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“Why can’t you just charge him for hiring that goon to attack me?” Alex asked.
“Because we have nothing solid. It’s all circumstantial.”
Quinn gave Alex a squeeze, then stood, needing to move. Anticipation and outrage hummed through him like a live wire. “Then what? You’re all gonna sit around with your thumbs up your asses and wait until he actually hurts Alex again? Wait until he tries to kill her again before you actually do something?”
He stopped two feet away from Joe. Any closer and he couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t deck the guy again. He knew he needed to rein in his anger. The last thing Alex needed right now was for him to lose his goddamn mind. He exhaled slowly, desperate to find calm. “Do you think I’m going to sit around while you wave Alex in his face? Don’t you think she’s been through enough? She’s—”
“I’ll do it,” her soft voice interrupted.
“What?” both men asked, their heads swinging to her.
“I said I’ll do it.” Her soft voice gained strength. “Preston’s coming regardless, right? Just tell me what you need from me, Joe.”
Panic tore through him. “You don’t have to do this, sweetheart.”
“Yes, Quinn.” She looked at him, and the determination on her face terrified him. “I do.”
He dropped his head back and stared at the ceiling. But it provided no solutions to his frustration or fear.
“Stop growling and look at me,” she ordered.
He counted to ten before glancing her way. When he met her gaze, a vise clamped down on his heart and tightened. Painfully. He couldn’t lose her. He couldn’t.
“I’m tired, Quinn. I’m tired of being scared of him, of running from him. For once, I’m not afraid to stand up to him. Not if it means there’s a chance he could get put away for good.”
Her insistence—her sheer bravery—frightened him beyond belief.
“He’s going to try tokillyou.” His voice was gravel. He could barely get the words out over the lump in his throat. “You understand that, right?”
“Of course I do,” she snapped, fire lighting her eyes. “But it’s a chance I’m willing to take.”
A bolt of agony shot through him.
No. Fuck, no. That wasn’t an option.
“Quinn, if we’re going to have any sort of future together, this is something Ihaveto do. It doesn’t matter to Preston whether he and I are married or divorced; he’ll always think I belong to him. And he’ll always blame me for ruining his life. As long as he’s walking free, I’ll always be looking over my shoulder. That’s not a way to live. Not for me. Not for my baby. And I love you too much to have you live like that as well.”
His heart tripped and then settled just as quickly. He stared at her in awe.
The woman before him was tiny in her hospital bed. Her hair fell around her in a tangled mess. The dark bruises on the side of her face were angry reminders of the horror she’d suffered. And yet, the look in her eyes was that of a warrior hell-bent on going head to head with a man who wanted her dead.
So she and her baby could have a future—so the three of them could have a future—without fear.
Holy shit.He was humbled by her love and courage... and scared beyond words. Hecouldn’tlose her. Hewouldn’t. It wasn’t an option.
Crossing the room, he placed a finger beneath her chin, tilted her head up, and brought his mouth to hers.
“Alexandra Garcia,” he whispered against her lips, “I love you more than you’ll ever know. If you need to do this, then I’ll be right there with you. Believe me when I say that I’ll doeverythingin my power to keep you safe.” He would use every tool at his disposal, every bit of manpower that was available to him, every favor he was owed.Anythingto keep her safe.
A slow smile spread across her lips, and her eyes filled with tears. “I believe you.”
He wrapped his arms around her, and a feeling of peace blanketed him. “When this is all over, sweetheart, I promise to spend the rest of my days keeping you happy.”
She pulled away and framed his face in her hands. “I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve you.” She touched her lips to his. “I love you, Quinn O’Conner.”
“Ahem.”
The blush that raced up Alex’s face was priceless. He kissed her again before turning toward Joe, who stood at the edge of the room, shifting uncomfortably on his feet.
