Page 107 of Bound By Temptation

My rage had simmered after Blaine took his last breath, but it was still there, just under the surface.

That motherfucker was going to beat my woman and kill her.

That was the fact that ate me up inside.

She never told me about the notes she was receiving. Warning signs that I could’ve looked into. Fuck, Raid had waited to tell me about Indie killing Jacob. It could’ve been avoided. At least that was what I was telling myself.

Putting my head under the water, the warmth slicked my skin as the last remnants of Blaine washed away from me.

I couldn’t blame Raid or Indie. I knew it.

I was just upset I wasn’t there to protect her. She was supposed to be safe in her home.

Swinging my hair out of my eyes, I turned the water off, got out, and dried off.

Indie was laying on the bed, under the covers, and her gaze connected with mine. Keeping the towel around my waist, I got in beside her and pulled her into my arms. She rested her head on my chest.

“You okay, Indie?”

“No,” she said softly, and I squeezed her. “He was going to kill me, Ax. That scares the hell out of me.”

I kissed the top of her head. “He’s dead and gone. He’ll never get his hands on you again.”

“Doesn’t make that fact go away,” she said.

“True. But know that shit won’t happen ever.”

“He’s really gone?” she asked.

“Fuckin’ swear it.”

“How do I know there’s not another one of Jacob’s spawn coming to find me?”

“Raid’s on it, going through all the DNA databases and any records he can find.”

Her body fully relaxed into mine. “I can’t believe I crushed his balls with the tire iron.”

“You had all the men in the room crossin’ their legs.”

Her hand clutched my chest. “I should feel bad about it, Ax, but I don’t. I’m happy he’s gone. Does that make me a bad person?”

She was dealing with an inner turmoil, and I hated that for her.

The life I led, killing was a necessity. Extracting information was a necessity. Yes, Indie took a life, but that was in self-defense. She wasn’t a fighter in the physical sense. Every other way she was hard as a rock. The woman had more inner strength than she was giving herself credit for.

“Fuck no, Indie.” I pulled her up my body so our gazes met. “You’re a beautiful person inside and out. He was going to kill you, but you fought.” I pulled her hand up to mine and kissed each one of her scraped fingers. She’d done a number on them in the back of that car. “You are the best fuckin’ person I know.”

“It feels like a strike to my soul. Not only one man, but two.”

I kissed her lips softly, then stared into her eyes. “Your soul has no strikes on it, Indie. None.” She had no idea what a real strike on the soul was. I had a ton of them. “You’re strong and did what you had to do. Never think all of this makes you a bad person. You are not. There are horrible people out there, Indie. Trust me. You are not one of them.”

“I love you, Ax.”

“Love you, Indie. So fuckin’ much.”

Our lips connected and I deepened the kiss.

When she pulled away, I didn’t stop her. Before I knew it, she was sound asleep on my chest.

---