Page 235 of Indulge

That was our purpose in life. Every shitty thing we’ve been through. Every fight we’ve had to win. It was all to get right here, standing beside the light of our life. Our Bella.

“It’s a shame Drago is missing,” Bella says.

“Drago?” Lily asks.

I glance at Reggie over Bella’s head. “You know Drago?” Reggie asks.

Weird. We’ve never seen Drago and Lily in the same room. Like, ever, now I think about it.

“I don’t think so. I used to know a Drago, though. It’s a pretty common name in Russia. My dad’s best friend was called Drago. Hot name, actually.”

Bella straightens her spine. “Wait. You’re Russian?” Bella asks, in shock.

Again, I look at Reggie, he clocks it.

“Uh. Yeah. Russian heritage. Mom is American, I came and lived here with her when I was younger. I haven’t seen my dad in years.”

I smile at Lily to hide what I’m really thinking. And then my phone buzzes in my pocket just as Reggie pulls his out too.

Speak of the devil.

Drago’s name flashes on the screen with a simple message.

DRAGON: STOP THAT CONVERSATION AND DO NOT TELL LILY MY LAST NAME.

Reggie clears his throat. “So, Lily. How's the art gallery going? You’ve got a showing soon, right?”

Lily starts answering his question all excited, and I type back a reply to Drago. Or as I like to call him, Dragon.

ME: What’s in it for me? What even is your last name? Oh my god, is it Drago Dragon?

He types back immediately.

DRAGON: Are you not even going to ask how I know what you’re talking about?

I hold back my laugh.

ME: I always assumed you were a watcher, Dragon. I’d turn off the cameras tonight, our wedding night is about to get messy…

He doesn’t reply. But I am really fucking intrigued. I know he ain’t bugged my phone, nor Reggie’s. Now, why would Drago be tapping into Lily’s phone?

Call it an instinct, but Lily being Russian and him spying on her. That’s something.

I slide my phone into my pocket and wrap my arm around Bella’s waist. I don’t give a shit right now about Drago’s problems, nor his last name.

All I care about is the woman who just took my last name.

The woman who stole my heart and my soul.

The woman I live for and the one I’d die for. I watch her, chatting away with Lily and Reggie, and I just smile.

I fucking love her with every single part of me.