Page 116 of Unspoken Promises

“Maybe not.”

I suppose neither of us know for certain why I ended up on the floor, why Anton shoved me.

He kisses my forehead. “But the next time you plan on being brave,” he hauls me into his side, “just do it from behind me.”

That draws a genuine smile, one almost lighthearted again from my lips.

Enzo trails his fingertips along my hair, smoothing it slowly, softly, lulling me into a slumber I very much need.

Tonight didn’t bring total clarity. In some way, it took my mind even farther away from understanding the meaning of life. Ofmylife. But as I soak in the security of Enzo’s torso and melt under the affectionate caress on my skull, I stop trying to understand. Right now, it’s enough to fall asleep in his arms and allow myself the sleep of a child. A sleep I’ve never known. One where someone stronger protects me from evil and danger.

A sleep where I’m free to dream.

36

I tooka few slower days after the incident so I could be present with Ava and make sure she really was okay. There’s no doubt the events that passed would be imprinted on my mind forever, but there’s also no denying, the ordeal was more traumatic for her.

Every hour that passed could bring us something new. She might wake me in the night rolling back and forth with a nightmare. She might ask me to take a photo for her new social media account and smile wider than I’ve ever seen. She might burst into tears while I cooked for her in the kitchen. It was a lot to process, and there was no work more important thantending to her.

I wake in the morning to the buzz of my phone on the nightstand. My arm is wrapped around Ava, her wild red hair unruly between us. I hurry to stop my phone making noise and waking her from the peaceful cocoon she’s in.

“Hey,” I say quietly, slipping out from under the covers and heading out to the hallway. “Callum. What’s up?”

“I had to call you for this one, Zo.”

The tone of his voice tells me one thing.

“His full name is Anton Walker. He woke up last night, finally lucid and coming down off the pain meds. This morning he gave a statement and…” Callum sighs into the phone. “He’s no criminal, Enzo. The man was a decorated Navy SEAL vet. He had all the tools to have escaped Sánchez. All I can say after hearing what he shared, and it wasn’t an easy listen, is Ava was lucky to have him.”

I peek around the corner at Ava. I’m not often wrong, but if I were to be, now would be a time I’d welcome it. My woman could use a win.

I can’t stop reflecting on the way he pushed Ava aside and slammed into Sánchez. It was a split-second decision that nearly cost him his life. But it was also potentially the only way to save hers.

“So do you think it’s okay for her to see him?”

She has asked a few times, not really listening to an answer, knowing we wouldn’t have one until Anton woke up. She really couldn’t go until we knew if he was part of Sánchez’s organization or not.

“I think a visit from her will do them both good. They’ll have a lot to talk about. And there’s something else.”

I wait for more.

“He’s provided the location of Sánchez’s site in Oregon. Feds busted it this morning. What they found was…” He pauses, and I can tell it’s hard for him to find the right words. “Tragic. There were women. A few children. Even other people that might have been there for the same kind of reason as Ava. Tons of drugs and arms. Sánchez had a lot of businesses going. We have two Ava’s so-called teachers in custody and about twenty men. Enzo, this could lead to one of the biggest busts in history.”

I haven’t stopped wondering what the feds would find in Oregon. I hope a lot of people get a chance to return home, and many who deserve it find themselves behind bars.

“Thanks, Cal.”

“You got it.”

I turn off my cell and admire my resourceful, brave, and goddamn fierce woman. I’m floored by how much I love her. It’s overwhelming. I want to protect her from digging into her wound but without seeing Anton, I’m not sure it will ever heal.

37

I stopshort of entering the hospital room. I’m feeling dizzy and need a deep breath.

“Are you okay?” Enzo asks.

For the past few days, I was desperate to hear if Anton was okay, even asking to come and see him. Now that I’m here, it’s so monumental, I must be white as a sheet.

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