Celine bucked, her scream muffled by Eli’s hand over her mouth. His training was already working at full speed and Eli’s taunts kicked it into overdrive. His heart rate slowed. His veins turned to liquid nitro.
And then he spotted the pistol clutched in Celine’s right hand, dangling in front of her.
He caught her wild gaze and held it as he spoke. “I think you’ll find her a little harder to tame than the helpless women you’ve hurt in the past. She knows how to defend herself.”
Celine’s eyes widened more and she clenched the pistol partially hidden beneath her t-shirt.
Eli slid the knife down again, toying with the material covering Celine’s breasts as he shoved a knee between her legs. “I’ll break her. Just like I break them all.”
Aaron nodded, a slight movement of his head. Celine fired.
Eli screamed and dropped the knife. He shoved Celine forward and clutched his blown-out knee. Aaron caught her in his arm and fired a single bullet into Eli’s head. The bastard dropped like the piece of shit he was, his wide sightless eyes staring up at the ceiling.
Aaron dropped his gun on the bed and took Celine into his arms, uncaring of the fact they were both trembling. “Are you okay? Did he cut you?”
A muffled ‘no’ was her response.
Aaron held her at arm’s length, took in the trail of blood onher neck and the ice in his veins turned to molten lava. Dead. Mr. J was so dead. He’d been the one to hire Eli and Daniel. He’d been the one to try and sell her as a sex slave. He’d been responsible for her kidnapping.
“Aaron?” Celine put a hand on his chest, the other wrapped around her neck. “I swear, he just nicked me. It’s nothing.”
Aaron groaned and yanked her back to him, unable to get his mouth to work right. All he could do was hold her and tell himself she was alright. “Do you need to sit down? Never mind, sit down. I’ll get the first aid kit.”
Celine surprised him when she cupped his cheek, stopping him before he could force her to the bed. “I’m okay. You protected me.”
“That was too close. I should have known it wouldn’t be as easy as it seemed.”
“And now they’re dead and we don’t have to worry, right?” Her tone was serious, but steady.
“Why are you being so calm?”
“Because I feel like it’s over and because he didn’t really hurt me.” She lifted up on her toes and placed a kiss on his lips.
Aaron groaned on contact and took her mouth in a kiss that left them both shaking. Seeing her like that…again…he shuddered. “I could have lost you.”
“Nah, I had him.”
Her words drew a shaky chuckle from him. “I love you, honey. God, I love you.”
She relaxed in his arms, her faced turned up to his. “I love you too.”
Chapter 26
“Noni,you’re going to make me too fat to button my pants.” Celine took another mouthwatering bite of Noni’s famous fudge and groaned. Aaron’s grandmother sat beside her on her front porch, both women watching as Aaron installed a gate to go with the new fence he’d had put up around Noni’s house.
“You need some meat on your bones, especially if you’re gonna be strong enough to give me grandchildren.” Noni threaded her gnarled fingers together and leaned back in the rocking chair.
Celine choked. “Ummmm, isn’t that putting the cart before the horse?”
“Not if I know my grandson. I’ll bet he’ll make sure everything is done all proper.”
As if he could hear them talking about him, Aaron straightened and waved. Celine blew him a kiss, loving the way he caught it and held it to his heart.
“He hasn’t left your side, not even to go back overseas. And that fence, I don’t cater to such, makes me feel too claustrophobic.”
“Noni, he wants you to be protected.” Celine took a nibble, promising herself she’d slow down before she ate the entire plate, and watched Aaron’s shoulders bunch and flex as hemoved. If it weren’t for not wanting to hurt Noni’s feelings, she’d be out there with him, just so she could be close to him.
“Pshaw, I've managed to live a full eighty-seven years without a fence and gate. I've got my shotgun in the house for anyone dumb enough to try me.”
