Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 95676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
"Yeah, sweetheart," I say into her hair. "It's over."
"Is she―?"
I know what she's asking.
"You're safe, kitten. She's in jail."
A sob rips through her, coming out in a strangled whimper.
"I've got you," I promise, holding her close as she falls apart, grieving for her best friend. Once upon a time, that girl deserved her tears. Maybe deep down, part of that girl still exists somewhere. I don't know. All I know is that she'll never hurt Ivy again. She'll never have that chance.
Ivy cries for a long time, purging herself of weeks of pent-up emotion. I hold her through it, promising her that I'm here, and that she's safe. I don't promise that everything is going to be okay now because I can't. It's going to take time for her to get there. But she will be okay eventually. Maybe not today or tomorrow. Maybe not even next week or next year. But one day, she will be okay. I won't rest until she is.
That's my mission in life now. To make sure this woman never goes through anything alone again. To make sure she knows how loved she is and how perfect she is. To make sure she knows, every single day, that I will always fight for her.
When her tears finally dry, I lay her back down in the bed, and wipe her face. She blinks at me, her eyes heavy, but she clings too, refusing to let me go. I shift her around and crawl into the bed with her. The nurses won't like it but fuck it. She comes first.
We lay in silence for a long time. I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear and kiss her forehead, lingering with my lips against her skin.
"How long have I been here?" she whispers.
"Only a few hours. Thank God that bitch is a bad shot. The bullet only grazed your shoulder." I shake my head, pressing my forehead to hers. "I thought I lost you."
She snuggles closer, trying to comfort me.
We lay quietly for a moment before she speaks again.
"How did you find me?"
"I knew exactly where you were, kitten."
She stirs restlessly. "I called you. You didn't answer."
"I was in a meeting with Ventura, trying to get an arrest warrant," I whisper, my voice ragged. "When you told me she traveled a lot, I started looking into her. I hoped I was wrong, but then Ventura showed me the photos of you at your friend's bar in L.A. I knew then that she did it. We just had to find proof." I exhale a shaky breath. "Had I believed for even a second that she would try to kill you, I never would have left you with her while I looked for it."
"I thought you hated me," she admits. "After what I did, I wouldn't have blamed you."
I tilt her chin up, forcing her to look at me. "I get why you did what you did. Not saying I like it or that I agree with you doing it, but I get why." I cock a brow at her, my expression firm. "If you ever do that shit again, I will spank you."
"I was trying to protect you," she mumbles.
"You think I don't know that?"
"You lied to me."
I nod, not denying it.
"Why?"
"I told you. I'm a big boy. I make my own choices."
"You should have told me," she argues.
"Had I told you the truth, you wouldn't have given me a chance. That didn't work for me. I knew the day I met you that you were something special." I run my finger across her bottom lip. "Had to have time to convince you to fall in love with me too."
"I'm so mad at you," she whispers.
"I'm sorry you're mad at me. I'm sorry I lied. I'm not sorry for giving us a chance," I whisper back, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. "I'll never be sorry for that, kitten."
"I didn't mean what I said that day, Cam," she says. "I wasn't using you. Telling you that I didn't have feelings for you broke me, but I didn't think I had a choice. I fell in love with you, and I didn't want you to lose everything because of me." She takes a deep breath. "I'm still in love with you."
I smirk at her.
"Do…do you still love me?" she whispers and then squeezes her eyes shut.
"Look at me," I demand.
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"I'm scared you're going to say no," she confesses and then start rambling. "And if you say no, I'm going to cry again. And I'm scared if I cry anymore, I'll get dehydrated and then they won't let me leave here. I really want to leave here, Cam. I hate hospitals. This bed isn't remotely comfortable."
I laugh quietly, unable to help myself. Christ, she's cute when she's nervous.