“No.” She pulls back and looks at him. Her green eyes flash. “I’m angry. I’m so goddamn angry.”

He sees it. Her slender frame shaking with rage. Pure cold-blooded fury.

“I know,” he says. “I’m sorry this is all happenin’. I’d do anything to fix it.”

She hugs him fiercely. “It’s not your fault.”

“I want to take you away from here,” he admits. “Protect you.”

She smiles. “I hear Hawaii’s nice this time of year.”

A grin quirks his lips. “As long as we can get there by bus.”

Sal allows herself a brief laugh before her face hardens again. She holds his forearm, staring deep into his eyes. “I won’t run, Luke. We live our life. Roy thinks he can control me. And he can’t. I won’t let him. I won’t sit my life out. Not anymore.”

As Sal speaks, steel, strength in her voice, Luke’s reminded that she is more than a victim. She’s a survivor and he’s damn proud to be her husband.

And he knows one thing. He’ll protect her with everything he has.