This Is Love, Baby (War & Peace #2)(55)

“You’re really here right now with me,” I sob, “and we’re going to be okay.”

His hand strokes my blood-soaked hair as I cling to him. He flinches when I touch the left part of his chest where he was shot, so I settle for the right.

“I was so scared.” My tears drench his shirt and he continues to hold me.

“I was f*cking terrified when I realized you were gone,” he says, his words muffled somewhere in my hair. “As soon as I realized what happened, I left the hospital to come for you. Your watch was fitted with a tracking device—in case Gabe ever came back for you. But when he did come for you, you weren’t wearing it. This time, though, I was going to find you and save you.”

“You did save me,” I whisper as I pull slightly away, searching his stormy eyes.

He smiles and his gaze skitters down my throat. “Bay, you saved yourself.”

His eyes become fixated on my flesh and realization washes over me like slick oil. Suddenly, a thought overwhelms me to the point I nearly vomit.

Blood.

So much blood.

I’m dripping in War’s worst nightmare.

Shit!

I try to peel myself from him but he grips me tighter. “Warren, I’m covered in…I’m covered in…”

He grips my hair and tugs my head back. “I see, beautiful. Believe me, I see.” Our eyes meet and his perfect mouth quirks into a half-smile. “But love’ll make you do crazy things. Like do absolutely anything—slay any dragon, even the imaginary ones in your head—for a chance to have the one you love in your arms once more. You own me, Bay, and you always win when it comes to battling my heart against my delusional mind. I love you.” He gives me a small smile. “I’m going to kiss that dirty mouth of yours now.”

I half sob and half laugh as his mouth descends upon mine. Our lips connect and he devours me as if he needs my love for nourishment. So I feed it to him. Every part of me, I give to him in our kiss. The promise of my love. Children. Loyalty and friendship. My heart.

“Kiss me again,” I order.

He smiles and dives back in. “Anything for the queen.”




The sound of the sirens grows louder as the police get closer. War, Land, and I have been sitting on the front porch waiting for them to arrive and deal with the situation. Land has been on the phone, answering questions from Detective Stark. She asked him to keep us out of the house until they arrived. Something about contaminating the crime scene and disrupting evidence. I didn’t care, though. I was perfectly content sitting next to War on the porch swing with his heavy arm draped around me.

I haven’t said much, and have let War’s whispers soothe me. He’s been counting and muttering since we sat down. I know he’s still with me because every so often he presses a kiss to the top of my head. But he doesn’t stop. It’s as if he’s found a way to cope with the blood and the insanity. I don’t dare disrupt that. I don’t need to ask him if he’s okay, I know he’s weak and exhausted. Aside from his muttering, he’s not moved much.

When a black Crown Vic comes bouncing down the drive, red and blue lights flashing, I let out a sigh. It’s almost over.

A pretty brunette climbs out of the car and stalks over to us. Her scowl hardens her features but when she sees me, her face softens. The clomp of her boots on the wood porch indicate her arrival and she squats down in front of me.

“Miss Winston?”

I lift my head and regard her. Dark brows furrow together as her eyes quickly asses the blood all over me.

“Are you hurt?”

Shaking my head, I glance over as two uniformed cops and another detective in a suit walk inside the house. “I’m okay. It’s not my blood. War needs to get back to the hospital, though.” He stiffens beside me at the mention of his name but then quickly relaxes.

“Of course, hon. We’re going to secure the crime scene and then I need to ask you a few questions before you leave to get medical attention. Wait here and I’ll be back in five,” she instructs as she stands.

When she doesn’t move, I lift my gaze to hers and she frowns.

“Miss Winston,” she says softly, almost motherly in nature, “I’m sorry this happened to you. We’re going to continue to bring down every other perp who had any dealing with the White Collar Trade group. Together, with you and Mr. McPherson’s help, we’re going to catch these guys. Every last one of them.”

My mind flits back to that day I met War. Before I climbed into his car. When the monsters lurked around in their five thousand dollar suits, expensive haircuts, and dashing grins. A time when they bought and sold women as if they were nothing more than a simple business transaction. Trading in a used vehicle for a sexy, sleeker model. Their wolfish smiles were terrorizing to all the lost sheep in the flock. If I could help save even the sixteen other girls I saw walk across that stage, it would be more than I could have ever expected. Men like Edgar Finn will go to prison and rot for their crimes against those women. Women like me. Detective Stark can prevent that man from carving up women for sport.

I’ll do whatever the hell she needs as long as she makes that happen.

“Thank you,” I tell her, meeting her gaze with a firm stare of my own.

“Stark, we have a problem,” the other detective says through the doorway. “I think you need to come see this.”