Page 58 of Saving Her Heart
"Smooth," Declan says behind me. "Really smooth."
"Shut up."
"You basically just yelled at her for almost being murdered."
"I know."
"You should probably apologize." He states the obvious.
"I know."
"Like right now."
"I KNOW." I grit out between my teeth in frustration.
But before I can move, Chance approaches with an evidence bag. "Found something interesting. A timer device in the mechanical room. Professional grade, too. It is set to go off in about three hours."
"Morrison's not smart enough for this kind of device," Declan observes.
"No, but he used to be an electrician before property management," Chance says. "This is definitely his type of handiwork. We also found more accelerant in the basement. Enough to take down the entire block."
Fuck. The entire block. There's a daycare two buildings over.
"Either way, it's evidence," Chance continues. "I'll get this to the lab."
Declan waits until Chance is out of earshot. "Are you okay?"
"No. I just yelled at the woman I love for almost dying. How is that okay?"
"It's not. Go fix it."
He's right. I walk over to where Kendall's leaning against my patrol car, arms crossed, still visibly angry. She sees me coming but won't make eye contact.
"Hey," I say quietly.
"Hey."
I run my hand through my hair, trying to find the right words. "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell. When I realized you were in that building with him and smelled the gasoline... I panicked. The thought of losing you?—"
"I'm fine, Jax."
"I know that, but what if you weren't? What if we'd been five minutes later?"
"But you weren't." Her voice softens slightly. "You got there in time."
"This time. But what about next time?"
"There won't be a next time."
"You don't know that. Valerie's still out there?—"
"I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself," she interrupts. "I've been doing it for years."
"I know that, but?—"
"No buts, Jax. You have to trust me just as I have to trust you. That's how this works."
I'm almost afraid to ask, but I do anyway. "Is there still a 'this'? An us?"
