Page 124 of Royal Bargain
Her legs wrap around my waist. She says my name under her breath, over and over, like it’s the only thing keeping her steady. She kisses my shoulder, my jaw, the side of my face. I don’t say anything. I don’t need to.
I just hold her tighter.
Afterward, we lie tangled in the sheets, her cheek resting over my heart. I stroke her back in lazy circles, the silence between us comfortable, golden.
I close my eyes, soaking it in.
This is what I fight for.
This is what I’ll protect.
Even if it kills me.
Ana’s breathing evens out before mine. Her hand’s still resting against my chest, fingers soft and half-curled. I can feel the slow rise and fall of her body, warm and solid beside me under the covers.
The room’s quiet, but not dead quiet—there’s that little hum from the white noise machine down the hall, a car passing outside, the old pipes clicking like they always do. It’s familiar. Comfortable. Like we’re in our own little bubble.
I let my eyes close. Everything aches in a way that feels good for once. Her hair’s tickling my shoulder. She smells like shampoo and skin and something that feels like home.
I’m just starting to drift—right at that edge where sleep’s about to take me?—
Buzz
The phone vibrates on the nightstand, too loud in the dark.
I groan a little, grabbing it without sitting up. The screen lights up way too bright.
Burns: Need you at HQ. Now. Urgent.
My stomach drops. Of-fucking-course.
I lie there for a second, staring at the message. Then I shut my eyes and let out a slow breath.
So much for a quiet night.
I slip out of bed as carefully as I can, untangling from Ana like I’m trying not to wake a sleeping dragon. She stirs a little, mumbling something, but doesn’t open her eyes. Just rolls into the warm spot I left behind.
I lean down and press a kiss to her temple. “Back soon,” I whisper.
She doesn’t hear me. Maybe that’s better.
I pull on jeans, grab a hoodie, keys, phone. My gun, too—just in case.
Outside, the air’s colder than I expected. Sharp enough to wake me up. The street’s quiet, just the hum of a distant train and a stray cat darting into an alley.
Shane’s leaning against the wall near the entrance. He straightens when he sees me.
“You good?” he asks.
I shrug. “Burns wants something. That’s all I got.”
He frowns but doesn’t ask more. I climb into the car and shut the door, trying not to think too hard about what the hell I’m walking into.
It doesn’t take long to reach HQ, but the place feels… off. No lights on inside, no movement in the front lot. I park and get out slowly, every sense sharpening. The silence feels wrong—not just empty, but expectant, like the building itself is holding its breath.
I try the door. Locked.
I knock once. Then twice.
