Devil's Bargain

She won’t look at me as she cries quietly.

“I know what happened, what they did to you. What the Boyd’s made you do.”

She makes a sound, tries to draw herself away and she still won’t look at me.

“Look at me,” I say.

She shakes her head.

“Melissa. Look at me.”

I take her face in both hands and hold her, make her look at me. And the look on her face, it breaks something inside me.

“They raped you. They raped a child. You’re not responsible for anything that happened. You know that, don’t you?”

She squeezes her eyes shut and tears flood her face. I’m not sure she can talk right now. I pull her to me, hold her against my chest and let her sob.

“And you don’t have to talk about anything you don’t want to talk about. But know this. I’m going to punish every one I get my hands on. It’s over, sweetheart. No one’s ever going to hurt you again. I swear it.”

It takes her a long time, but I hold her until finally she puts her arms around me. They’re soft at first, weak, but soon, she’s clinging to me, and I lift her up and sit her on my lap and hold her. I just hold her until the sobbing stops and she quiets.

Her eyes are puffy and red when she finally looks up at me.

“Why?” she asks.

“Why what?”

“Why are you still here? I’m a mess, Hawk.”

“You’re not a mess, Melissa. You’re mine.”

37

Melissa

I stare up at him. At this man who stormed into my life just weeks ago.

Has it only been weeks?

This man who bought me not once but twice. Who I expected to be brutal and although he was, he was also gentle. Gentler than any I’ve ever known.

“How did you find me out there?”

He touches my bracelet. “I had a tracking device put in here. A chip. It’s tiny but you felt the weight difference.”

“Why did you…Never mind.” I shake my head. No point in asking why he did that. He’s Hawk MacLeod. I’m not surprised at all. “What now?”

He stands up, walks away, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. When he turns back to me, he runs that hand through his hair and it stands on end.

“When I saw the crashed SUV, Melissa, I was scared. For the first time in a long time, I was scared. I thought—”

“I’m sorry,” I cut him off. “I’m sorry, I just—”

“I’ve wasted a lot of time. I don’t want to waste any more. And I don’t want to lose you. I can’t lose you. I love you.”

It takes me a moment to register that. Then another to really understand it. And I think I misheard him. I must have.

“What did you say?”

He smiles, comes to resume his seat on the bed.

“I said I love you.” He touches my face softly. “I love you.”

“I don’t…When…why…”

“I don’t know when or why, I just know I do.”

“You saved me,” I say. “In so many ways. I’ve never felt as safe with anyone. As protected. You’re not what I expected and I love you, too, Hawk.”

He wraps his big arms around me, pulls me in to him. I wince, my ribs bruised, but I hug him back because the pain is worth it, worth this. I love him. I don’t want to be anywhere but in his arms.

That thought reminds me of something. I draw back.

“You never answered my question the other day,” I say.

“What question?”

“You’re staying here, aren’t you?”

He studies me, cocks his head to the side and gets a familiar glint in his eyes. Like he’s up to no good.

“I have another proposition for you, Melissa.”

38

Hawk

Another’s devil’s bargain.

“Our month isn’t—” she starts.

“I don’t care about the month. It’s not enough. This is my home. It’s been my home from day one. Declan’s right. I should never have left. But past is past. And I’m finished with it.

“I’m staying here, Melissa. Reclaiming my place. I want to watch my nephew grow up. I want to be here with my grandfather. I will rebuild the house to what it once was. No, even better. I will make it grand, as it should always have been.”

I lift her hair over her shoulder before brushing her cheek.

“And I want you to stay here with me. Make this your home too.”

“You want me to leave everything behind—”

“What is everything? What is the life you’ve built in Vegas?”

She shifts her gaze away and I watch her eyebrows furrow.

“What life?” I ask again.

She looks up at me. “The shop.”

“You don’t need the shop. I’ll make monthly donations to the shelter.”

“It’s Mrs. Adams’ legacy, Hawk. I can’t just shut it down.”

“Then I’ll buy it outright. Buy the whole building. Or back you financially if that’s what you want. You’ll promote Deirdre and let her manage it. Hire someone else to help her. Hire anyone you need. Your house is a rental. Your car, well, don’t get me started on that car. And as far as friends, I think you and I are in the same position there.”