“There’s nothing to resolve. Everything that has happened is because of him.”
She rested her hand over my heart. “Including this?”
I felt my heartbeat pound against her chest.
“I don’t think it’s fair to put that kind of burden on Damien. I know what happened to me eats him alive. I know he loves me, would die for me. It’s harsh to put all that guilt on him. And besides, the things that happened were terrible, but they brought us closer together.”
Maybe she was right, but I still couldn’t accept it. “I’m so happy right now, but this with us would’ve happened no matter what. Justifying what happened to you will never be okay. Maddox was provoked by Damien’s stupidity. I don’t forgive him. I can’t forgive him.”
“What if I want you to forgive him?”
Even that wouldn’t make a difference. “We identified his biggest distributor at the ports. We’re gonna finish them, and then Maddox will crawl out of the shadows. This is almost over…almost.”
She didn’t seem upset by the change in subject. “Be careful. What I learned from Maddox is that he’s unpredictable. Expect the unexpected. Even if it seems like you’ve won, keep fighting like you lost.”
I took her warning seriously, but it also made me sick to my stomach. I hated to imagine what she had been through to make that kind of observation, to know how he tortured her to become so tactical. I had to kill this man for what he did to this wonderful woman. She was innocent and didn’t deserve that fate. It was wrong, and no matter what I did, I could never make it right. All I could do was kill him, and hope that would be enough.
“I’m always willing to help. If there’s anything I can do to finish this, I’m happy to do it.”
I didn’t want her anywhere near him ever again. It was my job to protect her. It was one of the reasons she’d agreed to marry me in the first place. “I can handle it, baby.”
She returned her head to my shoulder and cuddled into my side. “I know you can.”
I left the house in the early afternoon.
Sofia wasn’t ready to let me go. She kept looking at me like I might not come back. Those big beautiful eyes were full of worry, and she wore her vulnerability like a second skin. She kept touching me, grabbing my arm or my shoulder because she wanted to feel me as much as she could before I left.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy this. It was the best feeling in the world, to watch the woman I loved love me like this. I was the only man in her heart, and until I was safe, she would constantly worry about me. I was her whole world. It was what I’d always wanted. “I’ll be back tomorrow.” My hands cupped her cheeks, and I brought her face close to mine. My thumb brushed over her bottom lip, and I treasured the sight of her beautiful face.
“Please be careful.”
I told her to stay in the house until I came home. Under no circumstances was she allowed to leave. I’d learned my lesson after Maddox had ruined my life. “Everything will be okay. I’ve got lots of men with me, and this isn’t my first time.”
“Well, I’m still terrified. We need you to come home.”
I loved the way she referred to both her and Andrew, like he was already here. I knew we would have another son, so I would survive this. Or maybe that prophecy was no longer set in stone because I had broken the curse. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
She sighed deeply. “Okay.” She moved into my chest and rested her cheek against my body. Her hands moved up my chest as she held on to me tightly.
I held her against me, my chin resting on her head. The car was waiting for me downstairs and I needed to go, but I wanted to be there for her for as long as she needed. I wanted to comfort my wife and be everything she required.
She eventually pulled away and looked at me. “I love you.”
My hand slid into her hair, and I inhaled a deep breath when I heard those words. Music to my ears and pleasure to my heart, it was the most beautiful thing I’d ever heard someone say. It wasn’t just the words she uttered, but it was the emotion in her voice, the sincerity in her eyes. It was the visible way she loved me, the way she meant it from the bottom of her soul. I’d dreamed of this for so long, pictured myself telling her how I felt years ago. If I had it my way, she would’ve been my wife a long time ago. “I love you too.”