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Naomie shook her head. "I love you, but no. I also love her, so I won't get in the middle of whatever this thing is between the two of you. But—" she held up a hand as he started to speak. "I will give you some good advice."
"What's that?"
"Go easy, Riggs. You decided to jump off a bridge because you're a trained warrior. Georgie did it to ensure you survived, and trust me when I tell you, that was no easy feat. She lost her parents in a very similar accident. Her parents and her leg. She's bound to be reeling a bit from going through this event.
"And she's worked damn hard to get to where she is today. I guess you don't know that Georgie's one of the leaders in her field. There are medical facilities, clinics, and hospitals all over the world wanting to hire her. Her work is top-notch, and she can name her price.
"To ask her to walk away from all she's worked for because you want this child isn't exactly promising anything except that it's fulfilling what you want. You keep saying it. You want to be this child's father.
"But what about Georgie? You want her to head up your rehab. That's what you said. I love you, Riggs, but you're not making much of an offer. What woman would follow a man across the country for nothing more than a chance to help him get what he wants? A child. It's not a relationship or partnership, just you getting to be his dad.
"Don't you think that seems a bit on the self-centered side?"
"You damn sure don't need a gun to wound someone, do you, Naomie?"
"You know that's not what it was. And if you tell me I'm wrong, you're not the man I thought."
"Oh damn, you're killing me. Fine. Fine. You're right. Damn it all to hell and back. I didn't think. I've been so wrapped up in—not letting another child—" he shook his head. "Forget it."
"No, say it," she walked over and knelt beside him. "You couldn't save that child when the APC hit the IED. Now you have a second chance, and I think maybe you see this as penance or redemption, but Riggs, listen to me. You don't need redeeming. You tried. Gunner told me. You wouldn't listen to the others. You had to go back for that child. You risked your life, almost died, and lost a foot, and no, you couldn't save that baby.
"But you did save this one. Don't make this child the recipient of some screwed-up redemption play because he doesn't deserve that. If you love him, then be his dad. Be the best dad a child could hope for.
"Just don't expect Georgie to feel the same because she didn't have those experiences. She jumped off the bridge for you, Riggs. For you. What have you done to win her? What have you offered her?"
"You know I sometimes hate that you're so freaking smart."
"It's a curse, but I live with it," she teased. "And again, I love you."
"And I love you. I'm not mad, Naomie. Just ashamed, I guess. Ashamed and without a clue how to make it up to Georgie."
"Is it important that you do?"
His gaze was unwavering when he locked with hers. "More than you can imagine."
She nodded. "Then get to it, soldier."
This time, he smiled. "Yes, ma'am."
"Okay, time for us to go," she said and stood, smiled down at the baby, and kissed Riggs on the cheek. "Rest well. We'll see you in the morning."
"You're staying?"
"For a couple of days," Russell said. "Just until everything is squared away."
After they left, Riggs sat for a long time, watching Robby sleep and wondering if Georgie would return or if he'd royally screwed his chances of having a relationship with her.
Chapter Sixteen
Josh pumped his fist in the air and grinned as he listened to the newscast. It was a bit of a disappointment that the things he did to the woman weren’t mentioned. He liked the idea of people being horrified and fearing the man who could do that.
He was that man. A man to be feared. And he liked it.
Josh was riding a huge high over what he did. He’d already begun fantasizing about doing it again. But his fantasy didn’t stop there. He and Georgie would be a couple. He’d return home from a kill and find her chained in her cage. He’d hose her down in case she’d soiled herself, then, if she were good, he’d let her out to eat. Naked, of course. He wouldn’t allow her clothing.
But not at the table. He’d make her get down on all fours and stick her head in a bowl like a dog. That brought a fantasy to mind that had him swell to full erection in seconds. With a smile, he lay on the couch, loosened his pants, and began to stroke himself as he imagined raping and sodomizing her, then beating her and putting her back into her cage while he planned his next kill.
He would ignore the fact that she didn’t want to have anything to do with him now. That didn’t matter. Josh had finally discovered the man he was meant to be. Now, he’d take what he wanted.
