Page 79 of Savage Sin

“You okay,hermosa?”

Firm lips meet the top of my head and some of my dread and worry melt into the ground. He does that for me. My Rage. My warrior.

I bit at the inside of my lip a moment before giving my thoughts a voice. “I’m nervous, Rage. What if Wolfe can’t pull this off?” I hate to admit my feelings, but the plan the Savages have to get my sister out and take down Ares’ brother has kept me up for hours. My eyes feel like sandpaper and I’ve had so much coffee I’m not sure if my hands are shaking from all the caffeine or nerves.

“Do you want to go over the plans again? We can go back to the compound. We can all sit down and take you over the plan again.”

I lean my head back against Rage’s shoulder.

Being the princess of a notorious and very much dead empire isn’t as glamorous as it sounds. I didn’t want the title or the crown. And now I have no choice but to take up the role of conqueror. Not only metaphorically for fighting against my family’s ties and winning my freedom, but being the driving force behind those who are willing to shed blood to take down Cortes.

“I keep mentally running over the details, visually picturing how Wolfe will get in. I hate the idea that the men are going to use Avery as a sheep in wolf’s clothing.”

“She might look innocent, but she has a wolf at her side. And I’ve learned that small packages hold massive fighters inside.”

His chin comes to rest on the top of my head.

“You think so?”

“I know so.”

“It was her idea, baby, and she knows the life. No one will suspect her and if they do, it will be too late by then.” It breaks my heart to know Avery was a sex slave. I was so close to being one myself and I can’t draw the mental picture of what kind of life I almost became a victim to.

“Promise me he will be ok and that my sister will be saved.” It took hours of talking before I gave in and agreed to divulge all thehaciendasecrets.

“On my last breath, I promise.” I believe him.

“Gracias, mí amor.” Thank you, my love. I turn in Rage’s arms and loop mine around his neck. It’s hard not being the one going in and fighting for what I want. But I know it’s the wiser move. My sister will hold out. She’s brave. Help is coming. But we all have to be smart here. My goal is not to get people killed.

We stay like this and let the rays of sunshine pour over us. I’m so taken with the beauty of the field and rising sun that I don’t see the ring at first. Rage holds it up and the light catches on the band that makes it look like a miniature halo caught between his fingers.

My breath hitches, and my heart forgets it has one job.

Rage lowers himself to one knee. The pain of his stitches has to be a bitch to deal with, but the smile on his face never wavers. In fact, the more I look at him, the more love I see in the blue of his eyes. It’s in the warmth of his touch as he takes my hand.

“Rage?” This cannot be what I think it is. It’s only us out here, and the last remnants of my glass wall threaten to crack and fall away.

“Persephone Castel, I didn’t know I could love. I didn’t know someone could love me. You’ve taught me a lot in so little time.”

“Persephone Marie Castel. That is my full name.” My brain grabs onto the minute details while my heart uses the time to catch up with the massive number of emotions drenching my insides. It’s like someone stomped through my feelings, kicked over the metal box I stuffed my desires and wishes in and tipped it over. Everything tumbles out and there’s nothing I can do but let the rawness of my emotions shine for him to see.

“Persephone Marie Castel, will you be the sunshine in my life? The light I don’t deserve and the anchor that keeps me tied to this world?”

I fall to my knees and throw my arms around his neck. We groan and let the pain of our injuries pass, but I don’t loosen my hold on him. I pull back long enough to look him in the eye. “You are so strong, Rage. The strongest man I know. You faced hell at a young age and fought so bravely against the dark pull. You don’t need me, but I would be honored to be your wife.”

“My ol’ lady,” He corrects with a sexy grin. I don’t know about all the biker talk, but I know I love this biker.

“We will be each other’s strength.” He slides the ring on my finger and with it comes this overwhelming feeling of belonging. I don’t know what will come of us five years from now, much less thirty. All I know is I won’t be alone. We will have each other.

This isn’t the end of our story, but the start of a battle for love. My sister’s life is on the line and that of her child’s. Wolfe is risking it all to save a woman he’s never met and we, Rage and I, along with all the Savages, will be united in the effort to right the wrongs my family did to so many.

“Are you ready for the fight ahead?” Rage nuzzles my neck and then brings his forehead to rest on mine.

“I’m ready to fight.”

I only wish I knew what those words meant and how much they would cost me in the coming days.

Epilogue Two

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