Page 135 of Brutal Game

“You’re hurt.”

“I’ll hurt worse if you don’t come here and let me hold you,” I wheedled.

She wheeled her IV toward me, sitting carefully on my hospital bed.

“Jack, your hand!”

“It’s fine. The doctor told me it would heal okay and I’ll be able to play hockey. And even if I couldn’t—” my throat worked, “I wouldn’t care. I have you, and that’s what matters.”

Tears filled her eyes. Finding strength I didn’t knew I had, I pulled her down against me with one arm.

Thank fuck.Having her in my arms immediately healed a wound inside of me the hospital hadn’t managed to mend.

Burying her head in my chest, she inhaled.

“I was so scared,” she whispered.

“Me too,” I said, inhaling her scent, too. She smelled likesmoke and hospital, but I’d rectify that as soon as they let us leave. Shower, feed her, fuck her—so she smelled like me and only me.

Tugging her hair gently with my good hand, I pulled her back so I could look at her face.

“Should you even be down here?”

She stared at me, eyes working. “You don’t want me here?”

“Don’t ever ask a question like that. I’m worried that you are out of bed when you should be resting.”

But I was greedy for her, and selfish, and glad she was here anyway. She’d fought to see me. She’d made it clear that she would fight for me, no matter what. And I hadn’t realized I’d needed that from her until now.

I buried my nose in her hair. I might’ve been imagining it, but I thought I caught a whiff of apples and honey.

Which reminded me.

“What the hell were you thinking, leaving your apartment and going to meet him?” I tried to keep my tone even.

“Coach Jensen texted me that he had you and was going to hurt you. I knew it was a trap, but it didn’t matter. I couldn’t risk losing you.”

This woman. My heart—that organ I was sure had died when I was a kid—beat steadily in my chest, so fucking content with the world. Withher. Aviva was brave, loyal—and finally her loyalty was mine, the way I’d craved since I’d first gotten to know her.

That didn’t mean I’d allow her to risk herself.

“You’re not doing anything like that ever again. You don’t sacrifice your safety for mine?—”

She interrupted me, staring me down with her big, beautiful brown eyes. “You almost sacrificed yourlifefor me. I know we didn’t start this way, but hear me, Jack Feldman—we’re equal partners in this relationship, now. And it means we need to give, equally. I love you too much for anything else.”

I stroked her hair. “Understood.”

I got it now, why so many people lied. To protect her, I’d lie through my teeth for the rest of my life, and never lose sleep over it.

“I don’t know if you know how much I love you,” I said, quietly, solemnly. “I don’t even have words for it. I don’t think there are words for it. I love you fiercely, obsessively, relentlessly. I love you in my heart, mind, soul, in my fucking bones, until the day I die, and then I’ll love you still. There’s no heaven or hell for me, little fury—just you, forever.”

Eyes glistening, she kissed me, softly, a promise. “Those are great words. Especially for a Classics major.”

I laughed, and kissed her back, content in the feel of her lips against mine.

With a start, she pulled back. “I forgot to ask—how did you even find me?”

I wasn’t about to tell her about the trackers. “Intuition,” I said smoothly.

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