Hidden Away (KGI #3)(69)

It was telling that even now when he was so beaten that his strength held them both up. It bled into her soul and firmed her resolve. If he could endure so much, then so could she.

“You survive, Sarah. Let me take the heat. It’s nothing I haven’t endured before and likely will again. My job takes me into bad situations all the time. It’s knowledge I live with on a daily basis. Have faith that I can endure and don’t react to anything they do to me.”

Hot tears slipped over his fingers. “But this time ... this time you’re here because of me.”

“This isn’t your fault.”

He slipped his hand around her nape and tugged her down until his lips touched hers. It was just a gentle brush and he was careful to keep the side of his mouth that was bleeding from her lips.

“Come here,” he urged as he pulled her down farther.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” she protested.

“You won’t. Lie next to me. Let me hold you.”

“No,” she said. “I’ll hold you.”

She could hear the smile in his voice when he spoke. “I won’t argue one bit. Come hold me then.”

Carefully she stretched out beside him, mindful of the injuries to his ribs. Only when he coaxed her closer, did she put herself flush against his body. Then she curled her arm over his waist and nuzzled her cheek against his chest.

“I’m sorry,” she said, not knowing what else to offer. Her heart ached and she was so damn angry that she wanted to rage against the bastards who’d done this. She’d doubted that she would have the wherewithal to shoot a person when she’d procured the pistol, but now she knew without a doubt that she could. Without hesitation.

Hate was an emotion that she’d done without for most of her life. She hated Allen Cross and his bastard brother as much as she imagined ever hating anyone, but here and now, her anger was a terrible, ugly thing. It consumed her and with it came a hatred she didn’t think she was capable of.

“Shhh,” he said against her hair. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”

“What now?” she asked, infusing strength into her voice. She didn’t want to come across as a whiny twit. She wanted to sound positive and as confident as he did. The least she could do was offer whatever support she could.

“They’ll probably leave us here. No food or water. Try to wear me down. Then they’ll probably take another shot at me. If that doesn’t work, they’ll use you.”

Despite her resolve not to show weakness, she couldn’t control the shiver that racked her body.

“They’re not going to get that far. My team will come for us, Sarah. I just have to buy us enough time for them to get here. That’s why I want you to keep your head down. They will come for us. You can help me by doing as I ask you.”

“Okay,” she whispered.

He squeezed her a little and then tensed in pain. She raised her head and found his lips there in the dark. She didn’t care about the blood. All she cared about was finding him, showing him her love. And maybe give him something of herself when he’d already given so much to her.

Love.

It was nothing like the movies or books. No big lightning bolt from the sky where she instantaneously discovered she’d fallen in love. As if it were something random, like winning the lottery or a momentary high caused by hormones.

Maybe she’d started falling the day he saved her on the island. Or when he left her books with wine and chocolate on her porch. Or maybe it was his unwavering devotion to keeping her safe.

What she knew was that he was a good man, the kind she’d always dreamed of having. Loyal and protective. Willing to sacrifice for her. But love also meant sacrificing for him, and no matter her promise, she could not and would not go down without a fight. She wouldn’t allow him to suffer endlessly while they waited for rescue.

And what she knew was that she had fallen and was still falling for the badass with the big heart and gentle soul.

She whispered the words in her mind, savoring them as she rested in his arms. Now wasn’t the time for emotional outbursts, but when they were safe—and they would be because she believed him without reservation—then she’d tell him what she thought about the man he was. The man she wanted.

And if he walked away, she’d never have any regrets. Love was a gift, but it was up to the recipient to accept and cherish or to reject the offering. All she could do was give unreservedly. And for the first time since her assault, she realized that she could give something she’d never thought to give again. Her trust and her love.

CHAPTER 25

“SON of a bitch. Son of a bitch!” Donovan exclaimed.

He got up from the desk and hit the floor at a dead run. He left the war room and sprinted over to the house. He burst into the living room, where Sophie was feeding Charlotte. Sam was sprawled on the couch beside her and looked up in alarm when he saw Donovan.

Donovan didn’t waste time trying to preserve Sophie’s modesty. Nor did he bother trying to hold back so as not to frighten her. “We’ve got a situation.”

Sam was on his feet in an instant. Sophie’s eyes widened in alarm and the baby let out a mewl of protest.

“Garrett?” she asked fearfully.

“His locater was activated several hours ago,” Donovan said to Sam.