Page 109 of Darkest Retribution

“I love you,” I sob.

“God, Jade. I love you, too. So fucking much.” He steps from in between my legs and hooks an arm under my knees. Then he picks me up, cradling me to him, and walks toward the stairs.

“I’m okay. I can walk by my-”

“I know, Jade. But I’m going to take care of you. And goddammit, you’re going to let me.”

I want to protest, but I don’t. Letting someone in on my moments of weakness or pain isn’t something I’m used to. It’s something I learned never to do if I wanted to be feared and respected.

But here? Now? With Dominic, I can let myself be just the way I am. More than that, it’s what Iwant.

So I lean my head against his shoulder while he carries me upstairs, smiling even as more tears fall from my eyes.

Dominic has always felt safe. I refused to let myself fall into it, hanging from a cliff’s edge, desperately trying to keep myself from getting attached. But now there’s nothing holding me back.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

And I finally let go.

Chapter twenty-five

Dominic

Inthemorning,Iwake with my arm under Rosie’s head and my fingers loosely intertwined with Jade’s. I move closer, sandwiching Rosie between us, and smile.

Finally.

Last night, Jade and I showered, and then we soaked in a hot bath together. It helped us relax, and my hope is that it eased some of Jade’s pain.

She told me everything yesterday—about her past, about what she’s done, and about needing to escape her brother. It tore me up, hearing about the terrible childhood she had. And it makes me admire her all the more for wanting to keep Rosie as far away from it as possible.

Maybe I should be hurt that she lied to me and went behind my back. But all I feel is relief that she never wanted to toss me aside. My gut feelings were right—I mean just as much to her as she does to me.

Jade’s fingers tighten around mine. She blinks her eyes open, smiling at me. “Morning, grumpy,” she whispers.

“Hey.” I rest my hand on her hip, squeezing. “I love you.”

Her smile widens, and it captures my heart wholly. “Mmm. I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of you saying that.”

“Good. Because you’re gonna be hearing it a lot.”

For a moment we lie just like that, basking in each other’s gazes. Having Jade and Rosie in my arms like this feels right—like the hole I’ve felt in me for the past couple months is finally filled.

“Yeah. I love you. So much.”

Jade snorts. “Okay, Iwillget sick of you saying it every two minutes. But... I love you, too, Dom.”

“I know,” I whisper, trailing my fingers up her side.

We get up slowly, not wanting to disturb Rosie. The poor kid’s been through too much the past couple days. She needs to sleep.

Grabbing my phone from the nightstand, I scroll through the notifications until I come across one that has me stopping in my tracks.

Felix:It’s done.

Felix:I’m going through the house today to make sure there’s no evidence we were there. Then I’m sending DeSanto an anonymous tip.

It takes me a second to process. But then I blow out a long breath, staring at my screen.

---