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I had no words that would make everything right. I couldn’t tell him to get over seeing his friend die or even the betrayal. Everyone processed things differently. However, what I could do was be there every time he needed to break apart.

“I love you.”

Tex blinked up at me, and I wiped some of the tears away. “Yeah? Will you still love me when I fuck up?”

There was no need to think about it. “I thought I made myself clear.” I wrapped one hand around his throat and the other around his cock.

Tex sucked in a breath through clenched teeth, no doubt sensitive after cumming back to back.

“You’re mine. You’ve had your moment of freedom. You will never escape me again.”

Tex stared at me for a long while before his lips tilted up in a smile. “Freedom? I was on the fucking run.”

I hummed and let him go. My arms fell to my side as I took in a slow, measured breath. The pleasure and need for Tex overruled everything, but now the pain was slowly trickling in. There was warmth where my bullet wound lay that I knew wasn’t sweat.

“What’s wrong?” Tex asked.

How had he known? I normally didn’t let anything show on my face. Pain shot through me, and all other thoughts slipped away.

“Idiot,” Tex growled as he moved closer to inspect the blood seeping through the bandages.

Cupping his face, I smoothed out the tension between his brows. “I’m fine.”

Tex rolled his eyes. “I’m calling Melony now.”

I grabbed him and pulled him forward until he fell back on top of me. “No need.” I buried my face in his neck and sighed as every muscle in my body relaxed. “I have you.”

“Sweet but stupid. You were shot.”

“Great observational skills. No wonder you became a cop.”

“Enzo.” Tex pulled himself up. “Now isn’t the time to make stupid jokes, you asshole. At least take off the bandage and let me see.”

I didn’t get the sense I was going to get out of it. I slipped free from the bed and headed toward the bathroom with Tex two steps behind me.

Ringing pierced the air, and Tex glanced at his phone. His shoulders bunched, and a look of dread came over his face.

“Answer it tomorrow.”

Tex shook his head. “I can’t. It’s already been two days. A text isn’t exactly excusable.”

His eyes were red and puffy from crying, and he wanted to go to work. They were going to eat him alive. I’d be damned if I allowed anyone to hurt what was mine.

“Tomorrow morning,” I said.

Tex looked up from the phone but before he could argue, I grabbed him and yanked him close. His hand collided with the bullet wound, and I hissed in pain but didn’t allow him to pull back.

“I will not share you with anyone. Right now, you’re all mine. Tomorrow you can go to work and bring Penelope home.”

Tex’s shoulders dropped. “I should at least send a message.”

I shook my head and snatched the phone away. “You told them you were lying low to hide from the Vitales. What’s another day?”

“Okay.”

Tex let out a shuddering breath. I wanted nothing more than to hide him away from the world. If I did that, I risked losing what made Tex him.

The trickle of blood down my torso let me know the wound had opened up. I groaned and grabbed my phone.