Page 63 of Inevitable

“We heard a gunshot! What happened?”

I just shake my head and lift Ashlynn in my arms. “We have to get her to a doctor, she was shot again and we won’t make it back to the house this time.” As we are hurrying towards the door another figure steps out of the shadows with his hands raised. We all draw our guns on him as he shakes with fear.

“P-please,” he stutters. “I am a doctor. I can help her.”

My eyes widened with realization at what this doctor was here to do to her. My fingers twitch to reach for my gun and blow this fuckers brains across the wall, but I don’t have time to be picky. I give a short nod and lay her back on the table.

Out of his bag he pulls out what he will need to stitch her up. He even has a unit of blood to give her. He makes quick work of patching her up, refusing to meet any of our eyes. I run my hand along her head and whisper sweet nothings into her ear as she groans in pain.

When he is finished, he looks at me, his face both terrified and resigned. It is like he knows he is about to die. Smart man. I lift my gun to him when a hand grabs my jacket. I look down to see a weak Ashlynn shake her head.

“Don’t,” she says softly. “He didn’t want to, he was forced.”

I look back to see him staring at her in shock that she would offer such a kindness to him. He meets my eyes and gives a small nod. I turn back to scoop Ashlynn up and walk past him without as much as a sideways glance.

When we step outside it’s like walking on to a battlefield. There is blood and bodies everywhere. I notice a few of my men among them and my chest twists in pain at seeing them like this, but all I care about right now is getting home. Everything else can wait.

When we get home, I carry Ashlynn up to our bed and tuck her in before lying next to her. “I am really sick of being shot, please tell me this is over,” she whispers to me in a raspy voice.

I let out a choked sob and smile smoothing her hair back. The regret I feel for her being hurt is overwhelming and the guilt at knowing it’s all my fault eats at me. But now that she is safe there is something else I need to handle. I kiss her temple softly.

“Almost, Angel,” I whisper.

Her eyes flutter shut and I slip out of the room quietly. I pull out my phone and make the call I have been holding out on for a while now.

“Hello, Agent Carter please.”

Chapter Twenty Four

Ashlynn

The next morning, I wake up to featherlight kisses trailing across my face. I smile softly and let out a peaceful sigh.

“Marry me, mi angelo?” Luca whispers lightly.

My eyes spring open and I look up to see a gentle smile on his face as he brushes a piece of hair off my face. “What?” I gasp.

“Marry me. I can’t live another day without you being mine forever. I have almost lost you too many times. You are it for me, marry me,” he says as he holds up a diamond ring.

I am instantly dizzy and overwhelmed, this moment taking me back to that night at the pond all those years ago. I told him that the next time he would ask I would say yes, but so much has happened since then. We are different people and live completely different lives. I’ve been drug into this life and I got to say I don’t enjoy it, at all. The constantly being shot at is a huge detractor. But then I think about the good. All the laughs and happy moments shared and the amazing things we can do together, like create this sweet baby. When I think about all that the choice is obvious and easy to make.

“Sì. Sì, naturalmente!” I exclaim in what I hope comes across as clear Italian. The relief is evident on his face. He slips the ring on my finger and brings my face close to his and delivers a head spinning kiss. I can’t help but moan into the kiss, relishing in the feeling of his skilled lips brushing against mine passionately. He pulls away and gives me the brightest, most genuine smile I have ever seen before.

“I don’t want to wait,” he said. “Let’s get married today.”

“What! You are crazy. No way at least a year.”

“Tomorrow,” he countered.

I roll my eyes. “6 months.”

“This weekend.”

“Luca, no! It would take months to plan a wedding, it’s physically not possible.”

He pursed his lips when he realized he would not be getting his way. A few moments of silence pass as he sits there contemplating something before he gives a short nod and kisses the side of my head.

“Fine, 1 month. End of discussion.”

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