Page 36 of Rev

He takes a deep breath, his gaze softening. “All right, love. I need to wrap things up here, first. Just give me a little more time.”

I squeeze his hand, offering what comfort I can. “I’ll be right here.”

He nods, leaning down to kiss my forehead. “Thank you, Harley.”

I watch as he turns and heads back inside the warehouse, the door closing behind him with a heavy thud. I resume my pacing, trying to keep my anxiety at bay. The minutes tick by slowly, each one feeling like an eternity.

Finally, the door opens again, and Hadrian steps out, looking even more drained than before. He walks towards me, his steps slow and heavy. When he reaches me, he pulls me into a tight embrace, holding me as if he’s drawing strength from me.

“It’s over,” he murmurs into my hair. “At least for now.”

I pull back slightly to look at him. “Are you okay?”

He nods, but I can see the weight he’s carrying. “I will be, Magpie. Let’s get out of here.”

We get into the car, but before Hadrian drives away, he turns to me. “I’m sorry. I wish I could’ve protected you from all of this,” he says quietly, his voice full of regret.

I shake my head. “You don’t have to apologise, Hadrian. We’re in this together. I chose to be here with you. And I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

He wraps his arm around me, holding me close. “I just… I never wanted you to be a part of this life and there are still more threats out there. I don’t want you to get hurt, Harley.”

I look up at him, my heart swelling with love. “Whatever lies ahead, we’ll get through it. Together. We’ve faced so much already, and we’re still standing.”

He nods, but I can see the doubt in his eyes. Reaching up, I cup his face in my hands. “Hey, look at me. I love you, Hadrian. And I’m not going anywhere.”

A small smile tugs at his lips. “I love you too, Harley. More than you’ll ever know.”

We sit there in silence for a while, just holding each other. The weight of the night slowly lifts, replaced by a sense of calm. I know there are battles ahead, still so much to face, but in this moment, with Hadrian by my side, I feel invincible.

“Do you want to talk about what happened?” I ask gently, tracing patterns on his chest.

He sighs, his fingers playing with my hair. “Not tonight. Tonight, I just want to be with you. We can face everything else tomorrow.”

I nod. “Okay. Tonight, it’s just you and me.”

As we drive away from the warehouse, the dark streets of South Shields stretching out before us, Hadrian briefly places his hand on my thigh and squeezes gently, letting me know we’re in this together.

And for tonight, that’s enough.

SIXTEEN

REV

The car ride to Harley’s house is quiet, filled with tense anticipation. Every few moments, I glance over at her, catching the way her hands twist in her lap and the occasional tremble in her fingers. She looks out of the window, lost in her thoughts, and I can tell she’s as nervous as I am.

When she told me she’d bought her own home, I was so proud of her. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, but I’ve never got round to it. If Harley and I are going to make this work, I need to get my arse in gear.

She deserves somewhere she can come back to when she needs to feel safe. Maybe a place where we can start a family. Who knows what the future holds, but I can say with absolute certainty that my path will always lead me back to Harley.

When we pull up to her house, which is right by the coast, the sight of it makes my heart race. She’s never invited me to her home before, and I feel honoured to be here now. I know this is her private, safe space. And then an unbidden thought pops into my head—who else has she brought back to this place? What about the other men she’s dated? I can’t stop the jealousy that starts to burn through me.

I should have been her first, but I sacrificed that privilege when I left her hurting on the bench by the sea all those years ago. Now this house is about to become the backdrop for a new chapter in our story. I cut the engine and sit for a moment, gathering my thoughts.

Harley looks at me then, her eyes searching mine.

“Are you ready?” she asks softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

I nod, offering her a reassuring smile. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

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