This Cruel Love

“It was Chloe, she’s amazing. She saved us. I don’t know what I’d have done without her.”

Chloe glanced over to us both and casually shrugged her shoulders. “I’ve dealt with worse.” She wrinkled her nose as if it were nothing then looked across to me. “Look after her, she’s special.”

I pulled my angel further back into my chest and kissed the top of her head. “I know she is, and believe me, I’ll be doing nothing but taking care of her from now on.”

Ryley looked up at me, her eyes sparkling like diamonds that made my breath catch in the back of my throat. I was so goddamn lucky to find her. I wouldn’t let her out of my sight for a long time, not after today. We’d had enough bullshit thrown our way to last a lifetime.

“Take Ryley home,” Luca c

ommanded. “I’ll have my men clean this up. In a few hours there won’t be a single trace of DNA in this whole fucking building. It’ll be like those fuckers never existed. You have nothing to worry about my friend.”

I nodded back at him, grateful to escape this hell hole and get my girl out of there.

“I’ll stay and help,” Cill piped up. “Are you up for a little clean up, Dennis?”

Dennis grunted in the affirmative and Cill grinned. “He’ll do the heavy duty stuff and I’ll try and bring a bit of light relief to the proceedings.” Trust Cill to try and lighten the mood after a double kidnap and homicide.

Luca didn’t look impressed and steered Chloe towards the exit.

“You will ring me won’t you, Ryley? If you need to talk about anything, just call. Don’t sit at home stressing about any of this. None of this is your fault, okay?” Chloe rubbed Ryley’s arm as they walked past us and headed out the door.

“Chloe,” I called out, and she stopped and turned to face me. “Thank you. What you did today… I don’t know how we’ll ever repay you.”

“Anytime. I’m just glad I was here to help.” She threw a knowing look Ryley’s way, and then they left.

Harry, Ryley’s father, coughed to clear his throat. He was making a conscious effort not to look at either of the bodies, and his face was grey and haggard.

“Sweetheart, I think we need to go home. Talk about what’s happened today and find some peace together, as a family. We need you back at home with us, Ryley.”

Travis agreed and glanced at me as if he expected me to argue. I didn’t need to.

“Not now, Dad, please. I think I’ve had enough drama for one day. I’m exhausted. I just want to go home. Our home, mine and Jackson’s, and spend the rest of the day doing absolutely nothing except being thankful that we got out of here alive. We’ll come and see you tomorrow, I promise, but not now.” She peered up at me with a solemn look in her eyes. “I just want to go home.” She sighed.

And there it was again. She was putting me above them. I was the one she wanted to be with, to seek comfort from. Not her family, me. She was my family now. My life began and ended with her.

“Let’s get you home, angel.” I hugged her to my side and eased my way past Travis and Harry, out of the apartment without a backwards glance.

“Tomorrow, we need to give that counsellor a ring,” I whispered into her ear. “We can both go, but we can’t leave this to fester. Talking to a professional can’t hurt us, can it?”

I wanted nothing more than to heal her myself and get her through this. But I knew better than anyone how trauma could destroy your life. I didn’t want that for her. I wanted her to find closure for everything she’d been through, not just the shit from today, all of it.

“You’re right.” She smiled and my heart skipped a beat yet again. “I want all of this over with. We both deserve a fresh start, but on one condition.”

“Okay?” I narrowed my eyes at her, totally oblivious to what her demands would be.

“Talk to my dad. Tell him how you feel and get the closure you need. You can’t go on like you have been, pretending you’re over it for my sake. I know you still harbour doubts about him. Please, just talk to him.”

She was right, of course. I did still blame her father. I still believed he’d killed my dad. The only thing was, my love for her far outweighed my need for vengeance. But if we were going to have a chance at a happily ever after, I had to put those ghosts to rest. Some difficult and painful memories needed to be unearthed, and no matter how tough it would be, I had to face it.

“Consider it done,” I said as I led her down the staircase to find our solace.

“Really? You truly mean it? You’ll talk to him?” She looked so tiny and fragile as she spoke. It made me want to wrap her up in my arms and carry her to safety like some kind of caveman.

“Of course. I’d do anything to make you happy.”

She yelped as I threw caution to the wind and unleashed my inner caveman. Scooping her up into my arms, I carried her out to my car.

“You’re crazy, but God, I do love you, Jax.”