Page 20 of Echo

She watched me hesitantly for a moment before speaking. “I know you can’t tell me everything, but…can you share anything? Did you accomplish what you needed to yesterday?”

I sighed and leaned back on my pillow, studying the ceiling as I contemplated how much to share. “We found Jeff’s boss. Just going to take a little time to put things into place so we can take the group down completely.”

“Oh.”

She sounded so dejected that I rolled us over so I could study her expression when I asked, “What’s that tone for?”

Violet licked her lips and glanced away.

“Look at me, Violet,” I ordered.

Her purple gaze returned to my face, and we locked eyes.

“So you don’t need my apartment anymore?” she queried softly. “Since you don’t need Jeff to lead you to the guy in charge?”

I immediately understood her change in demeanor, and smug satisfaction bloomed in my chest. “You think we’re done because I found another lead to follow?”

She nodded, and her violet pools glistened with tears, even though she was blinking rapidly to hold them back.

“Think again, baby,” I growled. “This”—I pointed back and forth between us—“will never be done.”

Hope sparked in her beautiful eyes, and her chest froze as if she was holding her breath.

“I meant it when I said you were mine, baby. There’s no going back now.”

Her mouth widened into a brilliant smile, and she sighed happily. “That’s not all that unappealing either.”

I raised an eyebrow and narrowed my eyes. “Just not unappealing? Clearly, I haven’t been doing my job.”

By the time I let her out of bed, she agreed that being mine was the best idea ever as she wobbled to the bathroom on unsteady legs.

We spent the day together, working on our shit between christening every room and piece of sturdy furniture in her apartment.

She let me listen while she recorded the first chapter of her newest project, and I completely understood why she was so sought after. I’d been caught up in the story, transported there by her voice and the way she weaved her words. It was magic.

When we went to bed that night, we were both so damn tired that we slept like the dead. I’d just plated our breakfast and placed it in front of Violet at the bar when my phone rang from the bedroom.

“Be right back, baby,” I told her, giving her a quick kiss before stalking to the other room.

It was Blaze calling so I quickly answered. “Yeah?”

“Hope I’m not interrupting,” he chortled.

“Wouldn’t have answered the damn phone, asshole,” I grumbled.

“Fair enough. Wizard’s got something, get your ass to the clubhouse.”

“Violet’s eating breakfast. As soon as she’s done, we’ll head over.”

“Fine. Also, I ordered the vest. Should be here next week.”

“Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.”

I ended the call as I returned to the kitchen and put my arms around my woman, burying my face in the crook of her neck. Damn, she smelled amazing.

“Gotta go to the clubhouse for some business,” I told her. “I want you to come with me.”

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