His jaw went hard, and he turned to the man still pinned to the floor. The biker holding him down scuttled away, and Gideon lifted my ex up by his hair. Without hesitating, Gideon gave him two hard punches to the gut and one to the jaw. Henry crumpled into a bloody pile.
Then I was back in Gideon’s arms, clutching his shirt. “Idon’t endorse violence, but that was pretty good,” I said in a trembling voice.
“Did he touch you?”
I shook my head. His hands coasted over my body, over my back and arms, like he wanted to make sure I was whole. His chest heaved, and I found myself comforting him instead of the other way around. Sirens screamed, and suddenly there were cops pulling into the lot.
But all I could look at was Gideon.
“You came for me.”
“Always.”
I sucked in a trembling breath, and then Gideon was holding me. “I’m sorry, Sadie. So sorry for how I acted. Sorry for pushing you away. Sorry for not begging you to stay.”
“It’s okay.” I sniffled.
“It’s not.” He pulled away. Looked in my eyes. “I love you. You hear me? I love everything about you, and I’m pretty sure I’ve loved you since you gave me lip on our way up the aisle.”
“I did not give you lip,” I protested, a watery laugh bubbling out of me.
“I think part of me died in that fire, and you brought me back to life.” His gaze was solemn, his hands soft as he cupped my face. “You’re everything to me. The reason I get up in the morning. The light and air and water I need to survive. I need you. I love you. You’re my everything. Forgive me for shutting you out. Forgive me for not getting on my knees and begging you to stay or take me with you. I love you, Sadie, and I always will.”
Gideon dropped to his knees. Cops jogged up to us and hauled Henry to his feet before slapping him in cuffs. We ignoredthem. Gideon stared at me with those incredible blue eyes, so full of emotion, and said, “I can’t live without you, Sadie. Marry me. Officially. Come back and file the wedding certificate with me, and then I’ll follow you to the ends of the earth. Till death, baby. Forever.”
Smiling through my tears, I said, “I can’t do that.”
Confusion drew his brows together. Devastation began to creep into his expression, and he opened his mouth—but I cut him off.
“I already filed it, Gideon.” I could tell he didn’t understand. My smile was wild, uncontrollable, as it spread over my lips. “I spoke to your grandmother earlier. Got the certificate. Filed it at Town Hall. We’re officially, legally, undeniably married.” I poked his chest with every word as I hardened my expression. “If you want to get rid of me, you’ve got to divorce me. And I’m not going to make it easy on you, so be ready for the fight of your life.”
Disbelief made his eyes wide. And then I was in his arms as he whooped, spinning me in a circle. Caught in the cage of his arms, I let myself melt into him. From somewhere far, far away, I heard Henry screaming. I blocked it out because it didn’t matter what he had to say. He didn’t matter.
My life, my future, my husband, was right here.
“I love you,” I whispered, touching my nose to Gideon’s.
Placing me back down on the ground, Gideon pressed his forehead against mine as he held me tight. “I love you.” His eyes were closed, and for a moment, we just breathed each other in.
Then someone cleared their throat. Cash stood beside us, a sardonic eyebrow lifted. He gave us a slow clap. “Isn’t this beautiful,” he said. “The two lovebirds, reunited.”
“What do you want, Cash?” Gideon asked, his arms tightening around me.
“I just want to tell you that now we’re even.”
Gideon frowned. “Even?”
Cash tilted his head toward one of his men. He was younger, late teens or early twenties, and below the cuff of his leather jacket, I saw the familiar texture of burn scars. He was one of the boys that Gideon had saved in the warehouse fire. “My nephew’s life for your wife’s,” Cash stated.
“You never owed me anything for that,” Gideon said.
Cash shrugged. “Regardless, now it’s done.” He glanced at me, winked, then gave me a little salute. On his pinky finger, a signet ring glinted.
I jerked my gaze down to Gideon’s hand. “You gave him your father’s ring?”
“He wanted something in return for bringing me to you.”
“Thatasshole!” I tried to pull away, and Gideon jerked me back. I crashed into his chest and glared at him. “I’m going to go get it back. Let me go! I should’ve elbowedhimin the face when I had the chance!”
