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“You’re next, bitch. I hope I’m here when Luca finds your lifeless body.” I’ve never heard words as unhinged as Garrett Greene’s, and it’s like he’s standing next to me, not on the other side of the wall. My hands carefully grasp the door near me.

It’s not locked, and when I open it, the body of Jeffery Mann lies in a pool of blood. Garrett Greene has his gun aimed at my Heaven’s head.

I stand in the width of the door, my entire body ready to protect Anisten with my very last breath. With my hands gripping the gun, and my finger on the trigger, without thought, I empty three rounds into his chest, center mass, and he falls to the right of Anisten’s body.

I run toward her, pushing the gun away from Greene. Her eyes are closed, and when my hand reaches for her, she cries out, “Please don’t hurt me. Don’t kill me.”

“Heaven, it’s Luca. You’re safe. I got you, baby girl, no one is going to hurt you.”

Her eyes open, and my large body shields the sight of Greene’s lifeless corpse. “Heaven, baby.”

“Luca, is that you?”

“I’ll never let another hurt you.”

She throws herself at me, and I may never let go of her again.

* * *

I watch through the glass window of the hospital room while Elaina, Bristol, and Bryan surround my girl. I’ve been separated from her since the police entered the gruesome scene. After hours of interviews and Penn’s influence, I’ve been released on my own recognizance. The DA is still embarrassed about not dropping the charges against Anisten. There was so much evidence that she’d been framed. He’ll have to interview Anisten, which will wait until tomorrow, but he’ll most likely rule the shooting was justified, saving her life.

“You can go in there, you know.” Penn squeezes my shoulder.

“I’m just taking her in. I could have lost her tonight.”

“It was close, but you didn’t. You’ll grow old with her because if anyone deserves a happily ever after, it’s you and Ani.”

“I asked her to marry me today before she was taken.”

“You did? I can’t imagine Ani told you no.”

“How could she say no to me?” I jest.

“Always an asshole, aren’t you?”

“Of course, a zebra doesn’t change his stripes, you know.”

Bristol’s attention turns to me, then to Penn, leaning into both her parents saying something I can’t hear. All three file out of the room.

Elaina is first, wrapping her arms around me. “Thank you for not only loving my child but saving her.”

She disappears with Bristol and Penn, and I’m left alone with Bryan as we both watch Anisten sleep.

“What you did for Anisten, a thank-you will never be enough,” Bryan cries, and in my peripheral, tears run down his face.

“Never thank me for doing my job. My job is to protect your daughter with my last breath.”

He gives me a nod of understanding. “I asked her to marry me today before all of this happened.”

“You did? Can’t say I’m surprised. You look at Ani like I still look at Elaina. You love her, and it’s all I’ve ever wanted for both of my girls.”

“I had planned to ask for your blessing but…”

“Luca, you have my blessing. I’d be honored to call you my son-in-law.”

He extends his hand to mine, and I shake it. Turning my attention back to Anisten, there’s only one place I want to be.

“I’m going to sit with Ani, but thank you, Bryan.”

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