“You—you killed him…”Still in shock, clearly, seeing as that’s pretty fucking obvious.
“You were planning on doing the same, weren’t you? Hence, why you stormed in here withmybat—by the way, good to know you understood its purpose.”
“Yes, but—but…what?”What the fuck is happening right now?
“Marry me, and this all goes away, as if it never happened. As ifhenever set foot through your front door.”
“H-How? What about Tiff?”How was I going to explain this to her? Could I even?
“I can’t tell you anything unless you sayyes. Marry me, darlin’. Let me protect you.”
Sirens of emergency vehicles could be heard in the distance as I focused on the warm eyes of my knight in blood-covered armor, filled with passion and devotion.
I had to be out of my goddamn mind…
“Yes.”
Chapter 24
Rhylan
Ididasshe’dasked, staying back and out of sight, only to guarantee that whoever the fuck she was about to beat the living shit out of, didn’t end up turning the tables in their favor.
When her sister fled through the front door, I knew at that point she had the situation under control; that was, until I saw Dakota’s body slam into the wall and watched as the fucker responsible bent down to pick her up by the throat.
By lucky fucking chance, Louie had rolled roughly two feet away from me on the other side of the archway, stopping next to one of the couch legs. With both of them distracted, I took the opportunity to reach over and snatch my buddy up before they became aware of my presence.
I knew my girl was tough; seeing her confront a man twice her size with the look of fearless determination to end his life had me hard as fuck. But when I noticed her struggling to breathe, unableto free herself from his hold, I had no choice but to interject, pulling his attention away from her and putting it all on me.
Dakota didn’t see the gunshot; her eyes closed from the second he released his grip around her throat. He’d hit me in the shoulder, and I bit through the pain to take him out for good before he could fire off a second.
When all was said and done, I used Louie to cover the bullet wound so Dakota wouldn’t have to worry; the last thing she needed after all she’d just been through.
Asking her to marry me was spur of the moment; my adrenaline soaring from the high of the kill and saving my wildcat in the process. I didn’t expect her to say‘yes’right away, fearing she’d be combative to the idea, and that alone changed everything.
I only hoped that she wasn’t simply agreeing because of the circumstances and knew that everything I did for her was out of pure, unconditional love. I’d do anything for this woman; I’d lay my life on the line for her if it ever came down to it.
“Okay, let me get this straight… You’re a member of a secret society…” Once the police were handled, shattered glass cleaned up, and the body disposed of, Dakota and I sat down at her kitchen table, and I revealed every secret I’d withheld from her. “But you don’t just murder people for fun or power trips, you serve a purpose in clearing cities of crime and corruption…” She started summing everything up, processing the information in her own words.
Every now and again, I caught her gaze drifting to where I’d been shot. A visible hole in my T-shirt where the bullet had rippedthrough the sleeve. While Dakota was distracted in the kitchen, I dipped into the bathroom to clean and bandage my arm as best I could, using a scrap of fabric I’d torn from Jaiden’s shirt.Not like he’d need it anymore.
“If this is too much for you, we can take it slower. I know it’s a lot to grasp all at once.” She’d taken most of what I’d said surprisingly well. I half expected her to run out the door or call for help, but then again, after witnessing how I handled the police, I don’t think that would’ve been an option anymore.
“No… No, it’s fine, I just—Why do we have to be married for me to know all of this?” Dakota had grown tired. I could see it in the hollows of her eyes, hear it in her tone: the fight-or-flight rush that had been coursing through her was now coming to a steady halt.
“Because knowledge of the MUR outside of the organization is dangerous to everyone; it puts a target on your back and can compromise our work.”
“Sooo, what? I marry you and then suddenly become a member?”
“Not… exactly…” Here was the hard part. Explaining the test that she’d have to take. Although after tonight, I don’t think there’s a single doubt in my mind that she wouldn’t be able to complete it. “There’s a test. One that requires you to spill blood in proof of loyalty and contribution.”
Dakota snorted a laugh, as if what I’d just told her was a joke and she didn’t believe a single word I’d said.
“I’m sorry. I what? Loyalty? To a group of people I know jack shit about? Do you understand how ridiculous that sounds? And what about Tiff?My sister.”
“You can’t tell her anything I’ve said. Doing so puts her at a dangerous risk.”
“At risk for what?…” Dakota paused, her mind replaying the last hour of our conversation. “No—you can’t be serious, that’s not—you wouldn’t.”
