Page 58 of Deadly Alliance

Shane cupped her cheek as the man lay down on the floor beneath her. He wanted her focus on him not on what was happening elsewhere. The man looked up at him, and Shane saw in his face it wasn’t good.

“Emme, I’m going to need you to keep very still for me, and I need everyone else out of the room,” Knight said gently, so as not to freak Emme any more than necessary.

“I’m staying,” Shane stated.

“Fine, but everyone else goes. That is not up for debate,” the man said, and Shane could see that he was not the kind of man you argued with.

“You need to go, Shane,” Emme said as tears ran down her face.

He shook his head. “No way. You stay, I stay.”

“Well, I don’t have a choice,” she said and smiled.

“Neither do I, Emme,” he said as he saw the others leave the room. Lucy was being forced to leave by Jace, fear was etched on her face too.

“We always have a choice, Shane. You need to go.”

“Not always, Emme. I love you more than I love life and I won’t leave you to face this on your own. From now on we’re a team. Wherever you are is where I want to be.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. I don’t care where we live or what we do, but life is too short to deny yourself happiness with the one person who holds your heart. If you want to stay in the UK, we will. I’ll beg Zack for a job. If you want to move to the States, we will, and we can do whatever you want. The world is yours.” Shane meant every word.

“I always wanted to be my own boss, but I never knew what I would be good at. I think now I have the training, I’d like to open a missing persons agency.”

His eyebrows shot to his hairline. “Really? That sounds amazing. There are always people who need finding. Why’s that?”

“When I was little the woman who lived opposite us had her daughter run away and even now, fifteen years on, she has no idea what happened to her. Every time I see her when I visit my parents, she looks so sad, and if I can help by finding even one lost person, then I think I want to.”

“And is there room for me in this new company of yours?” Kingsley’s voice was surprisingly calm as he worked at saving the three lives at stake.

“Of course. We could take on other work too, close protection, security jobs, private investigation.”

The fact that she was already in hiring mode made Shane smile. “What about Fortis?”

“I love them all, but I feel if we are going to be together then we should do something new, something that doesn’t mean choosing between Fortis and Purgatory. That is, if it’s what you want?”

“I want it more than anything, sweetheart.” He was watching Knight as sweat beaded on his brow, as he concentrated every ounce of his mind on the bomb that could end all their lives.

“Now we just need to get out of here alive.”

Shane watched as Knight closed his eyes and heard the snick of wire being cut as the man’s shoulders sagged.

“We’re clear,” Kingsley said as he sat up and cut the ties at Emme’s wrists and carefully unhooked the bomb from her legs and torso. Once she was free, Shane hauled her into his arms and held on so tight he knew he was probably crushing her. He didn’t care. As he inhaled her scent, he knew in his heart that she was the one for him. His soulmate and he was never leaving her again.

He pulled back before crashing his lips to hers in a kiss that was possessive and yet poured every fibre of love he felt for her into it. It was more than a kiss, it was a vow. He pulled away when the door opened and Lucy, Jace, Owen, Lance, and Nate rushed in.

There were hugs and slaps on the back. Shane didn’t let Emme go, but he did reach out and shake Knight’s hand.

“I don’t know how to thank you,” Shane said.

“Just make sure my name is on the list when you go looking for people for this new company of yours,” he said with a genuine smile.

“Absolutely.” Emme reached up and hugged the man causing him to blush above his beard. “Thank you, Knight. You saved my life, and if this dream ever comes to fruition, you are top of the list.”

He smiled down at Emme before he nodded at Shane and left.

The rest of the evening was spent dealing with police, but during it all Shane never left her side.