Chapter 34

I pull her to me, gently this time, softly trailing my fingers through her hair. I inhale her scent and savor her warmth.

“I feel like I’m going to wake up,” she whispers into my chest. “It’ll be the day before Mom left for the trip. None of this would’ve happened, but…”

“But then we wouldn’t be here. Together.”

“Does that make me awful?”

I kiss the top of her head. “If it does, then I’m the same. I can’t imagine life before you. I can’t even relate to the man I was.”

She takes my hand and leads me into the living room. I stand in the shadows, peering around the pillar. “The curtains, Amelia.”

“Oh, yeah.”

She closes them.

“Keep the lights low,” I go on, sitting on the far side of the couch, out of view of the window. She sits next to me. I hold her hand tightly and feel her pulse shimmering up her arm.

“What did you mean before? Why can’t you relate to the man you were?”

“I felt nothing,” I say. “I think that’s why I held onto the idea of Luka. Hell, Amelia, I’d even imagine he was talking to me sometimes. Not the Luka he became, not the man who was happy to do evil shit to earn a buck. Not the killer. The man in the forest who showed me how to clean a rifle. Or on the boat, showing me a knot.”

“Maybe he was a good man in those moments,” she says tentatively.

“No,” I reply, leaning back against the cushions. “There’s no coming back from the things he did.”

“What about what I did?”

I turn to her and almost raise my voice. I almost yell my next words, but I get myself under control, lean close, and kiss her cheek. “You protected our child,” I growl, laying my hand on her belly.

“Uh, Michael, I think we’ve missed a step.”

I smirk and kiss her again. “You’re the most important person, Amelia. You’ve got that curvy, perfect body, those wide hips, made for carrying our child. They’re going to grow inside you. When you smoked that bastard, you protected yourself and, therefore, our future child. You saved your mother’s life. You probably saved mine, too. He would’ve started firing. Never regret it.”

She places her hand on my chest. I’m borderline beast mode again. She rubs gently until I sit back, hugging her closer, my eyes getting heavy. “I dreamed of being in your arms,” she whispers. “Waiting in the bunker. Before, when I thought you were with Mom, I always dreamed about it.”

“Me too,” I say, closing my eyes, relaxation washing over me as I sink against the cushions, my woman next to me. It’s a primal feeling as if we can finally stop running. We’re fireside now. We’re home. “I thought you’d laugh if I said anything. You’re less than half my age.”

“Pfft.” She blows out air. “What does that mean, after what we’ve been through together? After what wefelt?I don’t care about my age. I don’t care what people say or think. I know you’re right for me.”

“And I know you’reperfectfor me.” I rest my cheek on the top of her head. “You still need to answer my question. What do you want to do with your life?” She laughs, and I go on gruffly, “There’s nothing funny about it. You have a choice now. You never have to work another day in your life if you don’t want to, or you can pursue any career you want.”

She swallows. “That’s a big offer. A big commitment.”

I smile, sliding my hand down her body, playfully tickling her side. She laughs so cutely. “A big commitment? We’re going to have a family together. It doesn’t get much bigger than that.”

“Well, I honestly don’t know.” She laughs again, but less pessimistically this time. There’s relief in her tone. “I’ve never thought about it. I want to do something that gives me time with the children. It’s like they’re already here. I already love them. I’m a virgin, and I love my kids,” she giggles. “Am I just totally nuts?”

I laugh, sinking deeper into the couch. “If you are, I am too. I love them, too, Amelia. I wish they were here already, but it’ll mean less you-know-what.” I slide my hand across her belly, rubbing gently.

She shivers and touches my hand. “Michael, we…”

“I know,” I tell her. “I’m half asleep already. It’s perfect, just being here with you, but soon.”

“What about The Answer?” she asks. “What about that awful place?”

I sigh darkly. “I had a hunch it was a tech billionaire who’d somehow hacked the site. Turns out I was right. I’ve got Russel on the case, making the connection between the mark and butcher. It’ll raise some questions.”

“Will people learn who you are?” she swallows.

“Some already know. Once this is over…” I swallow. “The smart thing to do would be to burn my identity. Move across the country, maybe to Cali, like when I was a kid. I’d have to become a different man. A regular man. No military background. No stock trades.”

“Could you do that?” she asks quietly.

“Yes,” I reply. “I’ve had contingencies in place for years, but I’d only do it if you came with me. I can’t leave you.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t say you’d justtakeme anyway, Mr. Kidnapper,” she teases.

I tickle her side again, drifting in and out of sleep, close to the edge of unconsciousness. Sleep has always been just a necessity for me. I lie down, close my eyes, and recharge my batteries. Falling asleep with Amelia is like slowly falling into a warm, calm place. “I was being nice. I’m taking you. I just need a few weeks to build a custom house out west with reinforced steel doors.”

“You don’t need to take me prisoner this time,” she whispers. “I’m not going anywhere.”

We sit together for a long time. My eyes fall closed, then open. I’m not sure if I sleep or if she does. It’s enough just to be here with her.

“I think I have an idea,” she whispers, her voice as dreamy as I feel.

“Hmm?” I reply.

“I’ll start a charity. I’ll help teenagers whose parents have, you know, checked out like Mom did. I’ll help them so they can be kids a little longer.”

I turn, kiss her head, and inhale her scent, addicted all the way through. “There’s nobody who’d be better at that than you.”

She cuddles closer. She’s lying on the couch now. I’ve put my foot on the coffee table without even realizing it, stretching out. We should go upstairs, but we’re both too comfortable here. “Will Lion be okay?” she asks.

“He’s a tough pup,” I tell her. “Plus, I’ll be home soon.”

“A pup.” She laughs quietly. “Yeah, right.”

“That’s how I still see him. He was the runt of the litter, believe it or not. He’s four now. I thought it was just going to be him and me for years. Years of not really living. Just working. Just existing. Buying flashy watches to feel like it all means something.”

“You made a difference,” she says firmly. “You helped people.”

“The only people I want to help now are me, you, your mom, and our kids. That’s it. That’s all the family I need.”

She squeezes onto my arm. “Michael, what if Mom doesn’t agree to move to California?”

I stroke her shoulder. “We have to take this one step at a time. Right now, we’re together. You’re safe. You’re mine. That’s all I care about.”

We don’t say anything else, drifting into a deeper sleep. It’s the most at peace I’ve ever felt in my life.