Page 60 of Ethan's Command

“Mojo, release!” Ethan shouted. As soon as the dog let the guy go and backed away, Ethan took the shot.

The man crumpled instantly, his body hitting the dock with a dull thud. Brooklyn staggered and crashed to the dock as the second man reached for her again. Before Ethan could fire, Mojo lunged forward, his powerful body airborne as he slammed into the man’s chest. They tumbled to the ground, the man’s startledyell cut off as the dog’s snarling teeth snapped inches from his throat.

Ethan closed the distance, gun still trained on the attacker. "Don’t move."

The man’s wild eyes darted between Ethan and the dog pinning him down. His breath came in ragged bursts, his hands trembling in the air. Brooklyn scrambled away, her chest heaving, eyes wide with shock and relief.

Cooper appeared from the side, gun raised, his gaze sweeping the dock. "You good?"

"Yeah." Ethan didn’t lower his weapon. "Where’s Leilani?"

Nova came through the warehouse entrance, pushing Leilani, whose wrists were cuffed behind her back. The place was swarmed with cops who’d rushed in as backup.

Ethan’s gut unknotted at the sight of the woman in cuffs.

But then Brooklyn was in his arms.

She threw herself against him, clutching the front of his vest, her entire body trembling. Ethan wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, grounding her. Her breath hitched against his chest, her fingers digging into his back as if afraid to let go.

"You’re safe," he murmured against her hair. "I’ve got you."

She nodded against him, but when she pulled back, her eyes were shining with unshed tears. "I thought—" Her voice broke, and she swallowed hard, shaking her head. "I thought that was it."

Ethan cupped her face gently, his thumbs brushing over her cheekbones. "I would never let that happen."

She let out a shaky breath, nodding. "I know."

The tension in his chest eased. “Nova has Leilani. This is all over.”

Brooklyn just nodded as she held on to Ethan as if her life depended on it, for which he was eternally grateful because he was equally sure that his own life depended on her.

CHAPTER 28

Brooklyn shuffledinto the kitchen still wearing boxer shorts and a tank, rubbing sleep from her eyes as she reached for the coffee maker. She hit the button, listening to the familiar gurgle as it came to life. Normally, she got up and had a shower immediately, but after the week she’d had, she thought she deserved a day to sleep in and take it slow. The bruises on her body from yesterday’s attack also demanded she not do anything too quickly.

The doorbell rang and she frowned. Her brother had said he and Liam would drop by later. Who could this be? Barefoot, she padded to the door and peeked through the peephole. Ethan stood on the other side, his tall frame relaxed but unreadable. He held a brown paper bag in one hand, his fingers curled around it like whatever was inside mattered.

Brooklyn hesitated for only a second before unlocking the door and pulling it open. Her heart hammered against her rib cage. She owed this man her life and an apology.

"Hey," he said, his voice still sleep-roughened.

"Hey," she echoed, eyeing the bag before stepping aside to let him in.

His presence filled her small kitchen as he set the bag on the breakfast bar. "I figured you might be hungry," he said, nudging it toward her.

Her stomach growled loudly and Ethan grinned. She shrugged. “I guess there’s no point in denying it.”

“Nope,” Ethan agreed letting his glance linger on her chest for maybe a beat too long.

Brooklyn smiled to herself. At least she knew he was still interested. Would he be, though, after what she had to tell him? Her stomach clenched at the thought. Lifting the bag, she peeked inside. "Loco Moco?" she asked, arching a brow.

"Thought you could use some comfort food."

“Great idea.” Brooklyn grabbed two plates and portioned out the meal, the scent of gravy and fried eggs making her stomach tighten with hunger. She poured them both coffee and slid a mug across the counter to him before taking a seat on the stool beside him.

When she sat, her tank top rose and Ethan gasped. “What’s that?” He pointed to the rosy mark above her buttock.

“Just a birthmark.”

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