Page 105 of Falcon's Prey

Ren shot up off the bed so fast, pulling me away from Gideon.

“You guys wouldn’t be interested in a threesome?”

“No,” Ren and I said at the same time.

Gideon threw his hands up in surrender.

“What you wanted is ready,” he said as he walked out the door, leaving it open.

“Come on, get dressed. We have things to do.”

I pouted.

Ren came to closer to me, grabbing my hand and putting it on his erection. “I fucking want to tear into your pussy like no other, make no mistake, but as much as I hate to say this, G might have a point. I need everything to win tomorrow.”

He sounded serious, so I got dressed. “Where are we going?”

Forty minutes later, we were in the car heading downtown. It felt good being out of the house joining the rest of the world, but it was also scary. Because when I was alone with Ren in his little bubble, I was safe, and I could pretend nothing else bothered me.

We stopped at a small boutique where Ren told me to be quick and pick up something to wear. Since I had the shoes and jeans, I just grabbed a leather jacket and a top. Ren paid for the clothes, grabbed my hand, and led me back to the car.

“Where are we going?” I asked as my heart started to pound violently against my rib cage.

We were too close to downtown.He wouldn’t take me home, right?For a second, I felt stupid if he wanted the reward. What if that was the easiest thing to do—collect the money for me and save his life over mine. What if it was all a lie?

“Whatever you’re thinking, stop thinking it.” Ren grabbed my hand.

“I’m not thinking anything,” I lied.

He didn’t say any more, and I waited with dread in my veins the closer we got. Ren then took a turn, and I was able to breathe for a second until it became clear where we were.

“I wasn’t able to get all the shit you usually get them, but I think I did okay,” he said as he put the car in park in front of the homeless camp.

I always associated crying with being sad, weak, and pathetic. I never knew you could cry from happiness.

Blinking back tears, I asked, “Why?”

“You’re not my prisoner, Ember, and I know it doesn’t seem that way right now. I know doing this shit makes you happy. I didn’t think it was wise to go to the hospital, but this, I could do for you.”

“I don’t want to go to the hospital anymore.” My voice shook.

Ren reached cupped my cheek. “Once things are settled, we can go there.”

I shook my head. “I won’t… It’s been a year, Ren. I…I abandoned them. I know not all of them will be there if I go back…” My chest rose and fell, and I felt sick to my stomach. “What if…what if they think I didn’t care?”

The last part came out as a choked whisper. We hadn’t talked about my time with Silas. It was the only thing Ren never brought up. I never questioned it because I didn’t want to tell him about that year. It could be like it never existed.

“Hey, look at me,” Ren said as he forced me to meet his eyes. “Yeah, it might suck at first, but you love that. You helped those families more than you let the world see. I saw it that day. The way those kids adored you. The stuff you slipped to the parents. Your money was always tied up, so you gave them your diamonds, didn’t you?”

I looked away. He was right, and I didn’t tell him otherwise. I didn’t care about giving away my jewelry so those families could pawn them. They had sick kids, and they loved them, wanted to be with them. The least I could do was make it a little easier for them to make that happen. The board would have never approved of me spending my money like that. What I donated to the hospital was more than enough. It would never be enough. So I let the board think I lost merchandise, that I didn’t give a fuck about my legacy, because I somehow always knew they would never let me have it.

“You’re strong, Ember. And I’m so fucking proud of you.”

It was at that moment that I knew I loved him.

I might have suspected it sooner, but right then and there, I knew it, and it completely terrified me. I swallowed back words I wanted to say, trying to forget that I ever thought them.

“Thank you,” was all I managed to say.

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