Page 178 of Desperate Actions

“Really?” Dad steps forward, expression unreadable, voice steel and fire. “No way, son. I got this.”

Sammy blinks.

I freeze.

“You’re taking her home. Now. A doctor will meet you there. My driver will get you back safely. Your father and Josef are en route with a team from Sigma International to secure everything. Clean-up crews have already been dispatched.”

Sammy stares at him, sizing him up.

“Are you sure, Mr. Fury?” His voice is still dark, still dripping with murder.

“Fuck yes, I’m sure.” Dad crosses his arms, eyeing him. Challenging him. “Gotta keep my little girl happy. And for whatever goddamn reason, she’s decided you make her happy.”

Dad’s lips twitch. “I don’t see it.”

But the smirk that follows?

Progress.

“Thank you, Dad.” My voice cracks, and for the first time since all this started, I realize, I almost died tonight.

I should be dead. But I’m not.

Because Sammy came for me.

Because I have a family willing to burn the world down for me.

And the realization hits hard.

“How did you find me?” I whisper.

Sammy hesitates.

His fingers twitch against my back.

Then—gruffly, unapologetically he tells me.

“Uh, well, actually, Aella—” He clears his throat. “Tracking device. In your ring.”

I stare at him. Then at my ring. And back again.

My fierce, relentless, overprotective husband.

He shrugs.

“What? Come on, Pixie, you know me by now.”

I do.

I really do.

And right now?

I don’t even care if he is ridiculously overprotective. He just saved my life.

I press my face into his chest, feel the steady beat of his heart, and breathe him in.

Because Sammy is taking me home.

---