Page 47 of Kilo's Edge

Now my heart was doing the merengue against my ribcage. I was thrilled to hear those words. I’d been slowly falling for this man over the last month and he was giving me everything I wanted, and more. “Kilo,” I said, a little breathless. “I want that, too.”

“But you’re scared,” he said, finishing the words I didn’t say out loud.

I nodded. “I can’t watch anyone be hurt. It would be my fault.”

“No, it’s the fault of the sadistic asshole who’s hunting you,” he pointed out. “None of this is your fault, Camila.”

“Whoever’s fault it is, or isn’t,” I told him, “the truth is, this isn’t just going to go away. It could be years before the FBI finishes the case against Kruzman.”

“Even then, you wouldn’t be safe.”

My eyes widened and he sighed.

“Sorry, but it’s true. Prison doesn’t hold onto men like that for long. And even if he were to stay inside, there’s people out here who will still do his fucking bidding.”

I hadn’t thought of it like that. All my hopes were pinned on Kruzman being locked away. Now I didn’t know what to hope for.

He must have seen my face fall because he came over and sat next to me. I turned toward him and he cupped both my cheeks in his hands and stared into my eyes. “I want to protect you. Let me take care of this for you. Agree to be mine.”

I let out a soft laugh. “I’vebeenyours,” I admitted. “Pretty much since that football almost hit me. I haven’t been able to think of much else.”

He grinned at me, then leaned forward and kissed me. He pulled me onto his lap and wrapped his arms around me. “Don’t worry, I protect what’s mine. We’ll take care of Kruzman.”

“How?” I asked. “He almost seems untouchable. The FBI can’t seem to pin him down. The Marshals can’t hold him at bay.”

“They have rules to follow,” he said with a wry smile. “We don’t.”

“We?”

“The club will help protect you and your family.”

“Why would they do this for us?”

“Because you’re mine. And we protect our own.”

I tried to imagine what that was like. To have such safety and security surrounding you. I was afraid to be hopeful of what that meant for me, Mama, and Carmen.

“What if you get hurt? If one of them gets hurt?” I shook my head, tears threatening to fall. “I don’t want to put any of you in danger.”

“Leave all that up to us. We’re coming up with a plan to deal with this fucker. Pretty soon he won’t be a threat to you anymore.”

I stared into his eyes and shook my head in wonder. “Thank you. I- I’ve never had anyone do something like this for me before.”

“Your father put you in an impossible position. He put your whole family in danger. You shouldn’t have to shoulder this burden. And now you won’t.”

“You shouldn’t have to shoulder it either,” I pointed out. “I still don’t understand why you’re willing to.”

He chuckled. “It’s clear you don’t get it.” He moved his face closer until our noses were almost touching. “I’m willing to take this on, because it means I get to keep you.”

I relaxed and smiled at him. “I don’t know how to repay you.”

“I do,” he said. He picked me up as he stood then tossed me over his shoulder.

Laughing, I dangled there as he took me into his bedroom. “Put me down.”

“Sure.” He tossed me onto the bed.

I squealed as I bounced on his mattress, then sucked in a breath as the realization hit. I felt light as a feather. And it was all because of him. I trusted him to keep his word and to help me. Somehow, he’d taken all the mental and physical burden from me and I just wanted to bask in the relief that was filling me. And the love.

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