Page 84 of The Devil's Scars

“If I do this, Scars… if I let you into my life, let you in with me and Keira, you can’t let me down. You can’t mess me around, or cheat on me. You can’t leave me. Leave us.” She hesitated. “You can’t – you can’t hurt us.”

“I won’t.” He shook his head, his voice hoarse with emotion. The thought of so much as raising a hand or even his voice to either one of them made him physically sick; the thought of walking away from them damn near killed him. “I never will.”

“You promise me?”

“On my life, beautiful.” He held her eyes, still saw doubt there. “Can you trust me, Zoe? Trust what I’m telling you?”

“I want to. God, I want to.”

“Then that’s where we’ll start. OK?”

Zoe bit her lip, thought for a few more seconds. At last – at long, long last – she nodded. Scars reached for her now, carefully, hoping to Christ that she didn’t pull away. When she stayed put, the relief that moved over him was huge enough to overwhelm him.

He took her in his arms, held her to him. And when she gave a deep, shuddering exhale and sat still and let him hold her, just fucking hold her, close and safe and tight, he knew that she’d surrendered. For a woman like Zoe, that was the hardest thing in the world to do, and her faith in him was both humbling and empowering.

“I understand you now, too,” she said, her words muffled against his broad shoulder. “Wolf told me about… about your parents. I’m so, so sorry, Scars.”

He was silent for a few seconds, then he sighed. “I’m glad you know, Zoe. That night changed the whole direction of my life, for better and worse, and it took me to some dark places. But it also brought you to me, baby.”

“It brought you to me, too.”

He lifted her chin now, and she gazed up at him, those clear green eyes so calm and sweet. And he knew that for the first time, Zoe had truly accepted what she wanted with him and from him, and his heart squeezed. She was absolutely, stunningly beautiful in her serenity and submission.

“Baby, stay with me for as long as you can. Let me love you.”

“Yes,” she said simply. “Yes, Scars. Please.”

“Keira?”

“Maria said that she can stay overnight tonight, so I don’t have to go anywhere.” She gave him a tiny smile. “I won’t be running off again, I promise.”

“You know that there’s nothing to be afraid of,” he said softly. “Not with me, and sure as hell not from me. No need to run, not ever again.”

“I know.”

He stood up. “I have to tell Wolf that I won’t be going to Colorado Springs with him. I think he’ll understand.”

“He’s already gone.”

Scars paused. “He’s what?”

“I talked to him this morning and told him everything. He told me to come talk to you, gave me directions to your house, and he said that you could pay your respects to Wheels’ widow another way and another time. He told me to do what I had to do to make things right with you.”

“So… so he’s OK with this? With us?”

“Totally. He said that he wasn’t too sure at first, but he saw that you weren’t messing me around. In fact, he and the guys were getting tired of me messing you around.”

“Wait. The guys know?”

“Yep. They’re crossing their fingers that we get our act together. Again, they really mean me.”

“Thank Christ. Also, they aren’t wrong.”

She smiled, then laughed. “So – I’m all yours, handsome. No secrets, no sneaking around, no hiding from anyone.” Her eyes sparkled. “What do you want to do to me?”

“Come here, beautiful.”

Zoe stood up, legs trembling, crossed the porch to where the most amazing, wonderful man that she’d ever known was standing and waiting for her. He opened his arms, and she just walked right on into them, like she’d been born to be right there in his embrace.

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