“Morning,sleepyhead,”Gianasaidin a sing-song voice, breaking through the haze of sleep still clinging to me.
“Morning, beautiful.” My voice was still rough from sleep as I rubbed a hand over my eyes. “Are you up early, or did I sleep in?”
She leaned against the doorframe, the afternoon light shining brightly through the window behind her, the golden glow highlighting her like a goddess sent from above. She was too gorgeous for words, and if I didn’t think she’d scold me, I’d get on my knees to worship her right now.
“I think we all slept in.” She chuckled. “We needed it after last night.” She eased into the room, drawing my attention to the two plates she grasped, one in each hand.
“Giana.” I leaned forward to get out of bed to take the dishes from her, but she was faster. She set them on the nightstand and placed a hastening hand on my chest before I could move more than a few inches.
I did my best to hide my wince, but her keen amber eyes narrowed on me, catching everything.
“I think I can handle carrying a few plates upstairs.” She giggled and sat on the edge of the bed, handing me a plate of eggs, sausages, and toast along with a fork. “I thought I’d change it up from the soup.”
“Thank you, babe.” I caressed my thumb over her cheek, unable to hold back my smile even if I wanted to.
“You’re welcome.” She bent to place a chaste kiss on my lips before setting up the trays like we normally ate while on bed rest.
I’d stayed up waiting for them last night, hoping Giana would take her usual spot in my bed, but Spade had stolen her away. He barely let her give me a goodnight kiss before he was dragging her out of my room and into his.
“How did it go?” My jaw ticked. I hated that I had to get the information secondhand rather than being there to back them up myself.
“Good.” She grinned as she slipped into bed with her tray and leaned into my side. I already had my arm around her, tucking her into me.
“Now how are you going to eat?” She tried to sit up, but I tightened my hold on her.
“I don’t care. I just need you here with me.”
She shook her head, but I didn’t miss the smile that curled on her lips. “I guess you’re going to get your wish.”
Before I could get out my question, she was picking up my fork and spearing some eggs before bringing it to my lips.
My heart jolted at the tender smile she was giving me, the organ sputtering as I tried to rationalize how I got so lucky to not only have this woman back in my life but to call her mine.
I used my good arm to take her fork, feeding her the same way she was helping me. This was so much better than the alternative. Looking after her just as much as she was taking care of me was how things were always supposed to be.
Once we finished our breakfasts, I let my fingers thread through her soft hair, wishing the two of us could spend the rest of our lives curled up like this, forgetting the world outside. Unfortunately that wasn’t our reality.
“So how did last night really go?” I crooked a finger under her chin, forcing her to meet my gaze.
She sighed, clearly understanding I wouldn’t let her get away with the one-word answer. “Spade and I took out a group of six outside the hardware store. They grabbed a woman, but they were planning to break into the store.”
I cupped her cheek, tracing the line of her lips with my thumb, needing to reassure myself that she was here with me. Safe. I was done with this bed rest shit.
“Then there was a group over by Francine’s store, but we stopped them before they could get in. I think they were trying to find the truck, but she hid it like we told her to. Then there was another group who went after the diner. They trashed the parking lot before we got there, but that was the least of what Greg and Pam deserved. Our guys made it out of there unscathed.”
Some of the tension eased from my chest, my frantic pulse finally slowing at the confirmation the world hadn’t burned down around us because I wasn’t there.
“Our guys?” I couldn’t hide my smile.
“I mean, yeah.” Her brows pinched together as she tried to read my face. “We wouldn’t be able to do any of this without them.”
“I know.” I pressed my lips to her forehead. “When I built the Devil’s Demons, I did it for you, but I wasn’t sure if you’d embrace it or run from us because you wanted to remove yourself from that life entirely. So hearing you call themour guys, is the best case I could’ve hoped for.”
“I’d never run from you,” she said, sincerity blazing in her amber eyes. “We’ve been going day to day, just trying to fight for ourselves and the town, but I guess we should think about the future. Is this something you think you’d continue?”
My lips pursed, and I trained my gaze on the smooth white ceilings, trying to picture a future where we weren’t fighting for our lives. “I don’t think so. We’ve been fighting for a normal life, for a town not under the control of a gang, so it doesn’t feel right to potentially bring danger to the town’s doorstep again.”
I held my breath, warily glancing at my girl, but there was no need to worry. Her smile was soft as she met my gaze. “I agree, and I think the rest of the Demons would say the same. Besides, you’ve always wanted to work with cars, and I’m assuming running a gang doesn’t give you much free time.”
