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Before Donato could finish the sentence, the black Range Rover skidded to a stop in the driveway. Carlos tore across the bricks toward me, and I ran past Donato until I was in his arms.
“I was so worried about you,” I scolded, pressing kisses all over his face.
“It's over, Beauty.”
“Are you hurt?” I inspected him as best as I could in the dark.
“No.” Carlos shuddered in my arms, and I held him more tightly.
“What is it?”
“Eduardo and Rosca are dead. A new, safer alliance was made tonight.”
He didn’t have to say how they’d passed, and it didn’t matter. Now that I knew the man I loved was safe, I felt the bone-chilling cold that had set in and burrowed deeper against his strong chest.
“Let's get you inside,” Carlos murmured against my ear.
With our arms around each other, we trekked across the drive back to the house. We said our good nights to Donato and went upstairs to the guest room we'd been given.
“I want to see Gabriel. Just check in on him,” Carlos said.
I led him to where our son—ourson—was sleeping deeply. He didn't stir as Carlos kissed him and whispered he loved him. He left his rosary on the pillow. There was a lingering fear of danger in my mind, but it was easier to see a hopeful future.
Carlos steered me across the hall, and his voice was strained. “I need a shower.”
“Let me help you with that.”
He halted and spun me to face him, his eyes filled with wonder and disbelief. I dragged him into the large bathroom, turned on the taps in the shower, and undressed him. I was going to cleanse him of his perceived sins and grant him forgiveness, though in my eyes there was nothing to forgive.
“Hotter,” he said hoarsely once we stepped inside the glass and stone box. It was already scalding, and I only turned up the temperature a fraction.
Carlos ducked his head under the spray, letting the water flow over him for a long time. Eventually, I got on my tiptoes and shampooed his thick, dark hair. He let out a pained whimper when I ran my soapy hands over his chest.
“Am I hurting you?” I asked, stilling.
“I'm so dirty,” he whispered, refusing to open his eyes.
I washed every inch of him. He’d done what he had to do, and even if I didn't like it, I understood.
“Not to me.Youare the beautiful one.”
He shook his head, and I grabbed his jaw to stop him. Changing his mind might take forever. I'd have to make sure to show him what an incredible man he was.
Once I rinsed the soap off him, I kissed him from his head down to his toes and back up.
“You make me feel like I'm healed,” he said when I reached his mouth once again.
“And you've given me my fairy tale,” I returned with a tender smile.
Rejuvenated, Carlos turned off the water and dried us off, taking charge once again. That was fine by me, though I was the one who led us to the bed. I laid down, and Carlos crawled on top of me, a reverence in his dark eyes that had my skin prickling with anticipation.
“I don't understand this,” he started. “What's happening between us. The depth and strength of my feelings.” Carlos shook his head. “I thought the only thing I was capable of was hatred. You and Gabriel have become the center of my existence. It happened like that.” He snapped his fingers. “I don't give a fuck if the rest of the world thinks it's crazy we married. We need each other, and I didn’t want to waste any more time without you as my wife. I'm Gabriel's father now. You are my gift; one I will never deserve but will never give up.”
He was right. It was insane to feel so much in such a short period of time. But he'd changed me for the better. As long as Gabriel was happy, and we were a family, that was all I needed. “Make love to me.”
“That's all I've ever done, Holly.”
Chapter Fifty-Six
