Chapter 68
DAMIAN’S POV
I hurriedly slammed the bottle onto the table, secretly praying I didn’t smell like cigars and bad life choices.
Elis straightened up beside me, cigarette still dangling lazily from his fingers. His eyes went comically wide behind those glasses the second Vicky stepped into the light.
And damn, Vicky was a whole event tonight: tiny neon-pink mini dress that looked painted on, hair in wild mermaid waves down to her waist, lips glossy red, and heels so high they should come with a warning label.
She looked like trouble.
Elis recovered faster than I expected, though. He tore his gaze away, blinked quickly.
With a flick of his wrist, he stubbed out the cigarette, ran a hand through his hair like he suddenly remembered he was supposed to look human, and then stepped forward to approach Cindy.
“Sheriff,” he drawled, voice low and teasing, that old D.C. code name sliding off his tongue smoother than I’d ever heard it.
“It’s wonderful to see you still shining so brightly.”
Cindy’s eyes lit up with that mischievous little spark that always wrecked me.
She knew he knew.
“Professor Specs,” she fired back, tipping an imaginary hat. “Still hiding from the feds, I see.”
God, I loved them.
Meanwhile, Vicky was already halfway across the terrace, arms flung wide like she was about to hug us all at once.
“Okay, which one of you is the birthday boy I’m supposed to corrupt tonight?”
She zeroed in on Elis with a captivating gaze, hips swaying playfully, her smile holding a touch of mischief.
Elis actually blushed. Full-on, ears-on-fire, glasses-fogging-up blushed.
My baby brother, ladies and gentlemen.
I slung an arm around Vicky’s bare shoulders before she swallowed him whole.
“Vicky, meet Elis. Elis, this is Cindy’s ride-or-die. She bites, but only if you ask real nice.”
Vicky stuck out her hand, her nails painted in daring hot pink, looking both fierce and irresistible.
“Pleasure’s all mine, Professor.” She dragged the word out slowly, letting it drip like honey, then bit her bottom lip for good measure.
Dayummmmm… Sleek.
Elis took her hand like it might explode, swallowed so hard I heard it, and managed a shaky, “Likewise, miss.”
She didn’t let go. Instead, she stepped closer—way closer—till her perfume (something sweet and sinful) wrapped around him.
“Miss? Oh, baby, you’re gonna have to do better than that.”
Elis’s eyes darted to me for rescue. I just smirked.
I leaned in close to his ear, keeping my voice low.
“You said you wanted to toughen up, yeah? Start by survivin’ five minutes with this one. Good luck, soldier.”
Then I grabbed Cindy’s wrist (soft, warm, mine) and tugged. “Come on, babe. Let the children play.”
Cindy burst into laughter as I pulled her toward the far end of the terrace, where the fairy lights still hadn’t flickered on and the sky was bleeding purple into black.
We dropped onto the wide daybed under the pergola, knees touching, her head automatically finding that spot on my shoulder as if it was made just for her.
For a moment, we just breathed, letting the day’s madness fade away little by little.
She gently broke the silence, her voice tender. “I’m truly sorry about your mom, Damian. No one should have to go through that. No one.”
I kind of shrugged, but honestly, it didn’t quite feel as chill as I tried to make it seem.
“I’m used to it. Been used to it since I was twelve, after she forgot my birthday for a yacht in Saint-Tropez.”
Cindy’s fingers clenched mine, weaving tightly together.
“Still sucks,” she whispered.
“Yeah,” I exhaled heavily.
“But listen… there’s more. Turns out Elis let Evelyn sweet-talk him into securing seven percent of the company. Seven percent. He thought giving her a stake would make her stay. She played him like a fucking violin.”
Cindy sat bolt upright, her eyes blowing wide with disbelief.
“Seven percent? Damian—”
“I know. I already got legal on speed dial for tomorrow morning. That woman ain’t seeing a cent. I’d rather burn everything to the ground than let her take what we’ve built.”
She looked at my face with gentle understanding and nodded slowly.
“You’ll fix it. You always do,” she said softly.
Silence settled again, this time comfortably. Crickets began to chirp, and the wind rustled through the palms.
She spoke again, softer. “Speaking of fixing things… I’m signing the divorce papers tomorrow. Officially.”
My heart did a full backflip. “You serious?”
“Dead serious. Henry’s getting served at the banquet. Public style. I want him to choke on his own ego when he realizes the broke little housewife he’s been mistreating is Cindy freaking Verilli.”
I laughed so hard that I nearly toppled off the daybed.
“You evil, beautiful woman. Remind me never to get on your bad side.”
She flashed a mischievous grin before sliding effortlessly onto my lap, as if she was meant to be there—and she definitely was.
“Too late. You’re stuck with me.”
I gently cupped her face with my hands, my thumbs softly brushing her cheeks as I looked into her eyes.
“Thank fuck for that.”
Her eyes gently softened with gratitude and compassion.
“Thank you for your patience, Damian. For seeing me even when I couldn’t see myself clearly. For reminding me that I deserve more than just scraps.”
My throat tightened as I stared into her baby blues.
“Baby, you deserve the whole damn universe. And I plan on spendin’ the rest of my life tryin’ to give it to you.”
She kissed me then, slow and deep, tasting like candy and yearning.
As we parted slightly, foreheads still touching, she whispered with anticipation, “I can’t wait for tomorrow. I’ll get my name back. I’ll reclaim my life.”
I smiled softly against her lips, feeling the warmth of her skin.
“Cindy Verilli rises from the ashes, baby. And this time, nobody’s putting her out.”
Behind us, somewhere near the bar, Vicky’s cheerful laugh rang out loud, followed by Elis’s startled, delighted yelp.
Sounded like the kid was surviving his first lesson in toughening up just fine.
I gently pulled Cindy closer, her head resting against my chest as I watched the last slice of sun vanish behind the clouds.
Tomorrow, the world would find out who she really was.
Tomorrow, Cindy Verilli returns.