Author's note: this is from Duke's point of view

- - -

​​

I wanted to take my car. I bought a brand new Aston Martin, with a goal to impress Serina, yet she refused without sparing a glance to the silvery road-beast.

I guess I will need to find another way to show her I'm doing well, and I can take care of her.

"My car is there." She gestured toward a custom Bentley that had a driver waiting for her.

I internally facepalmed. A customized Bentley with a driver. I guess that impressing her with cars won't work.

Looking at the tinted windows, I understood why I didn't know she was in her apartment in London. The security there is impeccable, so my men kept watch from outside. With that shaded glass, they were unable to spot her.

So far, Serina used cabs to move through London, or Mona would drop her off, so my men were watching the main entrance into her building. A silly mistake of underestimating her, again.

"That's fine. We can take your car.", I said shamelessly because I had no intention of letting go of her.

As we approached the car, an older man with serious features got out from the driver's side and he looked at me questionably before his frown settled on our connected hands.

Is he really just a driver? He is employed by the mysterious Mezzanotte family, so the man is probably an assassin or a ninja.

"Mitch, this is Mr. Orsini. He will take a ride with me to the Piping Vault.", Serina said.

"Yes, Miss…", he responded before opening the back passenger's door of the car.

I was glad to see that Serina is treated with the respect she deserves.

My only regret was that I missed many precious moments of her transformation from a shy girl into a confident lady everyone describes when they talk about Seraphina Mezzanotte.

I pushed dark thoughts away because this was not the right time to brood over past mistakes and I scooted right after Serina into the backseat.

I wanted to be close to her, just the two of us, and now that it happened, I was a nervous wreck.

I planed for so many witty and smart things to say when we meet, yet I ended up tongue-tied and staring at her like an idiot.

'Breathe, breathe!', I reminded myself, 'And don't mess this up!'

Well, Serina is still holding my hand, and we are together in the back of her car, so things are going well so far. I hope.

- - -

Author's note: this is from Seraphina's point of view

- - -

Being alone in the car with Duke was more nerve-wracking than I thought it will be and the fact that he was staring at me while caressing the back of my palm with his thumb, didn't help at all.

I dreamed about him numerous times and I craved for his proximity and this attention, yet now when it's right here, I was not sure how to handle it.

I let out a shaky breath. "Can you please stop that?"

"Stop what?", he asked.

Everything. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Like what? Like you are the most beautiful woman in the world? Like I missed you to the point of insanity?"

My mouth hung open. What did he say?

He lifted my hand that was in his and placed a long kiss against the back of my palm. I felt his breath fanning over my fingers and my scalp became tingly.

I had no idea how to respond to this. Did he kind of confess that he likes me? That was sudden and unprovoked.

The silence was interrupted by Duke's phone ringing.

I watched him hold onto my hand with his eyes closed.

"Aren't you going to get that?", I asked.

The tension between us snapped as Duke reached into his pocket with his free hand, and mumbled, "Excuse me."

"Yes, I went to the reunion…", Duke spoke irritably with whoever called. "Why would I tell you where I'm going? … Yes, I will stay for lunch also… I don't know how long it will take. Don't you have anything better to do than tracking me?"

He ended the call without usual pleasantries. That told me he is close to the person on the other side of that call.

He looked at me apologetically. "I'm sorry, Serina, that was..."

"Your girlfriend?", I blurted out the first thing that came to my mind before he could finish his thought.

Duke looked at me blankly and I regretted my blunder.

Why is my mouth running without any censorship? What's the use of my brain?

Did I just sound jealous? Was I jealous? How embarrassing.

His lips lifted into a smile slowly. "Do you think I would hold your hand like this if there is a girlfriend? Do you think I would flip London in order to meet with you if there is a girlfriend or anyone else that matters? I can assure you, Serina, there is no one else, other than you."

I was flabbergasted. Did he just tell me I'm the only one? In a romantic way? No way! I'm imagining it, right?

"That was a friend who acts like he is my mother.", Duke clarified my doubts about the mystery caller.

I was relieved to hear that the caller was a HE. Ah, why am I acting this possessive? I have no right to do so.

I cleared my throat awkwardly, grateful for the opportunity to switch the topic. "It seems to me that he cares about you."

Duke shook his head. "It's just a habit. He was my guardian, and he has difficulty accepting that I grew up and now I can take care of myself."

I was glad that he explained.

"Serina…", he called. "We have a lot of catching up to do."

Yes, we do. "It's not necessary."

"Don't say that. I really want us to talk. I have so much to say."

My heart trembled. "Well, talk."

He glanced through the window. "We are nearly there, and I have a lot to say. I only ask you for one thing."

"What?" I held my breath.

"That you listen and don't leave until I finish."

"That's two things." I pointed out the fact.

He chuckled. "I love your sense of humor."

And I love everything about you. "Why do you think I'm joking? You requested one thing, but it turned out to be two. Assuming that I grant you that one wish, which one will it be, my attention or time?"

His eyes flashed dangerously as he knew I'm messing with him, but he kept that back and refused to engage in a session of playful bickering, just how we did often, many years ago. It seems that this was important. "Will you grant me those two wishes, please?"

He looked at me expectantly and I let out a long exhale before nodding in agreement.

His hold on my hand tightened and he kissed the back of my palm again.

"Thank you…", he murmured.

The way the corners of his eyes crinkled when he was looking at me with a smile, did something funny to my heart.

Was this really happening? Duke and I in the car, him holding my hand… unbelievable.

He said that he has a lot to tell me. I wondered if he wanted to talk about the past or the present.

The atmosphere between us was good like no time passed at all and we can just pick up from where we left off.

Unfortunately, we missed so many things in the last seven years, and I had many stories to tell, but… I couldn't tell him about my life from the last three years without a heavy filter, and my life before that was miserable… because he left.

And with that thought, my mood dropped again.

I didn't have hopes of this day ending on a good note as I came here prepared for another heartbreak that would end with the final closure.

What I didn't expect was this rollercoaster of ups and downs that is wrecking my insides. Will I survive until tonight?

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