Page 127 of Vengeful Secret

The blood looks almost beautiful in the harsh sunlight of the park, spewing out of the men who’d tried to kill us.

“Sutton. Sutton!” Gray’s voice is harsh as he shakes me. “Put the gun down,a ghrá,” he says quietly, and I slowly lower it, trembling all over.

“I killed him,” I say slowly. “I think I killed him.”

Gray turns and kicks the man I’d hit. He groans, and Gray promptly shoots him in the head.

“You didn’t. I did.”

But I’m still trembling when Gray kisses me deeply.

“Things are only going to get worse,” he says quietly. “We’re at war.”

It’s a rerun, a repeat of what he told me the other night, but he’s right to say it twice. It’s important that I know.

“I know,” I say quietly. “But I love you, Gray. I want to be with you forever. I have to accept the good with the bad.”

“You love me?” he asks, as if that’s the only thing he heard.

“So much,” I admit, tears streaming down my face as I finally come back to my body, feeling Gray’s arms around me.

“I love you, too, Sutton. More than you can imagine. I want us to be a family.”

We’re standing in a park where people are still screaming and running, and we’re surrounded by bodies, but this is the most perfect moment I’ve ever had.

“You want to… marry me?”

My heart soars. I’ve never wanted anything more, and it doesn't matter that I’m trembling and that I just shot someone.

Gray protected me, just like I protected him. We’re meant to be.

“More than anything,” he says fiercely. “I don’t have a ring. I wasn’t really prepared for this?—”

I snort out a dark laugh. “Me, either.”

“We can go and choose one together.”

“Not now,” I whisper. “Right now, I want to hug my baby and head home. Tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow,” he promises, and kisses me again, holding me tightly against him as he leads me to the car.

Ciara’s at home, anxiously waiting for us when we pull up, and she runs to the car, throwing her arms around Gray.

“Did you get the bad guys?"

“I got them," he promises. “And I promise that'll never happen again.”

“It was scary.” She pulls away, sniffling. “Can I go to the pool?”

I chuckle.

“See if Aunt Lara will take you.” I get out of the car and hug her tightly before letting her run off.

“She bounced back fast.” Gray smiles.

“Kids always do.”

“Are you all right?” he asks, looking at me with concern on his face.

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