Evidence

Alicia’s POV

Acker spoke with a graveness not normally heard from him.

“I give you my word, love. I’d sooner burn my company and mafia to the ground than to hurt one hair on their heads,” he promised. “Nor would I ever want to hurt you.”

The tension between us was palpable and I swallowed, trying to not show how affected I was by just a little touch from him, or his words, or his closeness to me.

Just like Mikael was very good at riling me up, Acker seemed to have a knack for calming me down. I couldn’t explain it.

I let go of the anger I had felt and the hurt, and focused on him. Only on him. And I couldn’t look away.

“Let’s go home,” l said, and he nodded, reaching out his hand to steady me as I stood, before we both went to where Dante and Ashford were playing, oblivious to our conversation.

…

Hours passed and I shifted in bed, sighing heavily to the silence of the room.

Had the boys eaten dinner? Surely by now they would be in bed too.

The clock beside me glowed with its numbers s