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“It’s too dangerous—”

“You saved nus when it was just you, James No one will be able to touchout for me,” I said

Vaughn sighed and dropped his forehead to mine “I don’t want you to do this,” he whispered “I just want you to be safe But I want Gio back so fucking bad”

I put my hand to his cheek and he i to have both, James”

“Promise me,” he demanded “Promise me I won’t lose you”

But he didn’t let me answer

Maybe because he kneas a promise I couldn’t make

He kissed me instead and I let him because it was easier

And for once, I wasn’t asha the easier path

Chapter 15

Vaughn

“I will, Dante, I pronus I love him Matty too And Leo and Jamie and Connor and Miss Savannah…” Aleks fell silent and then smiled and nodded Whatever Dante had said to hi list seemed to lift some of the sadness from his expression

I’d soed to release him after what had to be the most incredible kiss… or series of kisses, rather… that I’d ever known I’d held onto hier to speak When I’d finally pulled back, he’d asked me if he could call his brother to reassure him he was okay

That had been a few o Aleks hadn’t put the phone on speaker and I hadn’t asked him to I hadn’t really needed hi to his brother, and it hadn’t been hard to figure out that the firstto convince his little brother to tell him where he was

But Aleks had held firly well

There was no doubt he was scared shitless about as happening, but he wasn’t regretting his decision I also knew if he’d been given the choice to do what he’d done over again, he would have in a heartbeat

Including leavingme