I’ve seen every type of wound imaginable, and just like seeing those hearts in that box, I want to release everything in my stomach.
Tears fall from her bottom lashes. Besides the blood, her mascara is streaked all over her overly pigmented cheeks.
“Baby, I need you to tell me everywhere he hurt you.” I swallow, tears burning the corners of my eyes.
Her arms drop from my neck, one of her palms resting over my thundering, rapid heartbeat, as if it will bring her some comfort. “Just my neck and my leg.”
“I need you to be okay,” I mumble, my sweaty forehead falling against hers.
She lifts her hand, her soft touch stroking warmth over my skin as she says the exact words I said to her earlier tonight. Her voice is raspy and broken from him choking her. “I will be. I’ve got you now.”
Vincent hastily steps toward us. “Imogen will be here in five. Hang in there, Kate.”
Her head lifts from mine, those watery eyes landing on Vincent in astonishment.
I give him a curt nod, meaning every word. “Thank you. I owe you one.” If it wasn’t for him, Kate might be dead.
He places his phone into his pocket, scrubbing a hand over his jaw. “I got a shot off the same moment I watched her slit his throat.” My brows furrow, following his eyes as they gravitate to the motionless body near us. The gnarly gash across his neck is dripping dark blood, her knife lying off to the side, coated in a thick sheen of crimson. “She might not have needed me. We’ll never know if it was that or the bullet that killed him first.” His gaze finds Kate, and his mouth lifts into a grin. I don’t see it often, but when I do, it means he’s proud. “You’ve got a fighter there. Should’ve known you’d be nosy enough to find your way into the tunnels.”
She lets out a breathy chuckle, the sound quickly shifting into a groan of pain. Her head lolls against my chest. “I should’ve known that you weren’t just a cleaning man.”
He smirks, shoving his hands into his pockets. “I’ll go wait for Imogen and call our team to come get this cleaned up.” Then, he leaves us.
My heart still won't slow. Not until I know she’s going to be okay. It feels like the weight of my entire life is sitting heavily on my chest, but then I realize, it is.
Gently, I press my thumb into her chin, lifting those beautiful, glassy eyes to mine. “I should’ve said something to youearlier, but I was too afraid to. But nothing scares me more than seeing you like this, so I need to tell you now.”
“Preston, I’m going to be fine—”
“I love you.” She inhales a sharp breath at my words, swallowing. “I’m so helplessly, fucking in love with you, Kate. I have been for a while.”
Her eyes bounce between mine.
“I’m not saying this to convince you to say, because that’s still your decision, and I can’t always promise you a safe life with me,” my jaw flexes, “but I can’t go another moment without saying it.” Not when tonight could’ve ended differently. “I’ll regret it for the rest of my life if I don’t, and you never get the chance to hear how much you’ve changed my perspective on life since you’ve flooded my house with your warmth. Your kindness. Granted, I forced you to stay, but whether you decided to stay with me or leave,” I shake my head. “I just need you to know that I love you,” I whisper.
Another tear falls from her bottom lashes, and I catch it with my thumb.
She licks her tear-soaked lips. “I’m not going anywhere, Preston.” Those irises hold mine as she says six words that obliterate the breath from my lungs. “I’m in love with you, too. Making sure you heard those words was what kept me fighting. I know you can’t promise me a safe life, I don’t expect you to. But I’d rather love you for as long as life lets me than never having had a piece of you at all.”
I angle her face up to mine tenderly, trying to be cautious about her neck, but not caring about the crimson splattering her face. “Are you saying you’ll stay?” I breathe across her lips.
There’s zero hesitation as she draws her mouth to mine in answer, letting me claim her lips with a gentle intensity that has my future sparking before my eyes. Her soft tongue brushesagainst mine, her fingers drifting across the nape of my neck and threading into my hair, deepening the kiss.
I lay there with my legs spread out, the girl who’s my world braced against me like she’s my stability.
My anchor.
And I’m starting to think I’m hers.
FORTY-TWO | KATE
Ikilled someone.
He shot me.
I murdered a man.
He was going to kill me.
