Page 185 of Innocent Intentions

And I cry. One tear. Then another.

I glance down. Her eyes are slipping closed again.

She’s losing consciousness. My heart squeezes. She’s been through too much.

I don’t know everything they did to her, but I will. I’ll have to ask. One day. And when I do, it’ll gut me.

“Thank you,” she murmurs.

My throat tightens.

Thank you?

No. I don’t deserve her gratitude. I don’t deserve anything from her. I don’t deserve her.

I failed her.

I left. And that’s why she was taken. That’s why she suffered.

I will spend the rest of my days trying to earn her forgiveness. And still, it won’t be enough.

We wait in silence. Me holding her, her body soft against mine, until the gunfire ceases.

Bash appears in the doorway.

“We’re clear. Let’s go. We–” He stops when he sees her. His eyes well up as he lets out a gasp of horror. “Matthias… is she…?”

I shake my head. “She’s alive.”

He exhales. “Thank God. She’s going to be okay. But we have to go now, before Viktor gets back.”

We waited until the house was empty. His wife is dead, his daughter is at college, and his son lives elsewhere. Only guards were home.

It’s one thing to rescue my woman. It’s another to storm in while Viktor’s there. That would be war.

Dom’s betting everything on framing this as a retrieval of Syndicate personnel. A rescue, not an attack.

Bash turns and disappears down the hall.

I rise with Margot in my arms. She’s light enough to carry one-handed, but I cradle her with both. One hand on her back. One pressing her head to my heart.

Her soft breaths warm my chest. I need it to know she’s still with me.

We exit the basement. For the first time, I take in the house.

It’s hideous. Tacky as hell. It looks like someone vomited money all over it. I’d expect nothing less from Viktor.

I’m glad to leave it behind.

The whole ride, I don’t let go of her.

I can’t.

I won’t.

She’s safe now.

She’s coming home.

---