Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
“Ronan, I need you,” I tell him. “Our baby needs you. Okay? That’s all that matters. And if we don’t get you into the car right this minute…”
“She’s right,” a voice interrupts from behind me.
I turn to find Rory standing there, his eyes fixed on Ronan’s blood soaked shirt.
“Get in the car, Fitz. I’ll finish off Andrei.”
Ronan shakes his head, stubborn as ever. “He’s mine. I’ll be the one to finish him.”
All of our eyes move to the man in question, who Scarlett has done quite a number on already. His face and arms and chest are all covered in cuts now, and she’s holding the knife to his throat.
“I’m going to finish him,” she announces.
Rory shakes his head and yanks her up to her feet without an ounce of finesse. She tries to shove him away, but he holds her steady and kicks Andrei in the face when he moans.
“I won’t allow ye to have that on your conscience,” he says to her. “No matter how tough you think ye are Scarlett. I will not abide by it.”
His voice is hard. Harder than I’ve ever known it to be. And Scarlett is looking up at him with glassy eyes. I don’t know what’s going on between these two, but Rory’s words affect her. She listens to him, her shoulders falling in defeat. Then she glances back at Ronan, and she gives him a little nod.
“He’s all yours.”
“I’ll put him in the boot,” Rory offers, as if this is totally normal. “You’ll have all the time ye like with him later. Just get your arse in the car.”
Ronan tries to take a step towards the stairs, but his balance is off and he has to cling to the wall. I wrap an arm around his waist and turn back towards Rory.
“I’ll need help getting him in the car.”
Rory nods, and then he’s bolting over to help, but Ronan’s still staring at Andrei.
“Ronan.” I grab his face and pull his attention back to me. “You can deal with it later, okay? Let’s get in the car.”
“He tried to hurt you,” he says again. “Ye’re mine.”
“I am,” I agree. “And I need you to stick around. For a really long time, okay? Because I can’t do this without you.”
I try to get him to move forward, but he stops us. I think he’s going to argue again, but instead he kisses me. It’s rough and possessive. When his lips fall away, his face is as earnest as I’ve ever seen it.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he says. “Because I love you, Sasha.”
My eyes clog up with tears, and I’m nodding like crazy because I’m too choked up to speak. Finally, I get myself under control enough to tell him what I’ve been dying to for the last three years.
“I love you too, Ronan. I think I always have.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Sasha
Ronan’s passed out in the backseat, his head in my lap. Scarlett and I are both applying pressure to the wound while Daisy nudges at his leg, whining in fear.
That fear is spreading through me like toxic sludge, darkening my world that was only just beginning to get bright again.
“You have to hurry,” I yell at Rory for the tenth time, although I know he can’t drive any faster.
“He’s going to be okay, Sash,” he answers. “He’s survived much worse.”
“I don’t care,” I snap at him. “Where the hell are you taking us? It’s been too long. He’s bleeding too much…”
“We can’t go back to Boston just yet,” Rory says. “In case it wasn’t clear, we’ve got mad heat on us right now.”
“I don’t care about that…” I protest.
“Sasha, we have a friend out here,” he explains. “He’ll take care of Ronan.”
I want to believe him, but when I glance down at Ronan’s pale face, I don’t know if I can. This is too big to put my faith in someone else. This man resting on my lap is my whole world. My whole life. The sun rises and sets with him. And I know he’s strong. He’s stronger than anyone I know. But just because he’s survived so many horrors in his lifetime, doesn’t mean he’s going to survive this one too.
“It’s too much.” I shake my head. “He’s been through too much. Eventually, your body can’t handle it.”
“Sasha.” Scarlett grabs my hand and gives it a little squeeze. “Just take a deep breath. It’s going to be okay. He doesn’t want to leave you. He won’t leave you.”
“I’m having his baby,” I announce.
“I know ye are,” Rory answers. “And there’s nothing that could stop him from being around for it Sash.”
“He told you?” I meet his gaze in the mirror.
“Aye.” Rory nods. “He wouldn’t shut up about it. How much he needs to protect you. Take care of you. He blames himself for walking on out on you today. For not being there.”