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Relentless (Benson Security 2)

Page 104

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“Damn, my head hurts,” he said.

A surge of elation, and Julia’s lips were on his. Joe. Her Joe. Always her Joe. How could she have thought of leaving him? How could she have let her fears take him from her? Never again. She’d never let her lack of courage stop her from trying with this man. Never.

“Baby,” he said against her lips as his hand threaded into her hair. “I’m fine. It’s okay.”

“It’s not.” She gave a hiccupping sob before she kissed him again. “I can’t cope with this. You can’t die. And you keep trying!”

He choked back a laugh. “Babe, trust me, I really don’t try.”

“When we get back to England, you’re going to make Callum give you a training job, Joe Barone, do you hear me?”

His hand tightened in her hair. “Does this mean you’re giving us a chance?” His voice was flat, as though he was afraid to let her hear what he felt.

“No,” she said against his lips, “It means I’m giving you all of me. Every freaky part. And you can’t complain when I start to annoy you, because I told you it would happen.”

He growled and pulled her in for an all-consuming kiss. He smelled of smoke and dirt. And Joe. Julia clung to him as she sobbed tears of relief. He was here. He was alive. He was hers.

“I love you,” she said into his kiss. “I’m sorry I tried to make you go. I’m sorry I was scared.” She looked at him, letting him see the truth. “It will probably happen again.” And again, knowing her.

“Don’t worry. I won’t let you screw things up.”

She almost laughed at his audacity. Like he could stop her. Crazy man.

“You’re mine,” she told him.

“Forever,” Joe told her. “That’s what we’ll have. Forever.” He looked into her eyes, letting her see that intense, possessive nature of his. “I won’t settle for anything less.”

“Forever,” she agreed, because there was no other answer.

“This is great stuff,” Ryan said from beside them. “And I’m touched to be included in your moment. But you’re lying in the middle of Armageddon. There has to be a more romantic, and private, spot for this kind of thing. Think we can keep the lovey-dovey crap to a minimum until we get out of here?”

Elle came running up. “Holy hotcakes, Batman, did the world end?”

“Looks like it from here, doesn’t it?” Ryan said. “Rachel is going to be pissed that we blew up her dad’s plane. I vote we let Callum tell her.”

Joe struggled to sit up, and Julia helped him. Her hand came away bloody.

“You’re hurt!”

“Flesh wound, shoulder.”

He was moving slower than normal, and Julia wondered how many other injuries he had from the blast.

“In case you were wondering,” Ryan said, “I took a bullet to the leg, and I think it’s still in there.”

“Ryan!” Julia reached for him, because there was no way she was leaving Joe’s side. In fact, she might have to keep her hands on him every minute of the day for the rest of her life.

Ryan held up his hands. “Too little, too late. I know where your priorities lie.”

“I was about to ask if you were okay,” Elle said.

“Thanks,” Ryan said. “It’s nice to know someone cares.”

“I care.” Julia was distraught that he would think otherwise.

“He’s yanking your chain,” Joe told her. “He’s fine. He’s still standing, isn’t he?” Joe struggled to get up, and Julia helped him.

“Callum says we need to clear the debris from the road so we can get out of here,” Elle said.



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