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I take a sip of wine, then admit, “It’s weird. I’m used to always being on guard. It feels like I’m forgetting something and should be looking over my shoulder.”

“It’s because that’s all you’ve done for such a long time. You’ll adjust, and if you need me to remind you to relax, just tell me.”

I nod, letting the calmness Annie makes me feel wash over me.

Chapter 31

Annie

With it being our last day at sea, I’m standing by the railing, staring down at the water hitting against the side of the yacht, just taking it all in.

Rowan is doing much better. If you look at him, you wouldn’t think he fought countless men a few days ago.

Before the showdown in Panama City, I knew Rowan was a damn good fighter, but seeing him in action for an entire day, not stopping until the final guy dropped, was surreal.

And he endured it all for me because he loves me.

The realization sinks so deep into my soul that nothing will ever be able to tear me away from his side.

I love all of him. The predator. The darkness. The man who doesn’t know the meaning of giving up.

God, the ruthless way he faces danger head-on.

Rowan is extraordinary. It’s the only word that does him justice.

I take a deep breath of the salty air and lift my head to stare at the land in the distance. We’re docking first thing tomorrow morning, then Rowan will arrange a new identity for me.

A new name . . .

“What are you thinking so hard about?” he suddenly asks behind me.

I glance over my shoulder and watch as he walks toward me.

“Which name to choose.”

“Ana. Short for Anastasia?” he mentions, giving me the impression it’s the name he wants for me. “That way, you stay close to your real name. You’ll learn to react to it faster.”

“That makes sense.” A smile splits over my face. “I like it. Ana Callahan.”

He comes to stand beside me and brushes his hand up and down my back. “I’m going to have a marriage certificate made for us. It’s so we can be each other’s next of kin. If something happens and you’re in the hospital, I need to be able to get to you.”

“Okay.”

On the second day of our trip, it sunk in that Javier was referring to me as Mrs. I’m not going to lie. I loved it.

As I look at Rowan, the past three months flash through my mind. From seeing him sitting in the booth at the bar, to working with him, to thinking he was just a grumpy man, to seeing him kill for the first time. God, the trip through the deserts. The hell in Panama City. Through it all, I learned something very important.

He tilts his head and asks, “What’s that look for?”

“I was thinking of everything that’s happened since the day we met.”

“Yeah?”

Seeing a strand of my hair on his shirt, I brush it off. “I learned something.”

“What?”

“Loving you is worth risking it all for.”