Chapter 33

Blake leaned towards the woman.  “Help me make her jealous?”  When she hesitated, he put his mouth near her ear.  “I’m in love with her, please?”

The woman let out a convincing giggle as her eyes looked somewhere behind her.  Blake knew that she was looking at Amaya, just as he knew that Amaya was now walking towards them.  How he knew, he had no clue, but she was walking towards them. 

“Blake,” a calm voice from behind him said.

He turned with a smile still on his face, but once he noticed her blank expression, his smile dropped.  “Yeah, Amaya?”

She reached her hand out and snagged the hair on the back of his head.  Pulling him closer, she whispered against his lips.  “I don’t play games.”

He gulped and tried to push closer to her, but she kept him firmly in place. Sure, he could have forced himself closer, but Blake wanted to let her know that he would not do anything that she wished him not too.  “I don’t like games myself,” he admitted, “but how else am I going to prove it to you?”

“Prove what?” she asked.

“That you love me.”

Her eyes looked over his shoulder, but did not focus on anything.  “Time for you to leave Crystal.”  The woman who he had been talking to minutes earlier, scrambled off making only enough noise to allow Blake to know she had left.  Amaya turned back towards him.  “And if I don’t actually love you.”

He shook his head at her.  “You do.  I know you do.  You might not admit it now, but I’ll wait, Amaya.  I can wait as long as it takes, because I have a problem.”

“What?”

“I don’t think I could love another woman.  Finally, I understand how Sebastian felt when he said that without Ally, he would be nothing.  I would be nothing without you Amaya.  I would have nothing to fight for, nothing to dream for, and nothing to hope for.”

“Blake-”

“Let me finish,” he interrupted.  “If you do not want to leave here, we can stay.  I’ll give up my position as head enforcer, and I’ll live here with you.  No matter where we are, we’ll be happy as long as we are together.  So, if that is the only thing holding you back, it’s resolved.  We will stay here.”

She pulled back slightly and shook her head.  “You can’t stay here.”

His heart plummeted in his chest.  After everything he had told her, after being honest with her, she still did not want him.  “I understand.”

She shook her head at him. “No, I don’t think you do.  You can’t stay here, Blake, because I’m not staying here either.”

“What do you mean?” he asked, feeling slightly hopeful.

“I mean that this isn’t where you belong.  To be honest, I’ve never belonged here either.  What will keep me happy here?  Nothing.  If I went with you, I know we would both be happy.”

“Amaya,” he coaxed.  “What does that mean?”

She huffed and narrowed her eyes at him.  “Do I really have to say it?” He nodded, and he knew that she felt the motion as she let out a sigh.  “Fine, I love you.  You’re an idiot sometimes, but I love you.”

“Good,” he answered with a chuckle.  “I was afraid I would have to stay here.”  A shudder coursed through his body, causing her to tighten her grip in warning.  He just smiled at her.  “What are you going to do?”

“Help you,” Amaya answered easily.  “There is nowhere that it says that an enforcer cannot be helped by another.  I’ll be your partner.”

“Sidekick.”

“Partner,” she demanded.

He slipped an arm around her waist and tugged her closer.  Leaning down, he let his lips brush over hers.  “Partners it is.”

“Partners,” she echoed once more before standing on her toes to seal the kiss.

Her hand trailed down his neck, across his shoulder, to touch his chest.  Once she got there, he expected her to tighten her grip into his shirt, but instead she pushed him away.  “We have to get a new enforcer.”

Blake mumbled a curse before nodding.  Glancing around the crowd, he spotted Lilly standing there with a large smile and her uncle.  Blake motioned for the man to come forward.  With a slightly confused expression, the man followed Blake’s instructions.

“How may I help you?” the man asked.

Blake gave him a large smile.  “You are the new enforcer.”

“What?” Lilly’s uncle asked in shock.  “You must be mistaken.”

“No,” Blake assured.  “You are a great candidate.  You think wisely, you do not discriminate, and you’re strong.  You’ll make a fine enforcer.”

“What about my family?”

“They will be protected,” Blake told him, “especially Lilly.  The little girl caught Ally’s heart in one glance.  I wouldn’t be surprised if you find guards stationed outside of your house for now on.”

Lilly’s uncle let out a laugh.  “The girl does have certain power over mothers.”

Blake nodded absentmindedly.  “I owe you one,” he told the man.  “You have done a lot to help us during our time of need.  You really are a great man.”

“You don’t know what that means, boy.  Take it back, and I’ll forget you ever said it.”

“No,” Blake said firmly.  “I owe you.  Whenever you need me, just call.  No matter what task you ask of me, just call, and I will do it.  I owe you.”

“You’re an idiot,” the man mumbled, “but I thank you for the job.”

Lilly’s uncle turned his back on them and began walking towards the little girl.  Snagging her hand, he walked into the crowd and away from Blake.

“You’re my idiot though,” Amaya whispered.

He grinned at her while pulling her into a hug.  “That I am.”