Eva had given me a snapshot of what happened to her. Right now, she appeared resilient, part of which was because of the adrenaline rush. But I knew fear could linger like a ghost, whispering awful things to her when she least expected it. Notonly that, but the situation also forced her to face her monster. I hated knowing she was forced to pack organs.
I caressed her hand with my thumb, wanting to erase all her pain and terror. Though what happened to Eva wasn’t my fault, I still blamed myself. Hawthorne was targeting me. He sent Tony Hesselberg to do his bidding. I knew he’d return for Eva.
I’d be ready for the fucker when he returned for her. Eva had ruined his business, which would get back to Hawthorne. Where was Hawthorne hiding? What was his agenda? Something about this ordeal felt bigger to me, and Tony was just one small piece of the puzzle. This was something I needed to discuss with the boys soon.
I gathered her into my arms and held her tightly. My body relaxed, knowing she was safe in my arms. We stayed like this for a long moment, listening to each other’s heartbeat. Silence stirred in the house, comforting us. I thought back to the path I’d taken to arrive at this moment where I held the most important person to me. As long as I had Eva, I’d endure all the suffering again. I kissed the top of her head, and her body trembled.
I glanced down at her. “Are you okay?”
She looked up with teary eyes. “You lived in hell for so long.” She placed a hand over my chest, rubbing gently. “People are so evil.” She turned toward my chest, dropping delicate kisses that soothed me more than she’d know. “I’ll protect you from now on.”
A chuckle rose in my throat, but I appreciated her intention. “Thank you.”
“I mean it. Whenever you feel the nightmares returning, let me know. I’ll do whatever I can to obliterate them for you.”
A smirk crept onto my lips. “Anything?”
She met my gaze and saw the sexual innuendo. “Thatdepends on the nightmare.” Her eyes warmed as she kissed my jaw. “No more pain. No more suffering.”
“We’ll protect each other.” I smiled, remembering her thanking MacGyver for teaching her how to unlock a door and create explosions. My woman was smart and brave.
She glanced up at me. “Thank you for coming to get me.”
“You’re welcome.” I brushed a knuckle along her cheek. “I’d turn the world upside down for the woman I love.”
Her love was etched into my soul like a heavenly tattoo that healed me from within.
She froze and sat up, staring at me with emotions filling her eyes. “You love me?”
“Who wouldn’t?” I touched her chin. “It was love at first sight for me. You knocked the breath out of me on that day at the shop.”
Tears slid down her face. “I love you too,” she choked, throwing her arms around me. “I wanted to tell you sooner, but I was scared.”
“Scared of what?” I ran my hand up and down her back.
“Rejection.” She sniffled. “That you wouldn’t love me back.”
I pulled back, grabbed a tissue from the box on the nightstand, and dabbed her eyes. “I felt the same way, wondering when the right time was to tell you. But when you were kidnapped, I regretted not telling you. Life is unpredictable, and I should know that by now. Loving you has transformed me, Eva.” My chest tightened from the flood of emotions. “I can’t lose you.”
“You won’t.” She placed a hand on my chest. “You once said that your tattoos are reminders of how dark the world is.” She lifted my shirt, revealing the artwork on my abdomen. “There’s wisdom, discernment, acceptance, and survival embedded here. Etched in ink are precious things money cannever buy.” Her eyes gleamed with honesty. “And I love the darkness in you. The pain shines right through you, showing me how spectacular you are.” More tears slid down her face, gleaming like streams of diamonds. “Your darkness saved me. It became my map.”
Warmth bloomed all over my body as though it heard her powerful words and shifted itself to take them all in.
“Your secrets are buried under art and ink. You hide them well, but I see them.” She traced my tattoos with her fingers and triggered a healing process, rejuvenating me.
Feeling revived, I grabbed her hand and kissed her fingers. “You’re the medicine I didn’t know I needed.”
She smiled. “Like the oxygen plants need to survive?”
“Exactly. We’ll go on a date to the Food and Craft Loft restaurant again when you’re healed.”
“I almost forgot!” Something flashed in her eyes. “Can you please pick up two ceramic bowls from there? I painted one for you and one for me.”
“Okay.” I kissed her. “So, tell me, how did you escape the maze?”
Chapter Fifty-Six
Eva
