Mr. Denver: The Version You Didn't Hear

Chapter 21

The moonlight bounced off the surface of the pool, shimmering like glass. I dipped my toes into the water, needing the cold to anchor me. I couldn’t sleep. Not with everything weighing on me.

The wedding. My past. Her silence.

I didn’t expect her to find me.

“Why are you here... in the middle of the night?” Catherine asked, holding a mug in both hands as she approached.

“I can’t sleep,” I said, not bothering to lie.

She sat beside me, slipping her feet into the pool too.

“The wedding?”

“Yeah. And work.”

“You can tell me,” she said gently, raising her cup as if to toast my secrets.

I looked back at the water. “I’m fine. I just can’t sleep.” She stayed quiet for a moment. Then she asked it, the question I knew was coming.

“I’m curious... how did you end up in the mafia world?” I let out a breath. It was time.

“It was just weeks after my parents died. I was falling apart. I got into drinking, fighting, trying to drown everything. That’s when Kristopher found me.” The name tasted like venom.

“He offered me work. I was too far gone to ask questions.” Catherine’s hand gently touched my shoulder, and I turned to see her watching me—not with pity, but with understanding.

“I met Ian and Lucas there. We were trained in Russia. My grandfather thought I was dead. There were fake reports, fake bodies. He grieved for me while I was breaking apart.” I paused, swallowing the tightness in my throat.

“The grief made me reckless. Kristopher liked that. But over time, he preferred Ian and Lucas—they were older, more stable. I cracked. I broke down over and over until Lucas finally sent word to my grandfather.” Her eyes softened even more.

“It took almost two years, but Lucas helped me escape. My grandfather was waiting when I crossed the border. He cried like a kid. Kristopher was furious. Lucas took the fall for helping me—was punished for it. I owe him everything.” I smiled faintly at the memory of hugging Lucas in Seattle, both of us barely alive, but finally free.

“You didn’t choose that life,” she said. “Everything happens for a reason.”

I gave a bitter laugh. “Even you were scared of me.”

“I didn’t know what to expect,” she admitted. “I mean, my future husband used to be in the mafia.” Future husband. The phrase made my chest tighten.

“Killing isn’t in my blood,” I said softly. “Kristopher trained me to be heartless, but I never pulled the trigger.”

“I believe you,” she whispered. “You’re just cruel when you work... that’s all I know.” I chuckled, turning to look at her. The moonlight painted her face in silver. Her features were soft, thoughtful. I tilted my head, memorizing the moment.

“We’re getting married soon... how do you feel?”

She stared at the water. “I don’t know. I never imagined marrying someone I don’t love.”

“Did you love Eden?”

She let out a dry laugh. “I thought we’d grow old together. I was wrong.”

“He’s a dick, then,” I said simply.

She laughed, her voice light despite the heaviness of the topic.

“How about you? Never been in love?”

I shook my head. “I was too busy. I don’t think I’m built to be a husband. Or a dad.”

“You’ll never know unless you try,” she murmured, resting her head on my shoulder. I hesitated.

“We’re not backing out of this marriage, right?” I asked. She was quiet for a long beat.

“No. You?”

“Why go through with it if we’re just going to divorce later?”

She sat up and looked at me. “We want to make the elders happy. If it doesn’t work out, we’ll tell them the truth.”

“You cried about it days ago,” I reminded her. “Now you’re... okay?”

“I don’t know what I want,” she said honestly. “We deserve to choose who we love. But sometimes life doesn’t give us choices.” I nodded.

“Do you still want Eden?”

“No,” she said without hesitation. That answer... made something settle in my chest. I leaned in and kissed her. Slowly, deliberately. Her lips responded like they’d been waiting. I pulled her into my arms, needing the closeness. Needing the honesty of touch.

“You okay?” she asked, patting my back. No, everything was more tangled than ever.

“Yeah.”

“You’re tired. You should sleep,” she said, pulling back.

“You too. It’s already dawn,” I murmured, brushing her hair from her face.

“Come on,” she said, standing. I helped her up. She grabbed her mug and we walked quietly back inside. She was about to go into her room when I caught her hand.

“Do you... want to sleep together? Not like that. Just... sleep.” She looked at me and nodded. We curled into bed, her body warm against mine. I didn’t know if we were falling in love, but we were falling into something.

And for now, that was enough.