Page 99 of Parker

Parker frowned at the unexpected news. “Dead? H-how?”

“V-Victor…sh-shot h-him. Not h-ere. D-different p-place.”

Never thought I’d be grateful for anything that bastard did, but…

“That’s it, th-then.” He caressed her pale cheek with his thumbs.

Quinn’s head shook with an uneven nod. “It’s really ov-ver.”

Fucking finally.

For what felt like the first time in forever, Parker could fully breathe.

“N-never again, sweetheart.” He kissed her softly. “C-can’t ever l-lose you again.”

“You w-won’t.” Her delicate chin quivered. “P-Promise.”

And just like that, Parker’s world righted itself once more. Only it wasn’t the same world he knew before.

It was a million times better.

EPILOGUE

Two weeks later…

“I could stay like this forever.”Quinn traced an invisible line up and down Parker’s forearm.

A warm ocean breeze swirled lazily around them as they relaxed on his back deck. With her back to his front and his strong arms wrapped loosely around her middle, she felt happier and more at peace than she could ever remember.

She also felt safe. Not only from the threat of physical harm—Parker had already proven himself a worthy protector on that front—but also safe in her heart.

His deep timbre vibrated against her back. “Well, the repairs are already finished, and the place looks as good as new, so… Yep. We could spend the rest of our lives right here, doing nothing else but this.”

“Well, I wouldn’t saynothingelse.” She sat up just enough to twist around and face him. “I mean we do have to eat.” A playful nibble of his bottom lip.

“Oh yeah?” Parker’s masculine hands squeezed the curves of her ass as his heated gaze fell to her mouth. “What else would we need to do?”

Smiling, Quinn pretended to think. “I mean, we’d need to shower, of course. And probably communicate with the outside world on occasion. Just so Ash and Syd know we’re still alive.”

The comment was meant to be lighthearted, but she couldn’t miss the dark curtain that fell over his gorgeous eyes from her words. Feeling like a jerk, she immediately did her best to fix it.

“Please don’t do that.” She cupped one side of his face when he started to look away. “Huh, uh. Look at me.” When he did, Quinn held his tortured stare. “What happened to me wasn’t your fault.”

“Quinn—”

“No.” She shook her head vehemently. “I know I’ve said it a thousand times in the last two weeks, but you are not responsible for what Justin or Victor did. Not the attack, the kidnapping…the river.” Some nights when the memories find their way into her dreams, she could still feel the cold, dark water swallowing her whole. Even so, “I don’t blame you. Not even a little bit. So you need to find a way to stop blaming yourself.”

For the past two weeks, she’d caught glimpses when he didn’t know she was looking. Haunted looks and tortured gazes marred his handsome face any time Parker thought about the craziness that had finally brought them together.

According to Asher, Christian’s CPD contact had made good on his promise. So far, they hadn’t seen her name or Parker’s mentioned in connection with any of it.

Not her abduction, the activity at the abandoned lodge, the bodies of both Justin and Victor being discovered and recovered that same day…

It had all made national news, but lucky for them,theyhadn’t. Well, with the exception of the picture that jerk sold to the tabloid rag, that is.

Even then, Parker’s attorneys had managed to get a cease and desist, and the image had been removed and banned from any and all news and social media outlets across the globe.

As for the explosion at Parker’s home—which of course, had eventually gotten out to the public—it had been easily explained away by a fictitious gas leak. And since the house was on a stretch of secluded, private beach land, there hadn’t been any up-close-and-personal witnesses to come forward and dispute the claim.

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