Page 129 of Ruthless Oath

“After the doctor gives you the all clear, I’ll draw you a bath and make you something to eat.” I gently kissed her lips. “You’ll get a good night’s sleep. I won’t leave your side.”

A lone tear slid down her cheek.

“What’s this?” I wiped the tear away with my thumb. “Where’s my fiery girl now?”

“Well, it’s not like I have any makeup on to ruin.” She smiled as more tears escaped her courageous eyes. “Sorry, I’m a little overwhelmed.”

“Never apologize for showing me who you are.” I kissed away the salty wetness. “I won’t pretend that things will be simple for us, but they will get better. I promise.”

I took her face between my hands and kissed her the way I wanted to when I first found her in the woods. Slow, possessive, and full of desire.

“I trust you.”

“Good.” I got up off the floor and extended my hand to her. “That’s the only way you and I can work.”

I helped her up and then scooped her into my arms, holding her close and kissing the top of her head.

“What are you doing?”

“You said your feet were sore.” I glanced down at her cut and dirty feet, shaking my head. “It’s going to be a while before you can get a pedicure.”

“Don’t say that.”

As I carried her up the steps, she rested her head against my chest. She was with me, and that was all that mattered.

I had retrieved my hostage, but in doing so, I accepted that the war had only just begun.

Thirty

Marchello

I came downthe steps just as Milo entered the penthouse. Getting Lissia to settle and fall asleep had been a chore. She kept apologizing, but I didn’t want her apology. I wanted for us to be on the same page. I needed to know she understood what was at stake.

I wasn’t convinced she understood anything about me.

“Chello,” my brother called.

“Shh.” I pressed my finger to my lips. “Lissia is asleep.”

“How is she?” he asked.

“Exhausted, but the doctor said she’ll be fine. She just needs to rest.”

Her head had an impressive bump, and her feet were cut up pretty bad, but she would survive.

“She’s lucky we found her running around in those woods,” Milo said.

“Tell me about it.” I didn’t want to think about what could have happened to her once the sun went down and the temperature dropped. She wasn’t exactly a wilderness kind of girl.

“When she went after Collins, I backed our guys off. I didn’t want her to get shot in the crossfire.” He smirked. “She’s a crazy one.”

“I appreciate what you did, but her behavior allowed him to get away.”

“Her behavior is something you’re going to have to correct.”

“I intend to.” I went to the bar in the sitting room and poured two shots of vodka. “I can’t stay down here long. I told her I would stay with her.”

Milo bit the corner of his lip before taking the glass from me.

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