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“You step foot out of this cabin; I need to be with you. I thought we both understood that.”
Murphy had never said those words to me. How was I supposed to know I couldn’t go outside alone? Sure, I didn’t think I could get in the car and take off, but I figured I could get firewood by myself. “Don’t you think you’re being a little overprotective?”
He stalked toward me and didn’t stop until the toe of his boots touched my flip-flops. I stood straight, my face tilted up, and he was still a good three inches taller than me. I wasn’t afraid of Murphy.
“My job is to keep you safe, Tatum. If you want to call that being overprotective, then that’s fine.”
“I’m not a job, Murphy,” I spat.
“Yes, you are. That is the only way I am going to be able to keep you safe is if you’re my job.”
I wrinkled my nose and shook my head. “Do you hear yourself? The next thing I know, you’re going to tell me to get lost because I don’t fit in your life.” The only time I had witnessed Murphy being this cold and angry was when he had broken up with me. “I’m sorry I went outside by myself.”
“You don’t get it, Tatum.” He turned on his heel and paced in front of the fireplace. “You think I’m only acting this way because of Brandt, but this isn’t going to stop when he dies. I will always be worried about you and have eyes on you. You won’t be able to go back to your life. You go to work, someone will be with you. It might not be me, but someone will be watching you. This doesn’t end with Brandt,” he ranted. “I know you hear me talking, but I don’t think you are comprehending what I’m trying to tell you.”
“Then tell me!” I shouted. “Spit out what you aren’t telling me.”
“I’m not a good man, Tatum,” he shouted. “This isn’t the first time we’ve dealt with people trying to knock us out. You don’t understand the reason why people are trying to knock us out.”
“For money,” I replied. Wasn’t that the reason behind most bad things that happened in the world?
Murphy shook his head. “Power, Tatum. The money is good, but at the end of the day, it’s all about the power. Leo has been ruling and conquering not only the business world but also things you don’t see. Bad things that don’t touch you, and I will never let them touch you.”
“I know.” Did I know the things that were bad? No, but I got it. “But you’re not a bad man, Murphy.”
“How do you know that, Tatum? Good people aren’t kidnapped, hunted, and blown up.”
I stepped toward him. “I know that because I know you, Murphy. I see in your eyes the man you are. I saw it when you broke up with me five years ago. You weren’t thinking about yourself. You were worried about me and something happening to me if I was with you.”
“Yes!” he shouted. “All of this,” he circled his arm wildly, “is because of me. Because of my family. I can’t and won’t get away from this, Tatum. I live a life I can’t walk away from.”
I threw my hands in the air. “Fine. I’m not asking you to walk away from it. Leo, Princeton, Apollo, and Creed are your brothers. I would be foolish to ask you to choose me over them.”
“But I would,” he sighed. “I would give up everything for you, Tatum. I will give my life to keep you safe. I sacrificed my heart five years ago to keep you safe and look at you now. It didn’t work. You’re forever tainted because of me.”
I stalked toward him and didn’t stop until I grabbed his hand. “Because you claimed me, Murphy. Six years ago, you claimed me when we met at the law office. Each day after that, you took a little bit more of me until you had all of me. You can get mad at me and try to tell me you’re too dangerous and you’re a bad man, but I’m not going anywhere. I leave here now without you; I’m leaving without my heart.” I gulped and threaded my fingers through his. “I loved you back then and still love you today, Murphy. You could tell me every big and little bad thing you have done, and I will still be here. I will love you anyway.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying,” he whispered. “I’ve tortured men until they’ve given in. I’ve killed men.” His eyes connected with mine. “And I will do it again.”
“Are you killing the guy working behind the deli counter because he cut your ham too thick? Or the mailman because he delivered your mail late? No!” I shouted. “The people you hurt are the bad men. I know you, Murphy. I know you’re not killing innocent people. I knew that when you claimed me, I would always be safe with you. You claimed me, and I am not going anywhere.” I smiled softly. “Except to maybe get firewood if you’re sleeping. Then I might leave, but I’ll be back in two minutes as long as I don’t slip and fall on my butt.” Tears stung my eyes. “I love you, Murphy. I get why you pushed me away five years ago, but a part of me, deep down, knew that we would always be together. We’re two puzzle pieces that were made for each other. We don’t fit with anyone else.”
“Tatum,” he whispered. He sounded so broken and torn.
“Stop fighting it, Murphy, because I will just fight back stronger.” I reached up and cupped his face in my hands. “Stop. Fighting. It.”
“I love you, Tatum. I love you more than my next breath. When they tossed you on that floor in front of me, it was like my heart laying there.”
“Then pick me up and never let me go, Murphy.”
He wrapped his arms around me and crushed me to his chest. He lifted me off my feet, and I wrapped my legs around his waist.
“I love you, Murphy,” I whispered into his neck.
His arms stayed tight around me, and he laid me on the couch. His body covered mine, and his lips claimed mine. It was light and gentle at first, almost as if he was afraid to hurt me. I delved my fingers into his hair and rocked my hips up to him.
I didn’t want gentle.
I wanted Murphy to give me everything he had.
