see who those men were. I'll stick around until we figure that out," he suggested. "You can do that." I walked back over to the computer and typed in the password and then security camera settings. "Go crazy," I scoffed, gesturing to it. He sat in the chair and stared up at me. "I don't even know when they came, so I can't help you with that." He grabbed my wrist and pulled me back before I could walk away. I tried freeing myself but he pulled me down in his lap. "Ace-" "Gianna, please do not get worried." I huffed. "How can I not get worried? This has never happened to me before, I've never had my life at risk like this. I am terrified," I laughed, my vision getting blurry with tears. "And I have to deal with it now because I married you! And I know it's not your fault but…" I groaned in frustration. "It's okay. You'll be okay," he mumbled, looking at me. "Are you crying?" "Yes, I'm crying!" "Okay," he nodded. "That's okay." He tightened his arm around my waist and I stared down at him. "Don't look at me, look at the footage," I ordered. "But you're crying, Gianna." I rolled my eyes and tried standing up but he held me down. "I'll check the footage, okay, okay. I won't watch you, I promise. Just stay here, please, please." He grabbed my hand, using his arm that was around me, and used his free hand to check the footage. He locked his fingers with mine and started stroking the back of my hand with his thumb. I was so scared for myself, I really was. And I just have to get used to it. "I won't let anything happen to you, little Phoenix. You're my wifey-wife now," he mumbled, staring at the screen. How… do I avoid liking him? Just how? "Ah, I see." I looked up at the screen. "It's the man I'm meant to see tonight. I sent people to look for him." "Who is that?" "Danny Wilson." I don't even know who that is. "And he's too fucking stupid to hurt anybody. So relax." He turned to look at me. "He probably just came here looking for me because I wasn't at the club, darling." "Who's with him?" "His son. Don't worry. No danger there." He turned to me, wiping a stray tear. He chuckled, watching me. "You look so pretty, don't cry, come on now." "Oi!" I smacked his chest with the back of my hand. "It scared the shit out of me," I sighed. "I know," he nodded, squeezing my hand. "But I was here a minute after you called, wasn't I? Don't worry. I've got you, Mrs. Allister." "You better." Really. He better. Because I'm sending my plan to shit for him. No killing him, no making him miserable. Just being with him. That's the new plan. Whatever happened between him and Chase be damned, I don't want to be in the middle of it anymore. He's my husband now, and it'll only work if I give our relationship a shot. So fuck the plan. . . . . . Chapter 27