Page 78 of Protective Phlox

“Shh, you’re going to be okay. Cutter is fine, and I’m right here. I’ve got you, Kisa, now and always. Try to get some sleep. I’ll be here when you wake up.” It didn’t take long before her breathing slowed, and my heart finally relaxed as I took the first deep breath I had since Shawn showed up at the door. Closing my eyes, I held Savannah and thanked God for this miracle.

“Without you, my soul would be lost forever in an ocean of despair,” I whispered in her ear and then closed my eyes, soaking in the feel of her.

Chapter

Thirty-One

NATHANIEL

FIVE WEEKS LATER

“Are you sure you want to go in there for this? You don’t have to.” Linking our hands together, Savannah looked up at The Triangle.

“No, I want to do this. I need to face my past, not just with Aldo but with my brother as well. Closing the door on all of that is important to me.” Ivan knocked on the window, but I held up my finger to hold him off for a minute.

“I know, but are you really okay with me killing them?”

Savannah chewed her bottom lip and looked down at her hands as she fiddled with the bracelet that Cutter made for her.

“I’m no longer an agent, and my life with you is something that I’m still getting used to. Taking a random life will never be okay with me, but this…these men….” Her eyes found mine, and there was a hardness in them. “They deserve whatever you choose to do. I may not be able to watch it, but I won’t try to stop you either.”

Cupping her cheek and leaning in, I captured her lips and loved the little moan. It had been five weeks since Savannah was released from the hospital, and she’d just been given the all-clear to resume light exercise. I knew exactly what I planned to do tonight to fulfill her daily requirement.

“We better head in before I decide to get you naked in the car instead. I’m already far too tempted.” Savannah smiled against my lips, laying her hand on my leg. I sucked in a ragged breath as she slid her hand up, and the tips of her fingers grazed my hardening cock.

“Have I told you how excited I am to be cleared finally? This baby is turning me into a sex maniac,” Savannah said, making me laugh. We’d found some other very creative ways to get around having sex until she was fully healed, but satisfying her heightened cravings with the pregnancy was going to get a lot more interesting.

“I’m not complaining,” I said, smirking as Savannah’s eyes darkened with insatiable desire. Fuck, I was going to keep her pregnant all the time.

With an adorable groan, she removed her hand. “Alright, we better go before I take you up on the car sex idea.”

“We can come back tomorrow. They aren’t going anywhere,” I said, fully prepared to satisfy her all night.

“No, let’s get this over with. I’m sick of thinking about either one of them. Aldo and Alex take up too much of my mental capacity, and I want to think about our wedding next month, Cutter starting school, and decorating the nursery. It’s time.”

“Okay then.” I tapped on the window, and Ivan opened the door. Savannah was still slow and stiff in her movements despite being cleared as I helped her out of the car. The doctor said it could be a while before she was a hundred percent, but she was determined to have the wedding next month. According to Titus, my father lost his mind when he found out he wasn’t invited.

My guards nodded in respect to Savannah as we walked past, and my pride swelled. Just like Cutter, she’d won over the hearts of my men, which said a lot about her character since they were not naturally trusting.

“Who is that,” Savannah asked as we passed the cell with the McCoy in it. He was currently ranting, ‘They are always watching.’ Technically, in this case, they were, so it didn’t sound as crazy as it usually would.

“He’s the son of another mafia family. He tried to cross me and earned himself a cozy spot in the Mikhailov spa,” I teased.

“I don’t think I want to end up in this spa on that side of the bars.”

“That would never happen.” I held her hand a little tighter. Aldo and his shooter were already in my fun room, but we stopped at Alex’s cell next. He was sitting on the bed, rocking and mumbling to himself.

Savannah’s hand tightened on mine, but that was the only outward sign she gave that she was affected by seeing her half-brother like this. She didn’t move or say anything for a long time, and eventually, Alex looked over. A rare lucid moment. He blinked and then stood as he walked to the thick, shatterproof glass. I’d always loved the cell that Hannibal Lecter was kept in and modeled my cells after the movie.

Alex laid his hand on the barrier. “Sister, you found me.” He smiled, raising the hair on the back of my neck. “It took you fucking long enough. Are you going to take me home now?”

Savannah let go of my hand and walked toward her brother, who slipped in and out of personalities like watching something shed a skin. I was convinced he had something evil living in him. I’d never been overly religious, but when I looked into his eyes…there was something that just didn’t sit right with me. Something with no explanation.

“No, Alex, I’m not taking you home,” Savannah said, her voice even, and yet I could still feel the tension radiating off her.

Alex’s face darkened. “Why not? You’re the police. You should be getting me out of here.”

“I was never police. I was FBI, but I’m neither now. I quit,” she said, and he slammed his hand against the glass. The sudden bang would make anyone jump, but Savannah didn’t flinch.