Page 180 of At the Edge of Surrender

An intertwining.

The realization of what this meant.

Holding her like this wasn’t meant to be temporary.

And I knew, right then, that this was how I was supposed to hold her for the rest of my life.

“You’re safe,” I mumbled again.

Hot tears soaked the front of my shirt, and her hands were fisted in the back of it. She nodded against the hammering of my heart. “Ifought him, Kane. I fought him with everything I had. I couldn’t let it happen again.”

Her words impaled me. A barrage of missile strikes. A surprise attack.

I couldn’t let it happen again.

Turbulence screamed through my senses, and I’d never wanted to go on a murder spree quite like I did right then. But I forced myself to remain right there.

Her rock as the confessions hiccupped out of her.

“But he was so strong. So strong. I don’t know what would have happened if that guy hadn’t seen it happening from across the lot. Where I would be right now. Oh, God, Kane.”

It was a whimper. Turmoil as she was wrought with whatever horrible memories had been imprinted on her spirit.

That pain I’d recognized in her the first night I’d met her.

Trauma and wounds.

“I would have found you, Emery. I would have hunted every inch of this world for you. Turned over every stone and sifted through every grain of sand. Would have gone to the ends of the earth and back a thousand times if that’s what it took. I will destroy any monster who even thinks about doing you wrong.”

Whoever this motherfucker was?

He was dead.

So fucking dead, he might as well have been counting his last breaths.

Charleigh was suddenly standing at our side, her expression cautious as she set her hand on my arm. “I just want to take her vitals one more time before we release her, but otherwise, everything looks good. Dr. Reynolds did a scan before you got here just to make sure she was fine, and it’s clear.”

The tiniest bit of relief hit me, but it was still affliction that I was feeling as I peeled myself back from Emery, not wanting to be away from her for a second.

I forced myself to keep moving until I backed into the opposite wall.

Eyes pinned on her the whole time.

This woman who had come into my life and rearranged everything.

My purpose and goals. Kindled the kind of love I never thought I’d feel.

River’s low-slung voice hit me from the side as he angled his head toward the door. “Need to talk to you.”

Reluctance filled me, and I took another glance at Emery. She wore the smallest smile on her face, nodding slowly as Charleigh gave her instructions.

“She’s in good hands,” River said.

I knew she couldn’t be in better, so I finally gave with a nod and followed him out into the vacant hall where the rest of the staff wasn’t allowed.

Still, he looked each direction to ensure we were alone, his words hushed as he began to speak. “Sheriff showed up at the scene and was able to get a statement from the man who witnessed part of what happened.”

We’d just brought Moonlit Ridge’s Sheriff in on what we did. Putting him through a bunch of tests to see where he might stand.

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