Page 122 of I Am Salvation

“Diana.” I nudge her. “Diana, wake up.”

She opens one eye and yawns, stretching her arms above her head. “Hey…”

“Get up. I’ve got to get on the move. Alayna found the compound for the cult, and the SWAT team is moving in. I want to be there. I want to be there when Griffin comes out.”

“Oh, yeah.” She sits up quickly and swings her legs to the side of the bed. “Sure. I’ll get packed.”

“Diana…”

She gives me a dirty look. “We’ve been through this. We talked about it last night. Where you go, I go. I want to be there for you, Dragon.”

“That’s before I knew the SWAT team was involved.” I rub her shoulder. “This could be dangerous, and your ankle is still healing.”

She rolls her eyes. “I don’t plan to go into the place with the SWAT team. I’ll be fine.”

“What about the dogs?”

“We’ll take them to a kennel like we talked about last night.”

My blood begins to boil. Not with anger, but with love. The need to protect this woman.

“No. I can’t let you come, Diana. I can’t risk you.”

She hops off the bed and whips both hands to her hips. “This is important to you. Maybe the most important thing you’ll ever do. I’m not letting you go in alone.”

Damn her.

I curl my hands into fists. “Damn you for making me care so much, Diana. Damn you for making me love you.” I pace the room. “I can’t have you in danger. I can’t risk losing you. Not now. Not ever.”

She walks to me and pulls me into her embrace. “I need to be with you, Dragon. I won’t let you do this alone.”

“I’m not taking you.”

She grins. “You don’t have a choice. It’s my car.”

“I’ll rent a car. Jesse loaned me some money?—”

She silences me with a kiss.

A raw and desperate kiss.

I break it and pull away.

I’m ready to argue again when I see the fire in her eyes.

“Fine,” I relent. “How’s your ankle?”

She wiggles her foot. “Just smarts a little. I didn’t have any trouble getting out of bed.” She brushes her lips over mine. “Thank you, Dragon. Thank you for not fighting me on this. I need to be with you.”

I don’t want to admit it, but I need her there too. I’d just rather have her safe.

I grab my phone and open the Google app. “I’ll find a kennel to take the dogs.”

“I wish we could take them with us.” Diana kneels and gives each of them a scratch on the top of their heads.

“We can’t be sure they’d behave or stay quiet. We’ll come back for them.”

She nods. “Yeah, of course. You’re right. I’m going to take a quick shower.”

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