Page 22 of The Specialist

“I will always be your warrior,” I vowed. “I would protect you to my dying breath.”

A shadow passed over her face, and I was quick to reassure her. “Nothing is going to happen to me, Sofia. We are going to have a long, wonderful life together. Watch our children grow. Bounce grandchildren on our knee and spoil them.”

She lifted her eyebrows at my words, and I had to laugh. “I know. I am going fast. But it is how I see our life unfolding.”

She shook her head, but she didn’t say anything.

And she smiled.

To me, that was a good sign.

* * *

With a long exhale, I settled the barbell back in its place and sat up. I stretched, feeling the satisfaction of my muscles pull and ease. I grabbed my bottle and drank deeply, the cold water refreshing and needed. Grabbing a towel, I rubbed at my sweat-soaked skin, sitting for a moment and looking around the gym. For a midweek morning, the place was busy. The classes going on at the moment were full and most of the machines taken. I grunted in gratification. My business was doing well. So was my personal life. For the first time in what felt like forever, I was happy.

After wiping the weight bench and tossing the towel, I headed to the shower. I wanted to get clean, finish some paperwork, and head over to Elite Security and do some work there with Leo before he left for the day. Then I planned to head home and cook dinner.

Sofia and I had spent a lot of time together on her days off. I put aside every thought other than her and enjoyed the feeling of being with her. Ever since my dream had occurred, I’d wanted, needed to be close to her. I luxuriated in the feel of her wrapped around me as she slept. How it felt to be inside her, listening to her moans and whimpers as we made love. Hearing her gasps and pleas as we fucked. Holding her after the passion had passed, no matter how it was expressed. We talked and laughed, neither of us wanting to go out or break the bubble. I still needed to talk to her about my past, and I would. Soon. But I was enjoying the moment and being selfish, afraid it would end.

When she returned to work, I changed my schedule slightly. I started earlier at the gym, meeting with Leo and working at Elite early in the afternoon. I was home by the time she woke up, and we could have dinner together and spend time with each other before she napped and then headed to the hospital. Every night when she left, I couldn’t settle until she let me know she arrived at the hospital. A few nights, I was able to convince her to let me drive her and pick her up in the morning. Those days, I also spent the night painting, then crawled into bed with her for a few hours, making love to her before she fell asleep with a satisfied smile on her face.

Those were my favorite days.

I used one of the showers in the locker room, wrapping a towel around my waist when I finished. As I dried off, I checked the room, pleased to see everything the way I liked it. Clean, orderly, and up to my high standards. I went overboard on every detail. Even the lockers were lined in cedar, so your clothes smelled fresh when you were ready to put them back on.

If you had a membership at my gym, you got the best. Top-of-the-line equipment and instructors. Private workout areas and showers for those who preferred them. Staff who knew what they were talking about. The best hot tub, swimming pool, and sauna money could buy. Fluffy towels. High-end shampoos and soaps. It was all provided with the steep membership fee I charged.

We had a men’s locker room. A women’s locker room. An all-gender one. Anyone was welcome in this gym. You could use whatever area you were comfortable in, and if none of them was for you, then small, private rooms were available where you could change, shower, and be at ease. I wanted all my clients to be happy.

I was towel-drying my hair when Mack walked in. “Egan,” he said, looking worried.

I frowned. “What’s up, Mack?”

“There’s someone here to see you.”

“Again?”

“Different someone. He insists what he has to say is private and refused to discuss it with either Sharon or me.” He paused. “I don’t recognize him as a member. Or the guy with him. In fact, they don’t look like they want to be in a gym, never mind join one. They’re suits.”

I lifted my eyebrows in puzzlement. I didn’t like these unexpected visitors. I hadn’t seen or heard from Alex again, and Damien had found nothing on him. I had put him out of my mind, convinced he’d seen me at an event and was simply trying to get an in at Elite or the gym and going about it in a strange way. “Did he say what it was about?”

“No. He insisted on speaking only with you.”

“Where is he?”

“At the front desk.”

“Take him to the office. The general one. Not mine. Offer him a juice.”

Mack grinned. “Doesn’t look like the juice type, boss.”

“What type does he look like?”

“Coffee with a side of handgun with a silencer, to be honest.”

That made me pause, but I smiled. “Get him coffee. Make sure the cameras in the office are on. I’ll be there soon.”

“Okay.”