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Toth nodded. “Then Tess found out Jace’s grandparents signed this place over to him several years ago, and we had video footage of Jace’s plates out this way, so we had a good guess as to where he took you.”
Her fingers tightened on his skin. “Thank you.”
A dark cloud brewed inside him. “Don’t thank me, all right? Losing you was the worst thing that’s ever fucking happened to me. I couldn’t have handled it if—” Damn, he couldn’t even speak the words. “If he’d succeeded.” He stroked her hair with his palm, ignoring the leaves and sticks that poked him. “Thank you for not giving up and letting him win.”
She bowed her head. “I almost did. When he was on top of me, I passed out and I saw—I was back in the hospital with my daughter, only it was different. I was holding her and she was alive and happy and so, so perfect.” Tears glittered along her eyelashes. “I feel like it was a gift. I felt her. Itwasher. And I almost left with her. The light surrounded us both and I was so content and happy to go with her. Then...” She cleared her throat and her eyes shifted.
“Then I came and took it away?” he asked, his voice rough. Fuck, he’d saved her life but also caused her more pain. More grief. She’d lost her daughter once again.
She gave him a shaky smile. “I’m glad, though. I didn’t want to die. I want to be here... with you.” Vulnerability pulled at her words and melted his heart.
He bent his head to her hair and inhaled her scent, so goddamn grateful she’d stayed. “I need you to be honest with me about something.”
She tilted back her head and studied his face. A new softness surrounded her vibrant green eyes. It was almost as if her moments with Arya had lifted a weight from her shoulders.
“What?”
“I need to know you’re not going to resent me for killing Jace. I need that confirmation before I go back to the woods. Because I can’t fucking promise you he’s going to live, even if you want him to.”
She’d said she didn’t want to know what happened to him, and that was fair, but she’d find out eventually, and if she held that against him, it’d create a rift between them he wouldn’t be able to erase.
She caught one of his hands between both of hers and squeezed. “I don’t ever want to worry about him again. I want the comfort of knowing he can’t hurt me.” She dragged her top teeth over her bottom lip. “But I can’t ask you to kill him for me. I couldn’t live with myself if you carried guilt over—”
“For one thing,” he interrupted, “I’ll never feel guilt over that sonofabitch.” He captured her face between both of his palms. His heart beat steadily, each thump for her. “And I want you to be able to ask me for anything,” he said vehemently. “I’d do anything for you.” He meant it, right down to his bones.
A sly smile touched her lips. “Really? Anything?”
He let a second slip by. “Anything but leave you. That I won’t fucking do.”
Joy sparked in her eyes and she beamed. “I promise I’ll never ask that.”
Heat spread through him and contentment filled his heart. He’d been alone for so long. Sure he’d had relationships, but he’d never been anyone’s everything, and no one had been everything to him.
Savannah was. End of story. He opened his mouth to say this, but headlights lit the driveway and coated them in white.
He tensed and let go of Sav to reach for his gun. Rami leaped out of the large SUV and lifted his hand. Toth relaxed.
“I need you to sit with Rami for a bit, okay? I won’t be long.”
He pressed a kiss to her head and led her to Rami’s vehicle. As he helped her into the front seat, a shiver shook her shoulders. “Put the heat on,” he commanded his friend.
Rami got in the driver’s seat and switched on the seat warmer and hot air.
Toth grabbed at the hem of his shirt, but she stopped him. “It’s okay. You’ll get eaten alive by mosquitos. I’ll warm up.”
“I’ve got a sweater in the back.” Rami reached in the back seat and then tossed the garment onto her lap.
Toth sure as hell didn’t want her wearing another dude’s clothing, but the sweater would be a helluva lot warmer than his sweaty T-shirt. And anyway, he’d soon take her home and replace all Rami’s scents with his own.
He caught the back of her neck, not giving a shit about Rami’s watchful gaze. “I’ll be fast.” He touched her lips with his, and her small moan stirred his cock. He pulled away before she stole his determination to leave.
“Protect her,” he growled to Rami.
Rami smirked. “No shit.”
He shut the door and jogged to the four-wheeler. Hopping on, he turned in the direction of the woods and his body hummed with the satisfaction he’d get once justice was delivered.
***
