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“You better, big man. I think you took a hundred years off my life,” she says with a slight tremble in her voice. She’s trying to be strong, but I can see right through the shaky exterior she’s putting up.
“Don’t go anywhere. There’s something I need to tell you when I get back.” I want to say it now, but not in front of Cindy and Liam. Nora needs to hear it from me, though. I can see the stress and worry in her eyes, and I want to erase all of that for her. I want to take it all away and shoulder those fears for her.
“Where else would I be?” she asks, an exasperated expression on her pretty face.
God, she’s the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen.
“Just want to make sure you don’t run off before I get the chance to tell you,” I say before Cindy unlocks the gurney and wheels me out the door. Nora holds my hand until we’re in the hall.
“See you soon, cupcake.”
“I’ll be right here waiting, big man.”
Chapter 40
SJ
I’m exhausted and in pain, but all I can think about is getting back to my girl. Cindy wheels past room after room until she finally reaches an empty one at the end of the long, quiet hall. She turns the bed and pushes it through the doorway.
My eyes immediately find Nora. She’s curled up in a chair, her eyes closed and a blanket on top of her. Liam is standing in a corner, looking out the window as the city lights illuminate half his face.
It’s late, and I’m sure Nora is fucking exhausted, not to mention Liam.
He turns toward me when he hears us enter the room, but Nora doesn’t stir. Poor Cindy struggles to maneuver the bed, partly because she’s tiny but partly because I’m not a small man. My feet hang over the edge, and I’m sure my weight doesn’t help.
She bangs the side of the bed into the wall in her attempt to slide me into the room, and Nora startles awake. She jackknifes up, and a small gasp leaves her lips at the same time her hand goes over her chest. Her eyes are wide and unfocused for a moment before they land on me.
I smile. “Glad you waited for me, cupcake.”
“Always.” She’s tired, but I can see the relief in her eyes.
Liam rushes over to help Cindy push me the rest of the way in, and once the bed is locked and I’m settled, she leaves.
Liam claps me on the shoulder. “Glad you’re good, man. Since this is all routine from here, I’m going to head out and leave you two be for the night. Call me if you need me. Nora said I could stay at her apartment for tonight, so I’ll be close by.” He gives my shoulder a quick squeeze.
I reach my hand out to shake his. “Thanks for taking care of Nora. I appreciate it, man.”
“No problem, get some rest, and I’ll be back in the morning. The police want to talk to you two bright and early.” He taps two knuckles on the door frame on his way out, calling over his shoulder. “Sleep tight.”
We’re finally alone.
I rub my hand down my face, and Nora nervously spins her ring. I gently take her hand, threading my fingers through hers and placing our hands in my lap. “It’ll be okay, cupcake.”
“I hope so,” she says, and I hear the worry in her voice.
“It’s over, baby. He’s gone. You never have to worry about David Miller again.”
Her chin trembles as her glassy eyes turn toward me. “I almost lost you, though. Nothing will ever be worth that.”
I pull her to me, and she comes willingly. Her hip comes down on the side of the bed, and I try to scoot over to make room for her, but a sharp pain shoots up my thigh, burning like hell.
Her eyebrows furrow, and she places her palm down on my chest. “Stay, I have plenty of room.” She delicately turns her hips, stretching her legs out and curling herself into my side to fit perfectly beside me. “There, see?”
It feels so damn good to have her in my arms. My head goes down as I pull her chin up to meet me halfway. Then I kiss her. I kiss her like she’s my entire world, because she is.
My chest constricts as I taste her. I groan. That familiar warmth I always feel with her spreads through my chest, into my limbs, and around my heart. This is what I needed. I needed her with me, safe, whole, and free of that motherfucker.
And now she is. I don’t have one regret for taking his life, and I doubt I ever will. She’ll always be worth the sacrifice.
