He lies on his side, facing away from me, and the pain of loss rips through me.
“You bastard!” I shout at Sean, who’s laughing again. That horrible, jarring laugh.
I move to stand and bolt at him just to feel the satisfaction of my fingernails ripping through his skin when movement at my side makes me look down at Bastion. In one swift movement, he rolls over with his arm outstretched, gun in hand, and presses the trigger.
Sean sinks to the ground, blood pouring out of his head. Relief floods my veins.
“Oh my god, we need to get a doctor.” I give Bast the once-over, but I don’t see blood. “Where did you get shot?”
He rips his shirt open to reveal a bulletproof vest.
I plunge forward and wrap my arms around his neck, tumbling him onto his back. “Thank God you’re okay.”
His arms wrap around me, and for the first time since he left Wisconsin, I feel safe. I feel as if everything will be okay.
“Careful, I might think you still care about me.”
I back up to meet his gaze as my own fills with tears. “You came to save me.”
Bast places a hand on each cheek. “I told you, I love you. I may not have started out loving you, and I should have told you everything sooner, but my feelings for you were very real.Arevery real.”
I kiss him with everything I have, pouring every ounce of love and acceptance and gratitude into the kiss.
When we pull away, he rests his forehead against mine. “We should probably get going. The crew that was here to help me will clean everything up.”
I nod and hug him again.
It doesn’t matter to me who those people were or how Bast knows them. I’m just grateful they were here.
We stand and Bast grabs the duffle bag, leading me down the side of the building and through a series of streets to his car.
Once we’re in the car and far enough away, he turns to me. “Hattie, we need to talk about?—”
I shake my head, effectively cutting him off. “Tomorrow. Today, I just want to go home and shower, then make love to you, okay?”
He takes my hand and squeezes it. “Sounds perfect.”
51
BASTION
Early the next morning, I watch Hattie lying next to me, her chest rising and falling, just to assure myself that she’s still breathing. I was so fucking scared yesterday. The vision of her tied to that chair with Sean beside her, holding a gun to her head, will be burned in my brain forever.
I gently trail a knuckle down her cheek. This woman means everything to me.
As a child, all I longed for was a roof over my head and food in my belly. As a teen and early adult, all I wanted was financial stability and to make money any way I could to ensure I’d never again feel like I had when I was younger. Now, at thirty-seven, I know that all I’ve ever needed was a love like this in my life. I could lose all the money and the prestige. I don’t need this fancy condo and all my clubs. As long as Hattie is by my side with her innate goodness and gentle spirit, supporting me and loving me, I’ll be okay.
But I’m afraid to hope for the future with her. She didn’t want to talk about anything serious last night. Instead, we made loveover and over, enjoying each other’s bodies, connecting on an intimate level that left me wrecked.
Hattie’s dark eyelashes flicker, and she slowly opens her eyes, then she gives me a warm smile. “Hey.” Her voice is still rough with sleep.
“Good morning.” I press a kiss to her forehead.
“How long have you been awake?” She yawns and stretches her arms over her head.
“Not too long.”
“Why are you watching me sleep?” She chuckles.
