Tears sting my eyes. “But how?”
He sighs, crossing the room to me. “If you need the details, I’ll tell you whatever you want to know. I promise I’ll never keep anything from you again. But honestly?” He delicately pushes my hair behind my ear before reaching up to catch a wayward tear. “The less you know, the better. In case you’re ever questioned.”
“Dave…”
He cups my face, his thumb catching another droplet. “Let’s just say I’ve got good friends who believe in helping karma do her thing.”
Something inside me breaks open then. It’s as if grief, relief, disbelief all pour out, tangled together in an emotional stew. I fling myself into his arms, clutching him like I’ll never let go.
“You don’t need to live in fear ever again,” he whispers into my hair. “I can’t give you back the years you lost, but I can promise you one thing. He’ll never hurt you again.”
My pulse begins to pound in my head. The panic causing my voice to sound shrill. “But he’s loaded. With his expensive lawyers, he’ll probably get out on a technicality. Then he’ll really send his goons after me.”
“Shhh. Trust me. There’s no amount of money that’s going to get him out of this. I promise you. It’s all taken care of. They know what they’re doing and will intervene at the slightest indication of retaliation.”
My first inclination is to doubt him. That evil man has tormented me for so long. How could Dave and his friends have managed to take care of it so quickly? But looking into his big brown eyes, I know these aren’t hollow assurances. He wouldn’t promise something he couldn’t deliver.
A sniffle escapes before I can stop it. “I don’t even know how to thank you.”
He presses a kiss to the top of my head. “Baby, you already have. You were so brave attending that gala with me, despite your circumstances. You did that for me, simply because I wanted you by my side. No questions asked. And I love you for it.” He runs his hand down my hair as he holds me tightly against him with the other. “But you don’tever have to thank me for doing the right thing. He’s evil. A menace that needed to be locked away. If for no other reason than to protect anyone else from his vile behavior.”
I choke down a sob. It’s almost unfathomable that this nightmare could finally be over.
“He’s damn lucky.” He pauses. “He owes you his life.”
I blink. Utterly confused. “What do you mean?”
“If it weren’t for you, I would’ve fucking killed him.”
The next morning,we give a tearful goodbye to his mother and head back to Sycamore Mountain. I don’t even realize how long I’ve been crying until the tears stop coming and all that’s left is this heavy, aching quiet. My body feels weightless and exhausted all at once, like the storm finally burned itself out. I should be relieved. But the tears felt like a purge of the past.
I think I fall asleep a few hours into the journey, as I don’t even realize we’re back at his cabin until he’s lifting me in his arms to carry me into the house. This man. I’ll never know what I did to deserve him, but I’ll spend forever trying to ensure the universe knows just how grateful I am she brought him into my life.
I’m not taking one second of my new life for granted.
Once inside, he takes me to the couch and quickly sets about starting a fire. Once he’s got it roaring to life, he makes a cup of tea and brings it over to me before pulling me into his lap. Dave’s thumb traces slow circles against my back. Every motion is deliberate, grounding. He doesn’t rush me, doesn’t sayit’s okay noworyou’re safeagain. He just lets mebe.
The fire crackles low in the hearth, throwing soft light across his face. He looks different in the flicker. Tired, maybe? Like he’s decided this is where he’s meant to be, and nothing could move him from it. The world could fall apart outside these walls, and I think he’d still be standing here, keeping me safe and sound.
When he finally pulls back, it’s only to brush a tear from my cheek with his thumb. “You okay?”
I nod, but it’s a lie. My throat feels thick, my chest too full.
For a long time, neither of us says a word. The only sound is the crackle of the fire. I stare into the flames until they blur. “Feels strange,” I whisper.
“What does?”
“Breathing without waiting for the next dark shadow to descend.” My voice trembles. “Knowing he’s finally gone. Or at least, locked away somewhere far from here.”
Dave’s hand tightens around mine. “You don’t owe him another thought, Char. My friends have him and his goons on their radar. Let them worry about those assholes. You stay focused on the future.” His warm, soft lips dust over my temple.
“I know. I think it’s going to take me a while to relax and realize I don’t need to keep running. I’ve been looking over my shoulder for so long.”
“I know you have, baby.” He shifts closer, tucking me against his chest. “You’ll get there. And I’ll be here to remind you we’ve got this under control.”
I tilt my face up toward him. “And what if I keep falling apart?” No one should have to deal with all of my baggage. He’s done so much for me already.
“Then I’ll hold your beautifully broken pieces together,” he says simply, kissing the tip of my nose. His words wrap around me like a blanket. No grand promises, no speeches. Just truth.
