Mine to Protect (Mine 6)

A furrow appeared between her brows.

“But most of all…” Another step. She hadn’t backed away, thank Christ. “I’m mostly sorry that I didn’t tell you I loved you sooner. Because, Zoe, I do love you. I love you so much. I—”

“I know.” Again, her voice was soft. “I heard you…” Her left hand rose and brushed lightly over her stomach. Over the wound that he knew was still covered in stitches. “I heard you talking to me in the ambulance.”

He could almost touch her, but fear held him back. “There’s something you need to know.” Before anything else happened, he had to tell her this part. He’d sworn to never keep another secret from her again. “It’s about Luther.”

He saw her tense.

“I think…I think he may suspect that you’re still alive.”

“Why?” Fear broke in her voice. “What makes you say that?”

“The way he responded.” We both knew she’d never have that while she lived. My daughter couldn’t. Luther’s words kept replaying in his head. “But Luther isn’t going to say anything. He wants the world to think you’re dead. That way, no more hits will ever be put on you. You’re safe now. You can have any life that you want.”

“Can I?” There was doubt on her face.

“Yes.” He’d make sure she got her dreams. Every one of them.

“The problem is,” she murmured. “I don’t know just what life I do want now.”

Victor knew what he wanted. He was staring at her. “Is it too late?”

“Too late for what?”

“Us.” The one word was ragged. “Too late for us to have a chance. A future. Because, Zoe, that’s what I want. All I want. To be with you. To make you happy. To have you look at me—” But he broke off.

Zoe inched closer to him. “To look at you…how?”

“With trust in your eyes. With love. To look at me…and see someone worth loving.”

“Victor…”

She was going to tell him no. “Please.” He was begging her. He’d never begged for anything. Only for her. Always for her. “I can make this right. I can do anything you want. I can—”

A knock sounded on the door.

Zoe tensed.

“It’s okay,” he told her quickly. “It’s just…” He turned away and hurried toward the door. “It’s just for you.” Victor opened the door.

Saxon Black stood on the threshold. Saxon—his chosen brother. Tall and strong and with one serious go-to-hell edge, Saxon had been his friend on the streets and then his partner at the FBI. But Saxon wasn’t alone. He’d brought his wife Elizabeth with him.

Elizabeth…Zoe’s half-sister. And Elizabeth was very obviously pregnant.

“Zoe…” Victor cleared his throat. “There is someone you need to officially meet.” Time to start eliminating all of the secrets. Time to make amends. “Zoe, this is your half-sister, Elizabeth.”

There was dazed shock in both women’s eyes as they stared at each other.

And…

Beneath the shock…there was more. Recognition.

Hope?

Zoe offered her left hand to Elizabeth. Her fingers trembled.

“Victor…” Saxon began, his voice rough and angry.

“Secrets just destroy,” Victor said. “So let me see if the truth can help everyone to heal.”

***

She wasn’t alone any longer.

Zoe stood on the balcony, her gaze on the beach below. Elizabeth was gone, but her half-sister had assured her that she would be back, very soon.

Elizabeth was her family. The baby that Elizabeth carried—a little girl—she would be Zoe’s niece.

I’m not alone.

The pain she’d felt for days had finally faded. Her heart was beating so fast, and a smile wouldn’t leave her face. She knew life wasn’t going to be perfect. Nothing was ever perfect. But…things were better.

For the first time since her mother had died, Zoe thought about the days that would come with hope.

Footsteps shuffled behind her. She didn’t look over her shoulder. She knew Victor was there. Silent, strong Victor.

Victor…who said that he loved her.

“You shouldn’t overdo,” he told her carefully. “Your doctor said that you had to rest and recover.”

Her hand curled around the wooden balcony. “I’m not overdoing.”

“You’re not thinking about jumping over that balcony and running, are you?” He moved closer to her. His words only sounded as if he were half-kidding.

She considered the idea of running and found…no, she didn’t want to run. She wanted to stay exactly where she was. “Will I be getting a new home here in Hawaii?”

“Yes. As soon as you’re feeling stronger, I’ll take you out and we’ll find the perfect place.”

The perfect place for her…or them? “Where will you be?” She turned to look at him. “Heading off on another case?”

Victor shook his head. Night had fallen, and a thousand stars glittered over them. “I’m done with the FBI. I’m starting my own business, and I can run it from any location I want.”

“So where do you want to be?”

His hand lifted and his fingers skimmed down her cheek. “I want to be where you are.”

Her heartbeat drummed even faster.

“I would trade everything I have to take away the pain I caused you,” he whispered as he stared down at her. “I want to make you happy. I want to prove myself to you. I want you to love me again.”

To love him again? “Victor…” She shook her head.

His hand fell away. He stepped back. She could feel his pain in that instant. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “So fucking sorry.” He

turned away.

She grabbed his arm. “I never stopped loving you. That isn’t how it works.”

He looked back. “Zoe?”

“I love you. I love you, but if you ever keep another secret from me again, I will totally make your life an utter living hell, do you understand me?”

“You love me?”

“Do you understand me?” Zoe jabbed his chest. “Because you don’t keep secrets from the people you love. You share everything. Good. Bad. The stuff in the middle. That’s what you do when you make a life with someone.”

“I want to make a life with you.” His words fired out in a rush. “I want everything…with you.”

She smiled up at him. During her time on the island, she’d been able to do a whole lot of thinking. And she’d realized…

I want Victor with me.

“I love you,” he told her, voice so rough and dark. “I always will.”

She stopped jabbing his chest and instead, her fingers curled around his shoulder. “And I will always love you.” She rose onto her toes and kissed him. Not a wild and passionate kiss.

Softer. Sweeter.

A kiss that made her whole body feel warm. Feel safe. Feel…

Loved.

Victor Monroe. Ex-FBI bad-ass. Ex-street fighter. All around trouble.

And he was hers.

That hope in her heart blossomed even more. Yes, she really couldn’t wait to see what tomorrow would bring…what would happen in the days ahead.

Because the new life that was waiting? It was hers. Her life with Victor. Her life free of Luther’s dark influence.

Her life.

And she would protect it…protect that chance at happiness…at all costs.

Victor wrapped her in his arms and held her close.

Just where she wanted to be.

***

“Zoe…”

Her name was soft. Husky.

“Zoe, baby, I have a present for you.”

Her eyes fluttered open. She found Victor sitting on the bed, holding a very large box in his hands. A familiar box.

“I just wanted to give you something,” he whispered, “to make you happy.”

She sat up in bed, holding the sheet close. She lifted the lid off the big, white box. Saw the feathers.

Her costume. He’d actually brought the costume? Her fingers slid over the feathers. “It’s really nice,” she told him, swallowing the lump in her throat. “But there’s something else that makes me happy…”