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There’s an apology in his intense eyes too, but I shake my head, silently telling him no, it’s not his fault.
All that matters is we’re going to be together.
“Kidnapping, assault, attempted robbery,” Ryker growls, turning back to Zane. “You’re going away for a lot longer than a few years this time.”
Zane’s fingers twitch, as though he’s thinking about darting his hands up to grab onto Ryker. But Ryker applies more pressure and the movement stops.
Even with his hands tied behind his back, even with his face bloody from Zane’s pathetic assault, my man is in control. My man is keeping us safe.
Forever.
“I love you,” I whisper, as tears start to slide down my cheeks.
“What?” Ryker asks. His attention had been focused on Zane.
I shake my head, not wanting to say those sacred words to him here for the first time. “Nothing, it’s nothing.”
A few minutes later, the sound of sirens lace the air.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Ryker
“We’re just glad you’re okay son,” Dad says, leaning close to the webcam like he always does, as though he thinks we won’t be able to see him otherwise.
He, like me, is tall and wide-shouldered, except his hair is an iron band around his head and he has a wispy mustache he refuses to get rid of no matter how many lighthearted jibes mom makes. But I think she secretly likes it.
“It sounds awful,” Mom agrees.
It’s sunset there and afternoon here, mom looks radiant under the Spanish sun. But she’s got a concerned expression on her face.
“Both of you,” she says significantly, her eyes moving over to Rosie.
I turn and take in the sight of her, sitting on my balcony in a summer dress molded to her perfect body.
It’s been two days since the madness in the basement. Since that worm Zane tried to take the most important thing in my life. Rosie’s hair is messy around her shoulders, her arms flecked with paint from where she’s been working like a beautiful creative angel in my spare bedroom.
Hell, our spare bedroom.
I’m already thinking of everything in my life as ours, even if I haven’t done it, yet, asked the most important question of my life.
“Thank you,” Rosie says, her cheeks glowing softly.
It’s the first time she’s ever spoken to my parents, and it’s so sweet how hungry she is to make a good impression.
“That means a lot. Really. I just want to put it behind us now.”
“Of course you do, dear,” Mom says understandingly. “You two have got a lot to look forward to, I’d wager.”
I give mom my sternest look, even if the corners of my lips are twitching, trying to get me to smile. Trust mom to read my secret like she’s about to blurt it out right now.
But the look must work, because mom quickly adds, “With your painting. With all the lovely dates you can go on. And with… with the future. Don’t give that evil man a second thought.”
“I’ll try not to. Thank you, Tina.”
“We’re all in this together now,” Dad goes on. “You’ve got two friends in us, Rosie. For life.”
My heart swells with my dad’s words, as I reach across and wrap my hand around my woman’s. I squeeze tightly even as a jagged point of anxiety stabs into me.
I’m thinking about the meeting I have with Paul later, Rosie’s adoptive father.
What if it doesn’t go well? What if he doesn’t give me the answer I want, need?
The only reason I’ve waited so long is that I want to talk to him first. He’s been busy with work, so this is the earliest possible meeting.
Otherwise, I would’ve gotten down on one knee in that dirty bloody basement.
But a man has to do things the right way. There’s no way I’m doing this without speaking to her father first.
“I hope he goes away for a long time,” Dad says gruffly.
“He will,” I tell him. “This isn’t his first offense, and this is far, far worse than anything he did before. He’s going to be out of our lives for good. And if he even thinks about trying to hurt her again…”
Rosie reaches across, softly placing her hand on my forearm. Her touch sends soothing vibrations through my body, telling the beast inside to calm down, that it’s over.
I place my free hand atop hers and squeeze, never wanting to let go.
We’ve been inseparable ever since the kidnapping, spending all day every day together, Rosie painting as I work out, as I handle business remotely. Of course, we’ll have to resume normal life at some point.
But holding, making love, simply being with my woman has been a blessing.
“Oh, aren’t they sweet?” Mom gushes, resting her cheek against dad’s shoulder.
Dad grins and wraps his arm around her. “Yes, they are. We’re so happy for both of you.”
“Thank you,” Rosie and I say at the same time, and then chuckle as our eyes meet, as all the love in the world sparks between us.
