Page 88 of Final Vendetta

I yanked open doors, one after another, each room that didn’t contain the woman I was looking for feeding my growing desperation. My legs gave out briefly, sending me crashing into a cart of medical equipment, but I pushed myself upright again.

“Imogene!”

“Gideon.”

The soft voice cut through the chaos in my mind.

I froze, unsure if it was real or I was simply hallucinating. Slowly, I turned toward the source.

She leaned in the doorway across the hall, her hair disheveled and her face pale.

“What are you doing out of bed, you stubborn ass?”

I crossed the hall in two unsteady strides, cupping her face in my hands. Her skin was warm and soft beneath my touch, her steady pulse a welcome relief.

Or perhaps an answered prayer.

“Is this heaven?” I asked, my voice trembling.

She let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “I wouldn’t call Los Angeles heaven, but it’s not the worst place I’ve ever been.”

The sound of her voice, the glint of humor in her eyes — it was real.Shewas real.

“What happened?” I asked, still struggling to process it all.

Her smile widened, a hint of mischief shining in her eyes. “Well, since you got a tattoo where mine is, I figured it was only fair I get a bullet wound where yours is.”

She shifted her gown just enough to reveal the bandage covering her side.

I let out a shaky laugh, pressing my forehead to hers. Relief poured through me in waves, leaving me weak but lighter than I’d felt in years.

“I thought I lost you,” I murmured.

“You’re not getting rid of me that easily,” she whispered back. “I took a bullet for you. You owe me now. And I intend on collecting.”

I pulled her into a gentle hug, careful of her injury but unwilling to let go. “I’ll gladly pay for the rest of my life.” I tipped her chin back and touched a soft kiss to her lips, relishing in her warmth. Then I met her gaze. “And Liam?”

Her expression fell, and she gave a small shake of her head. “He didn’t make it. One of the guards got to him just as Henry’s team arrived. Slashed his throat.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, letting this news sink in.

It was what I wanted for years, but it didn’t feel as satisfying I imagined it would. I didn’t relish in his demise like I thought I would.

“Now what?” I mused to myself.

Imogene pressed her hand to my cheek, forcing my gaze back to her. “Now we live happily ever after.”

I inched my lips toward hers, the weight of the past five years evaporating. “I like the sound of that.”

“As do I.”

I still had dozens of questions. About how Henry figured out where we were. About how many more of Myers’ victims were out there.

But I wasn’t going to worry about that right now. Instead, I was going to do what I never thought I’d be able to do again.

I was going to live for the now. Not the past. Not the future. Just now.

Because that was all that truly mattered. This moment. This woman. And this love.

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