“Just read it.”
That was a lie. Not all of it, but damn, a lot of it.Starting with “this obsession.” This isn’t an obsession, Six, this is love. Andit’s deep and wild and forever. I can’t stop. And I can’t quit you.
So yeah, I’ll give you all the other shit you want.But I’m not going to step back. I’m not going to stop trying. I’m not going tolet you go.
I’m coming for you, Caro. And when I get to you, I’mnot letting go.
Never again.
You’re mine. And I am yours. Let’s give up this gameand stop lying to ourselves. You own my heart, Caroline. It’s yours. Come claimit.
I got to the end only to reread it immediately. Andthen again. “What is this?” I asked him, my voice a raspy whisper.
“Truth,” he said simply.
“You came here for me?”
His mouth lifted in that half smile. “Wasn’t itobvious?”
“You took down the syndicate?”
This time it was a half-hearted shrug. “Payne wantednames and places and locations. He wanted every single thing I remembered. Sohe got it. As long as I didn’t have to testify.” He walked further into hisoffice, pretending to examine something on Gus’s desk, but I knew it wasbecause he was uncomfortable. He needed to move. This conversation made himrestless. “It took five years, but he was able to get everyone on something.”
“You stayed in prison to work with him?”
“Secretly of course. You won’t find my name in any oftheir paperwork. Or on some fucking WITSEC list or CI database. That was thedeal. Mason asked his questions, I gave him answers. We took them down slowly,but permanently. Payne’s happy and I’m finally free.”
My one word question burned my tongue like a hot coalI was desperate to spit out. “Why?”
“Come on, Six, you’re not this dense.”
No, not dense. Afraid. Cowardly. Weak. “F-for me?” Hiseyes darkened meaningfully. “You did all of that for me? Risked your life?Betrayed your brothers? Gave up DC for me?”
His brows drew down. “Are those supposed to bedifficult choices? When it comes to you, Caroline, there’s only one choice.There’s only you.”
“Sayer…”
He stood there, hands tucked in his pockets, waitingon me to get it.To fully get it.But it wasn’t thatsimple. It wasn’t that easy.
“You’re telling the truth?” I had to ask. I had tohear it from his lips.
His bright blue eyes intensified, turning a shade thatcouldn’t have been human. They were too beautiful. Too otherworldly. Too biggerthan life. Just like Sayer. And all those things he’d done for me.
“No more lies, Caro. There’s no reason for them. Justtruth from now on. Starting with, I love you. And if you never tell me why youleft or why you didn’t talk to me first or what you’ve been doing for the pastfive years, I will still love you. If you tell me everything and I hate all ofyour answers and wish I could change them all, I will still love you. If youwalk out of this building right now because you can’t stand the sight of me andyou want something different or you’re already married orsomething that keeps us apart. I will still love you. I willalways love you.”
I was out of my seat and wrapped around him fasterthan he could blink. But he was ready to catch me. His arms were around me atjust the right moment. Our mouths collided, kissing with the kind of hungrydesperation that made me want more, made me addicted with just one taste ofhim.
We devoured each other, unable to be sated with small,polite or PG kisses. Our clothes started disappearing next. First his glasses—theyhad to go for obvious reasons. Then his cardigan and my cardigan and my shirtand his shirt. We toed off our boots without breaking apart, which wasn’t easy.I stumbled backward and he followed me, his feet tripping over his half-discardedshoes. My butt hit the desk and I half wondered if he’d orchestrated themovement, because his hands were already on the back of my thighs, lifting,kissing,rippingoff what was left of our clothes.
His buckle was impossible. I hated it. After severalunsuccessful tries, I tipped my head back and growled at the ceiling, makinghim chuckle darkly.
“I thought you were over me?” he whispered in my ear,his breath hot and enticing and familiar all at once.
“Never,” I told him, swore to him. “I could never beover you. No matter how far I ran or how long I managed to hide. I wouldalways, eternally come home to you.”
He pulled back, letting his gaze find mine. “I came toyou.”
Resting my hand on his bare chest, I said, “You cameto me so I could finally come home.”
