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Tears ran down her cheeks and violent sobs broke through her lips. “Toth,” she moaned. “She’s gone. I—I don’t have her anymore.”
He swept his thumb along her cheekbone, wiping away the droplets.
“Is she all right?” asked another familiar voice.
“She’s confused,” Toth answered. “Savannah, are you hurt? Tell me now.” He started running his hands over her body, but she caught his wrist.
“I saw her,” she breathed. “She saw me,” she corrected.
He froze. His expression changed from one of concern to one of knowing. “She’s a part of you, honey. She knows you love her.”
She nodded, and a smile touched her lips. She’d been given the greatest gift. Near death, she’d been taken to her daughter. If only for a minute, she’d seen her beautiful face alive, had felt the love and joy of being a mother. Arya had known her mother in that moment.
“Her name is Arya,” she said with pride. “Arya Carrington.”
Toth brought his forehead to hers, and his palm cradled the back of her head. “It’s perfect, Sav. Just like you.”
Love exploded through her. She wrapped her arms around Toth’s neck and buried her face in his scent. His heat surrounded her, pushing away the gripping sadness that wanted to pull her back down to the well of despair she’d lived in for so long.
But she didn’t have to go back there. Not now, not ever. She’d named her baby girl, and it was the best moment of her life. The name had come to her from somewhere beyond. She’d felt it, the unspoken communication between her and her daughter.
She’d carry Arya with her for the rest of her life, never forgetting her. Never letting sadness win. She could move forward, Arya’s blessing bright within her.
She cupped Toth’s bristly cheek and stared into his unwavering eyes. His steadiness filled her with strength, and she felt the power she’d been keeping buried. “Toth,” she said, without a tremor. “I love you.”
He blinked. His mouth twitched and then morphed into a grin. He brushed his lips over her forehead and cheeks then kissed her lips. “I love you, Sav.” He met her gaze. “And now I’m going to take you home.”
Home. She hadn’t seen his house. But she didn’t care.
In his arms, she and Arya were home.
CHAPTER 28
“Whatd’ya want todo with him?” Lach asked, rearing Jace’s head backward, clutching a handful of his hair.
Jace lay on his stomach in the dirt with Lach’s knee positioned at the small of his back. Just a minute ago Toth had raced through the forest and heard Jace’s taunting laugh. Spotting him on top of Savannah had launched his heart into his throat and violent rage into his veins.
He’d run like a linebacker and thrown Jace to the ground. Then he’d allowed himself only a brutal kick to Jace’s stomach before he dropped to his knees and scooped up Savannah. Lach had gladly taken over watch of the sonofabitch.
“Give us a minute,” Toth called, then brought his attention back to Sav, lying in his arms. Her face held a serene air despite the dirt smeared on it and the bruises and cuts marring it. The bastard had hit her. Anger ravaged him as he gently brought his knuckles to her puffy cheek.
God, he loved her.
It didn’t matter he’d been with her only a couple of days. Didn’t matter her father was a dangerous criminal. The relief of holding her in his arms validated all the feelings that had been oscillating in his heart since the moment she’d sauntered her sexy ass into his office and demanded he work with her father.
More than attraction. More than lust.
“Am I moving too fast?” she asked, her voice uncharacteristically hesitant.
He smiled. “Honey, you took my fucking heart the moment I saw you in that leather skirt. And guess what? I don’t want it back.”
Her doelike eyes warmed. She kept her side relaxed against his chest and her hand clasped around his wrist as she faced Jace.
“What do you want me to do with him?” he asked, brushing his fingers under her jaw until she looked at him.
She rolled in her lips and lowered her focus to his chest then back up. “I—I don’t want to know. I trust you to deal with him as you see fit and just... leave me out of it for now.”
He nodded solemnly, grateful for her strength. As much as he loved her, he wouldn’t have been able to not kill him—not even as a favor to her.
