The Chase

He crushed her against his chest and buried his face in her neck. Now wasn’t the fucking time to fall apart. Seth was counting on him to get her and their luggage to the car safely. But he needed to feel her, hold her close, breathe her in.

“I love you.” He didn’t say the words often, mostly because she didn’t say them back and he sensed they made her uncomfortable for a reason he didn’t grasp. But he couldn’t let the opportunity to tell her how he felt pass now.

It might be his last.

Tears pooled in her eyes. She buried her face against his shoulder and clung for a silent, aching moment. Then she lifted her head and looked up at him. Love filled her expression. Why wouldn’t she say the goddamn words?

“Get the SUV open.” Seth cantered down the stairs, carting multiple gun cases under both arms and ammo boxes in each fist. “I’m going to need to make more trips.”

Heavenly’s eyes widened. “Is that what I think—”

“Yeah.” Beck shook his head. “Just let him do him.”

She glanced at the PI like he was big and new and slightly scary. “Okay… Can I help?”

“Load up, angel. Don’t open the garage door until I get back.”

Together, they packed everything inside the vehicle. Seth made another four trips upstairs and came back, arms bulging every time. Finally, he planted himself behind the driver’s seat and gave them a thumbs-up. “I even brought the grenades. We’re good.”

“Hand grenades?” Heavenly asked from the backseat, eyes wide.

“And the launcher.” Seth looked at her in the rearview mirror as he backed out and nodded.

Beck turned to her. “They’re a necessity, Heavenly. I’m hoping we can come up with a better plan before shit gets critical, but if not…we’ll be fighting a war.”