“What am I supposed to do with that?” Cassius’ tone was a mixture of despair and frustration.
Paige reached for Ben’s hand and clung to it. Ben moved his body to shield Paige from view.
“Other than leaving my fiancé alone for good? I don’t give a damn what you do.”
“Fiancé?” Cassius looked from Ben to her. “You’re…getting married?”
“Yes,” she said softly.
Cassius studied her, and she thought he looked…defeated. “It’s all true, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” she repeated.
“I think I knew all along that something wasn’t right. I didn’t want to believe it. He’s my father. I believed he sacrificed, so I could have the future I was destined to have. I can’t believe it wasn’t true. I just…”
Cassius held her gaze with his. “I think I had to face you and hear you say the words. I’m sorry to disturb you. I do wish you all the best. I hope…I hope you can put this all behind you.”
Paige didn’t respond. She wasn’t sure she had the words to say that would bring him any peace. Ben shifted his weight to continue shielding her as Cassius crossed over to the door. He opened it and paused.
“I’m sorry to bother you.” Then he was gone.
Ben rushed to the door, opened it, and checked to make sure Cassius was indeed gone. Then he was back at her side. He sat on her bed and touched her face gently, mindful of her still healing injuries.
“You all right? Did he touch you?”
She shook her head. “No. He just talked.”
“Well, he’s not going to come near you again. I’m getting you out of here, and you are coming back to my place to stay.”
Paige smiled. “Sounds perfect. I have something I want to talk to you about once we get home.”
He raised a quizzical brow. “Sounds interesting.”
She sighed. “It is to me.” She nibbled her bottom lip, not sure she could wait for them to get to his house before she told him what she’d been thinking about.
“Paige?” He drawled out her name, his voice rising in a question.
“I need your help. I want to find studio space and find some suitable equipment that I can afford. I want to open my photography business again.”
“You sure?”
She could understand why he asked. It was her photography business that led her to witness a crime and live on the run under an alias.
“Yes, I’m sure. It’s my gift. Even after all that happened, I can’t turn my back on it. Not when I’m free to do what I love again.”
He kissed her, the gesture brief but exciting. “Then we’ll make it happen. Whatever it takes.”
“I love you, Ben. More than I ever thought possible.”
“I love you, too, baby. And I can’t wait to show you just how much. Ready to get out of here?”
“Oh, yeah. Let’s go home.”
“Music to my ears,” he said with a grin as the nurse stepped inside with her discharge papers.
Epilogue 1
“You may now kiss your bride.”
