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“Yeah.” For some reason, I thought this conversation would go differently, but here I was mentally begging her to tell me it was okay. Regardless, I would never apologize for taking the fuckers out.
Giselle trembled before me, and I fought the desire to pull her into my lap. I was afraid she would resist me.
“They’re both really gone?” Her voice cracked.
“Yeah. They can’t hurt you, Ashley, or any other person. I’m sorry if you think differently of me, but I couldn’t let them get away with what they did to you.”
Giselle leaned forward, then climbed into my lap. Her haunted eyes searched mine. “Thank you.” She pressed her soft lips to mine. “Thank you. Oh my God. I’m finally free.”
“Yeah, you are, baby. You’re free.” I wrapped her in my arms and kissed her as she kept repeating to herself that the two fuckers were really dead, as if she was afraid she was dreaming and would wake up at any moment.
“I can’t give you any details, but they’re gone, babe.” I smoothed her dark hair as she continued to pepper my cheeks with kisses.
“And Ashkov is out of the picture, too. I’m not sure how it all happened, but I don’t give a shit. I’m free.” She pressed her forehead to mine.
“I have something—” Her alarm on her phone rang, interrupting her. Deep concern was embedded in her expression as she assessed me.
“What are you needing a reminder for at three in the morning?” I whispered, brushing my lips against her temple.
She climbed off my lap and retrieved her cell from the coffee table. “That it’s six am on the east coast.” Giselle paced the room as her fingers flew across the screen, then she swiped up a few times.
I watched as the warmth of the scorching flames cast an orange hue over her pale cheeks.
“Jesus.” She sank into the rocking chair, her face draining of color.
I scooted to the edge of the couch, anxious as hell. “What’s wrong?”
She shook her head and stared at her screen.
“Giselle? Babe, what’s going on?”
Fuck. This wasn’t good.
55
Giselle
Igripped the arms of the antique rocker I’d plopped into, my world spinning as I looked at the email with the paternity results. Gulping, I took a deep breath in an attempt to steady my erratic heartbeat.
I glanced at Zayne, knowing full well I had to have a conversation with him, but there was a different one I needed to have first. Lowering my iPhone to my lap, I hit the button to lock the screen.
“I’m okay. Before I explain what that was about, I wanted to tell you I’ve been thinking about us while you were gone.” I sucked on my lower lip, almost laughing as Zayne’s gaze focused on the action. “I didn’t have much time to talk to Sutton, but she said that, for her and Pierce, their marriage works well with his career since she’s on the team. With the open communication, she realizes you guys are safe, and it puts her at ease. Obviously, that’s not going to be my case.”
I stood and paced the wood floors, searching for my next words, but I was stalling. I’d rehearsed this conversation a million times in my head. I stopped and looked at Zayne, falling in love with his beautiful green eyes all over again. “I love you, Zayne. I would willingly give my life to keep you safe. I’ve never felt that way about anyone other than Ashley. I want there to be an us, but I also have to figure out how to deal with your job and dangerous lifestyle.”
Zayne leaned forward, his shoulders tense. He pressed his fingertips together and stared at me.
I paused, chewing on my next words. “This is what I came up with, Zayne. I want in.”
He blinked excessively before staring at me in shock. “No.”
I shot him a ‘don’t fuck with me’ look. “Hear me out before you decide that you have a right to dictate my life. And to be clear, you don’t have any right.” I tapped my toe against the floor, a little miffed at him, but then I remembered the email I’d just received.
“The men that Donovan and my parents sold me to and had parties with, I understand how these sick fucks work, Zayne. I have a list of the names of everyone I met.”
Zayne winced at the pain in those words.
“I can help us save more girls and reunite them with their families. I remember some of the locations of where I was taken. I have critical information, Zayne. I want in. I can work with Sutton behind the scenes, and … please.”
