“No.” I cock my head to the side. “I can see that.”
I wait, and I know he’s wondering why. I’m waiting for the cavalry that is drawing closer with every gunshot.
“Are they with you?” He tilts his head towards the door as an explosion shakes the warehouse. I’m not sure how the police aren’t swarming the place.
I smirk. “They’re here for me. Now, don’t make me wait. Bring it on, big man. Unless you don’t think you can take me? I mean, I’m not tied up this time.”
“Fucking bitch!” he screams, launching himself at me. Seems he does have buttons I can press.
Throwing my head back, I laugh loudly even though it fucking hurts my ribs, and it throws him off. His steps stutter for a moment before he starts toward me again.
Baring my teeth in a snarl, I wait. He barrels into me like a fucking Mack truck, sending me crashing against the wall and knocking the breath out of me. Then, he does exactly as I expectand grabs my throat, tightening his fingers and cutting off my air.
Suddenly, he jerks, and his grip on my neck loosens.
“Leave her alone!” Noah shouts, sinking his teeth into Samson’s calf.
I take advantage of the distraction and wrap my legs around his waist, using my thighs for leverage. I thrust the knife he seems to have forgotten about deep into Samson’s neck and jerk it up. I keep my knives razor sharp, so it glides through his flesh like a hot knife through butter. Blood flows over my hand, and I know I’ve hit his carotid artery.
Samson’s face slackens. He releases my throat and staggers. Pushing away from him, I drop back to the floor. He slaps his hand to his neck and stumbles, tripping over Noah, who’s still gripping his leg.
I rush to Noah and scoop him up, hugging him to me even though my body is a mass of pain.
“You did so good, Noah. You were so brave,” I whisper as we watch Samson bleed out on the warehouse floor.
“He not hurt me no more,” Noah murmurs, tucking his head under my chin.
“No, baby. He can’t hurt you anymore,” I assure him, rubbing a soothing hand over his back.
The firefight outside sounds as if it’s dying down. Carrying Noah, I limp toward the door, my knife again gripped in my hand.
“Lady, what’s your name?” Noah asks, and I can hear the tired slur in his voice.
“Bee, baby. My name is Bee.”
At that moment, as I tell Noah my name, I realise it fully. Bella belongs to my past. Bee is who I’ve become.
And I like her.
The pedestrian door to the warehouse flies open with a bang. And there he is, framed in the doorway, his dark hair wild around his face, worry written all over him, handguns clenched in big fists, blood covering him from head to toe.
I’ve never seen a more beautiful sight.
For a minute, time stands still.
Then, I’m moving toward him as fast as my battered body will allow. I don’t stop until Noah and I are wrapped in his arms.
“Cop,” I whisper brokenly, lifting my face to his.
He touches a gentle finger to my eye. “Fuck, Bee. We found you. God, we found you. I want to kiss you so bad, but I don’t want to hurt you.”
Rolling to my toes, I slant my lips over his, taking the kiss he’s worried about giving me.
Does it hurt? Fuck, yes, it does.
Do I care? Not a fucking scoobies. It lets me know I’m alive.
Noah’s whimper pulls me away, and I’m gutted when I see the fear in his eyes as he looks at Copper.
