Page 44 of Seeking Salvation

“Bás wants them for interrogation purposes,” Watchdog said down the line and Reaper grinned.

Titan didn’t care. He crouched to Maya and pulled the filthy cloth from her mouth before untying her hands. “Ti, you have a knife in your shoulder.”

Glancing sideways, he saw the hilt of the blade sticking out and knew it would need to stay there until he could get something to cover the wound because it was going to bleed like a bitch. “It’s fine. Let’s go home and you can patch me up.”

He lifted her in his arms and she looped her arms around his neck, wincing at the motion and moving a hand to her ribs.

“You’re hurt.”

“It’s just a bruise. Did you hear? He admitted it.”

“I heard, baby. Now, let’s go. Reaper can handle this from here on out. I’m taking you home.”

Chapter 15

“What the hell were you thinking going there and confronting him like that? You could have been killed.”

Titan had barely said a word on the drive back to her flat, and she’d felt the weight of his anger settle over her skin. “Let me clean your shoulder, please? It’ll get infected.”

Titan glared at her and then nodded and headed for the bathroom without a word, Maya following close behind. Sitting on the toilet with the lid down, she watched him pull the blade free, blood dribbling out at a steady pace.

She watched it for a second as it oozed out slowly, her gaze transfixed, and her lip wobbled as the adrenaline left her body and she swayed.

“Woah.” Titan jumped up and caught her, pulling her down into his lap. “You okay, baby?”

Maya swallowed and focused on not passing out. “Yeah, just a little wobbly. Engineering isn’t this exciting so I’m not used to this kind of thing.”

She saw remorse tumble across his face and he hung his head. “Fuck. Here I am berating you like a child and you’ve been through hell. I’m sorry, Maya. I was out of line.”

“Yes, you were.”

Titan chuckled and she glared at him and tried to push off his lap, but he held her still. “Don’t run. Fight me, tell me I’m an asshole. Call me out on my bullshit but don’t run from me, Maya. Please?”

Warmth coated her skin and she realised he was still bleeding. “Let me clean you up.”

Slipping off his knee, she bent to grab the first aid box and quickly found gauze and alcohol. It wasn’t going to be enough but it would be enough for now.

Maya felt her hands tremble slightly as she dabbed at the wound on Titan’s shoulder, the warmth of his skin sending shivers down her spine. His words echoed in her mind, each syllable heavy with concern and frustration. She knew she’d acted rashly, driven by a need to protect him, no matter the cost, but seeing the pain etched in his features now made her realize the gravity of her actions. And not just the physical pain either, she’d frightened him. He’d been terrified for her and she’d never had that before. Never had someone so worried for her, so it felt foreign but also nice.

As she carefully cleaned the wound, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt for causing Titan such distress. Her heart ached at the thought of him being terrified for her safety, his usual stoic demeanour cracking under the weight of his emotions.

“I’m sorry, Titan,” Maya whispered, her voice barely above a breath. “I never meant to worry you.”

Titan’s gaze softened as he looked at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of relief and affection. “Do you have any idea how scared I was when I heard you’d put yourself in danger and gone to the club to face Nico?” His hand reached out to gently cup Maya’s cheek, his touch sending a jolt of warmth through her. “You’re too important to me to risk your life like that,” he admitted, his voice sober but filled with unvoiced emotions. Maya could see the turmoil in his eyes, the fear of losing her laid before her.

She leaned into his touch, savouring the comfort it offered amidst the chaos and blood surrounding them. “I couldn’t let him get away with what he did to Rose, Titan,” she replied, her voice steady despite the flicker of doubt in her eyes. “I had to make things right. I had to make him pay and I had to make sure Tyrique had his father in his life, not rotting in jail or worse.”

Titan’s jaw clenched at her words, a mixture of pride and frustration warring within him. “I understand your reasons, Maya, but you have to promise me that you won’t act so impulsively again,” he begged his thumb stroking her cheek gently. “I can’t bear the thought of losing you.”

“You won’t lose me, Ti.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

“Good, now bring those lips closer so I can kiss you properly.”

Maya felt her heart squeeze with all the love she felt for this man and, after the last six hours, she had no intention of holding back.

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