Run To Me (Lazarus Rising #4)(72)

“Willow—”

“Lucas told me lies. Tried to make me believe that you’d tricked me, but I knew he was lying the whole time. I could tell.”

“Because of those super senses of yours.”

“No.” She forced her head to lift. She could taste the salt of her tears. “Because I love you. Because I trust you.”

“Baby…” Emotion burned in his eyes. An emotion she wasn’t afraid to recognize. Jay loved her, and she loved him, and everything was going to be okay.

“I should have said it sooner, but I was afraid. I don’t want to hurt you. I never want to hurt you.” Her words wouldn’t stop tumbling out. “But I want to be with you. I want to have a life. You and me.”

“And kids.”

Her chest ached.

“I want kids with you, Willow. A boy with your eyes. A girl with your strength.” His left hand lifted and stroked her cheek. “I want forever with you.”

And he was looking at her with love. Love. Not possession. Not ownership. He was staring at her like she was some kind of gift, and Jay didn’t get it. He was her gift. Her second chance.

The lover she wanted. The life she wanted. Jay was her everything. “Forever.” Willow swallowed. “That sure sounds like a nice start.”

He laughed. She loved the sound of his laugh. She loved the warmth of his skin. She loved the way he made her feel. Beautiful. Special.

Safe.

Most of all, though, Willow just loved him.

Her lips pressed to his.





Epilogue


Jay wheeled himself past the guards and into the quiet hospital room. The machines were humming, the curtains were open, letting sunlight pour into the room, and his nemesis was glaring at him.

“You’re going to marry my daughter?” Wyman fired the opening shot.

Jay stopped at the edge of the bed. He couldn’t quite get around without falling on his face, so he’d borrowed the chair for this little visit. “Hell, yes, I am. As soon as possible.”

Wyman’s head jerked. “Good. And you make sure, absolutely sure, that no one else ever finds out who she really is.”

Jay held his stare. “Everyone wants you dead.”

Wyman laughed. “Including you, right?”

“You’re her father.”

“Not blood…”

“Yeah, well, like you said, blood doesn’t make family.”

Wyman glanced toward the window. “Her dad was my best friend. The only one who could put up with my bullshit. He died, saving my sorry hide. Was I supposed to just turn his daughter away? Willow’s mom passed in childbirth. I wasn’t going to let strangers take her. I had to make sure she was always—”

“Protected,” Jay finished. “She will be.”

Wyman focused on him once more. “I was going to say loved.”

“She will be.” His gaze never faltered. “She is.”

Wyman’s shoulders relaxed. “And what happens to me? You gonna let the super soldiers tear me apart?”

The cancer was already doing that. The man was living on borrowed time. And the guy—yeah, he’d done terrible things. But he’d also done good things. Or at least, one good thing. Willow. “There’s a special word I want you to focus on, dad.”

Wyman glowered.

“Atonement,” Jay announced. “Know what that means?”

The glower grew worse.

“You’re going to be joining my team. You’re going to tell me about all of the test subjects out there. Lazarus. Norsemen. Whatever the hell else you’ve created. And in the time you’ve got left, you’re going to show your daughter that you aren’t just a monster. That there’s something more inside of you. You’re going to show her that. You’re going to help give her memories back to her. You’re going to give Willow everything she needs and more.”

“Why the hell would I do that?”

“Why?” Jay repeated.

The hospital room door opened behind him with a soft squeak. The light scent of lavender reached him. Willow.

Wyman’s gaze had slid over Jay’s shoulders. It had gone to rest on Willow.

“That’s why,” Jay murmured. She’s my reason. And she’s yours, too.

Wyman gave a grim nod.

“Good.” Jay turned his head and glanced back at Willow. The woman he loved. His damn life. He smiled at her. When she smiled back, he swore she lit up the whole room.

Willow came to his side. Her fingers twined with his. Fit his. Because she fit him. Willow was his perfect match in every way, and he’d prove himself to her, every single day. Jay squared his shoulders. Focused on the man who’d one day be his father-in-law. “Let’s get started, Wyman. Just how many test subjects are out there?”

“You’re not gonna like the answer,” Wyman muttered.

“Never thought I would.” Jay waited.

Then Wyman started talking…

Jay didn’t let his expression alter, but, shit. They sure had one hell of a lot of work to do. It was a good thing he enjoyed a challenge.

He brought Willow’s hand to his lips. Kissed her knuckles.

And he got ready to work.

The End