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Chapter 25
Jarvistookthebattlestance and was ready to receive the final blow. If he died, he’d die fighting.
Instead of a crack of a whip or a bang of a gun, there was the sound of sweet Olivia’s voice.
Was he hallucinating? Perhaps his mind had conjured her voice, so it wouldn’t be as painful to die. It was the sweetest agony. To hear her but not see her one last time.
“Jarvis!” Olivia’s voice penetrated the thick fog of his dark thoughts.
“Olivia?” Jarvis turned toward the dear sound of Olivia’s voice.
He wasn’t mistaken. She wasn’t a vision. She was here.
He might have doubted his reason if it were just her. But Olivia wasn’t alone.
She and a few other people were hurrying toward him. Was it Blake and Ford? What the devil were they doing here?
But he couldn’t waste his time on them. He only had eyes for his Olive.
Jarvis turned sharply and ran toward Olivia. She fell into his arms and hugged him tightly.
Jarvis’s eyes fell closed. God, he’d missed her. Her warm body snuggled up to him, and all dark thoughts evaporated from his mind. Nothing mattered anymore. Olivia was in his arms.
He burrowed his nose in her hair and took a whiff of her scent. Her scent was like a balm to his bruised soul. Olivia snaked her arms around his back, and Jarvis pulled her even closer.
“Come now, there’ll be enough time for that later,” Blake said from behind Olivia.
Jarvis jerked his head. He had forgotten other people were even there.
“Thank you,” he croaked, still not letting go of Olivia.
Blake gave a slight nod. “You did the same for me.”
“Yes, good. Let us not get maudlin. The carriage awaits,” Gunning said, appearing at Blake’s side.
Jarvis turned back to see the bandits dispersing. What the devil just happened? Would there be no execution? Why was he brought here?
“Remember your promise, thief-taker. Or there’ll be consequences,” Hades said menacingly, before ascending into his carriage.
Jarvis threw Gunning a questioning gaze, but the latter just shook his head. “It is time for us to leave.”
They all proceeded to the vehicle, and a few moments later, moved on their way.
Olivia sat by Jarvis, and he took her hand in his. He weaved their fingers together, marveling at the softness of her skin.
In contrast, he was dirty, unshaven, and weary. He probably smelled bad, too. Olivia didn’t seem to mind. She placed her head on his shoulder, snuggling up closer to him.
Jarvis absently played with her fingers, lost in deep thought.
“Are you all right?” Payne asked.
Jarvis nodded. “Yes. I cannot thank you enough for rescuing me. All of you.” He raised Olivia’s hand and placed a soft kiss on the back of it. “How did all of you come together?”
“Why, it was Olivia who insisted on your search,” Lady Payne said.
Jarvis threw Olivia a fleeting smile, then brought her hand to his lips and kissed it again.
“You shouldn’t have brought her here,” Jarvis said to Payne.
