Page 88 of Whiskey Run Heroes

“Hell yeah, she is,” Carter agrees.

“I know.” I turn to Nico. “I swear, Nico, I would die before I let something happen to her. She wanted to save the girl, and I should have known she wouldn’t have been able to sit by while someone else was getting hurt.”

Nico shakes his head. “No, I understand. She’s stubborn... just like her sister.” When he realizes he said that out loud, he looks over at Carter. “Don’t tell Anna I said that.”

At that moment, Kali lifts her head up. “Oh, I’m going to tell her for sure.”

“Come here, you,” Nico tells her, and she climbs out of the truck into his arms. I know that Nico and Carter are both married, but it still bothers me seeing them with their arms around Kali or when Carter is rubbing her back with his prosthetic arm.

I almost reach for her, but I don’t have to because she walks willingly into my arms. “Thank you, Knox.”

It’s almost like she’s telling me goodbye or something, but that’s not happening.

“You need to come back to the house and get cleaned up, shower, then you can call Anna. You guys are welcome to come, of course.”

Nico looks at Carter, and he’s nodding his head. “Sure, let’s do that.”

I talk to Bear and watch as Kali gives him a hug and thanks him. Bear smiles at her—at least it’s supposed to be a smile, but it looks more like a cringe. There’s paperwork and everythingelse that needs to be done, but Nash is on his way, and he’ll make sure that cleanup is handled.

I hold my hand out to Kali. “Let’s go.”

Kali

I’ve showeredand talked to Anna. After her first initial yelling, she was okay when she discovered I wasn’t hurt except for the cuts on my hands. She asked me if I was coming to Arizona, but I don’t know what I’m doing at this point. I know what I want, but I don’t know if that’s possible.

Nico is sitting across from me on the couch. “You need to come home... to Arizona. Anna and Faith need to see for themselves that you’re safe. Your family needs you.”

Knox has barely left my side since we got here. I thought Nico was going to lose it when Knox told him he was going to help me in the shower. But Knox wasn’t backing down, and when I told Nico it was okay, he finally let it go. Knox hasn’t said much, and I know he feels guilty for everything, but he shouldn’t.

I look over at Knox, who’s sitting next to me. His thigh is warm and pressed against mine he’s sitting so close. I want to stay with him, but we haven’t talked about any kind of future. I’m still feeling tied up in knots about lying to him and seeing him so close to that bomb all because of me.

How can I already care about him so much? The way he sees me, like he knows me better than anyone else. Why didn’t I take the chance and tell him that sooner?

Knox puts his elbows on his knees and leans forward. “You should go to your sister.”

I open my mouth, but I’m speechless. I try to hide my disappointment and despair.

“Uh, okay,” I whisper.

Nico is looking at us, and even he is surprised.

Knox puts his hand on my knee. “But I’m going too.”

I raise my head to look into his eyes. Did I just hear him right?

“I can station anywhere.”

My mouth drops. “You’d do that? Just to be with me?” I can’t help asking. “What about your house?”

“We’ll rent it out or sell it. I don’t care. It never felt like home until you were here with me. I just know I want to be where you are, Kali. If you’ll have me.”

I wrap my arms around his waist and hold on to him, but that’s not enough. I seize his mouth, claiming it in a passionate kiss.

He pulls back and looks into my eyes. “I love you, Kali.”

Even with Nico and Carter sitting with us, I don’t care. I climb into his lap and wrap my arms around his neck. “I love you too, Knox.”

EPILOGUE

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