Page 99 of Brew
“You won’t get any. It’s routine.”
“I don’t like the sound of that, even routine things can be dangerous.”
I kiss her nose. “I’mdangerous.”
“I wish this were over.”
“It’ll be over when the henchmen are all dead.”
She’s never once asked me not to, and for that I admire her even more. I don’t even know if I could. This is something I’ve felt compelled to do since Valencia was killed. I won’t back down because I owe it to her. Once this is finally over, I’ll be ready torest and put the past behind me. I know it’s something I have to let go of, eventually. As if reading my thoughts, she cups my face. “You loved her.”
“I let her down.”
Her eyebrows knit together. “You weren’t even together when it happened.”
“True, but that didn’t mean I didn’t care or want what was best for her.”
“You’re a deeply caring man,” she tells me. “With a big, big heart.” As if to emphasize her words, she places one hand over my heart.
“I will put this behind me,” I tell her. “Once they’re dead. I promise.”
She nods. “I know. I want to start a life with you, Brew, and we can’t do that if you’re still living in the past. There are things that you still have to settle, I get that, and I’m behind you all the way. I just need to know we really are going to do this.”
My heart races at the idea that she thinks I’m not serious. “I don’t want to live in the past anymore,” I say. “We are gonna do this, but just like your demons, I can’t fully commit myself to our future until I make them pay. Do you understand? Ihaveto do this. If it changes how you feel about me?—”
“It doesn’t.” Her words are fast, and it settles the slight panic inside me. “I do understand, more than you probably know, and trust me, I don’t want to know all the details. But you need to come back to me.”
“No fear of that,” I assure her. “I’ve also got prospects outside until I return. You don’t open this door to anyone except me or Haze, understand?”
She nods. “I love you.”
I pinch her chin. “I loveyou.Nothin’ and nobody is gonna stop us bein’ together. If Steven gets out, and that’s a bigif,you won’t have to worry about any of that. He won’t get near youor Olive. I have a cabin, it’s about thirty minutes’ drive, and it’s safe. Would you consider movin’ there temporarily?”
She wraps her arms around my neck. “If it’ll make you worry less, then yes.”
My worry settles somewhat. “It will, you’re too easy to trace because of work, and my gut is tellin’ me to move.”
“Then we can’t ignore it,” she whispers, her lips finding mine.
“We definitely can’t.”
“I’ll wait up for you.”
I feel that pull in my chest as I wrap my arms around her waist. “I’ll hold that thought.”
CHAPTER
THIRTY-THREE
Erica
Fear grips me, but he said it would be okay.
I know that I’m being overly dramatic, but one can hardly blame me. When the MC gets involved, it isn’t a pretty picnic. It means something. It also churns my stomach to think that I’m sitting here when I could be doing something. What, I don’t know, butsomething.
Olive went to bed hours ago, and I’m killing time watching slow cooker recipes on YouTube. I’ve also tried crocheting, but I can’t concentrate.
What if something happens to him?
