Winnie stops moving and turns to me. Our gazes collide, and the empty look on her face nearly takes me out. “The club is your family, Finn. I can’t let anything happen to them because of me.”
I prowl toward her until we’re standing toe to toe, and she’s forced to tilt her head back to look at me. “You are my family, Winnie. I will not let that psycho near you.”
She swallows, her throat working over a ball of emotion that she shoves down, before lowering her eyes. “I’m tired.”
Releasing the breath I was holding, I rub my hands up and down her arms. “Let's get some sleep. Things will feel better once we do.”
She nods but won’t look at me. It bothers me further when she skirts my touch and lowers herself to the bed, turning to her side instantly. The pain of her dismissal lashes across my heart, but I force myself to remember that she’s exhausted and she’s scared. I can’t read too much into it, knowing what she’s been through because of that man. Still, my gut twists and my senses tingle. Winnie falls asleep instantly, her breathing deep and even. Only then do I lie back against the headboard and close my eyes.
The bed shifts. It's slight, barely any movement because the mattress is harder than a damn rock, but it's there. Keeping my eyes closed, I listen, my pulse spiking when I realize it’s Winnie. Her feet pad softly to the chair across from the bed. There's a slight rustle as she puts on a flannel shirt of mine. My eyes snap open in the dark when I hear her grab the truck keys off the table. I watch as she moves toward the door. Her hand hits the handle, and then I’m on her, caging her against the dusty pink colored metal door.
“Tell me you aren’t actually thinking about leaving here on your own,” I demand, my voice coming out on a growl.
Her back heaves against my chest, her words coming out choked, as she cries. “I love you so much, Finn. I can’t stay here and let everyone sacrifice for me. I’m going to leave because I’d rather he take me than chance having anything happen to you.”
My hands land on her arms, and I turn her around to face me, looming over her and trying to rein in the anger pounding in my veins. She tried to leave me. Again. “You are my heart, my soul, the reason I breathe, Win. Do you honestly think I’m goingto let mywifewalk out the door and risk her life? I can’t live without you.”
“Finn—”
I slam my mouth on hers, swallowing her excuses, tasting her tears, and taking in her jagged breaths. Her hands fist the front of my t-shirt as I press my body into hers, grinding my cock against her core. She breaks away, her lips red and swollen. The tears in her eyes kill me. My thumbs run across her cheeks, swiping the moisture away.
“Promise me, you won’t leave. Promise me you won’t sacrifice yourself for me.”
She shakes her head, biting on her bottom lip. “I can’t. I love you too much.”
“You love me?” My forehead rests against hers while we breathe together. I know I have to play dirty to keep her this time. “If you love me, you won’t leave. We’re going to handle this my way. You’re going to listen and stay by my side, and eventually we’ll return home when Bianchi is no longer an issue. You aren’t leaving me, Winnie. Only a bullet could keep me away from you. One right to the heart. That's the only way this marriage ends between us.” I slide my gun handle into her hand and clasp her fingers around it.
“What are you doing?” She meets my gaze, her eyes searching with a hint of frantic energy.
My hand raises her wrist, bringing the barrel right to my chest, hovering over the organ that beats just for her. “Are you going to leave me?”
Her pulse flutters against my fingertips. She never breaks eye contact, though. I watch all her emotions, panic, confusion, acceptance, and devotion, flitter over her face. “No.”
She lowers the gun to her side, and I instantly slide it back into my hand and then into my waistband. My hand cups the back of her neck, dragging her body into mine. Blindly, I pressmy lips to her forehead, kissing her with harsh determination. “Good fucking girl, Daisy. You’re all mine. Now we have to go.”
Her voice hitches in her throat, and all she can do is nod her head in agreement. Quickly, we scoop our things into the bag. I take the truck keys from her hand and leave them on the bedside table along with the room key. Together we walk out into the dusky light of morning. Winnie follows me through the parking lot and over to the truck stop. For a couple hundred dollars, we’re able to secure a ride to Charleston. The next phase of my plan is working out. I just have to get us on the water.
Chapter 31
Winnie
Ihad never been a fan of the water. All my life, I’ve lived inland in small towns or big cities. Maybe it was after growing up, and with what happened to my sister, but I’ve always been uneasy around bodies of water bigger than I am, where you can look across and not see the other side of land. When Finn said we were going to Charleston, I thought it was just a big enough city that also allowed people to get lost in. I thought maybe the club owned a private, secret safe house there, even. I was not expecting the walk we took to the marina, or the sleek, white yacht that we got on. Even more shocking was that, apparently, Finn knew how to drive it. Drive? Skipper it? Either way, we are now sailing south down the coast, heading for the Keys of Florida. While we are far enough from land, we are not out deep enough that we are in danger of waves that could topple us over, which is a good thing.
From the chair I am seated in, my gaze slides over to my husband while he navigates and also sets up his signal box. When we left the truck, we stopped giving Squirrel our location. Apparently, once he turns this signal box on, he will be able to track us again. With his burner phone, Finn also sent a messageto a member of another crime family that the club is allied with. They are expecting us once we get to Florida.
I still can’t believe the turn of events the previous morning took or that we’re now here. Safe, alive, and with a plan. My life took a complete turn when I was taken by Marco. And then again, when I found myself back at the clubhouse and back in the arms of the only man I’ve ever loved. Now we’re married and all those dreams I used to have, the wish to build a life with him, a family, has wound around my heart. I meant it at the motel. I can’t let him sacrifice himself for me. I can’t believe I thought I could sneak out on him; I should have known his skills have only improved over the years. Still, a small part of me is grateful he didn’t let me leave. I’ve come to realize that being with Finn is a vital part of my happiness now. We may have started this marriage with a promise of for now or forever, but I was toppling over into forever. I love him. I can’t forget what happened, just like he never will forget either, but I am making the choice to forgive him. I want to try with Finn to make this marriage real.
Sensing my gaze on him, Finn’s blue eyes slide to mine, and he gives me a small smirk. “If you want to rest at all, the bed is comfy.”
Sleeping sounds like heaven, especially after the night we had, but I feel reluctant to leave him. I’m terrified that if he isn’t within reach, something bad might happen. “I’m okay.”
“Win, you’re dead on your feet. We have a few hours to travel. Go rest.” He nudges me lightly, placing a kiss on the top of my head.
“What about you?” I question, my brow raised.
“Once I get a better idea of whether Squirrel can track us, I’ll join you,” he promises, his eyes softening as he looks at me.
I stand, noticing the way my legs shake. The adrenaline from the chase has died down, and my body is feeling it. “Okay,” Iagree. “Please join me, though, as soon as you can. I don’t want to be alone.”
