Page 104 of Surrender (Angels Halo MC Next Gen)

“Whatever you want, you can have. Just don’t let him die!”

“Baby girl!” I called out.

Samara gasped and then there was a commotion, but Anya pushed me back down before I could see what was going on. Moments later, Samara was on her knees beside me. Tears streamed down her face, but her eyes were full of relief. “Oh God, I was so scared. I nearly lost you!”

“Never,” I vowed. “I won’t ever leave you.”

Anya did something to my arm that made me curse. “Sorry.” She didn’t look particularly apologetic as she did it again. “It goes without saying that I’m thankful you pushed me out of the way. But you should not have risked yourself to save me. That was reckless and unnecessary.”

“You’re welcome,” I laughed.

She smirked down at me. “Your shoulder is definitely the choice I would have made over the bullet piercing my brain. It’s still lodged in there, though. It missed anything vital, but you need to go to the hospital to have the bullet removed.”

“Just a typical day at the in-laws’.”

“This is not funny!” Samara grumbled.

“It’s a little bit funny,” I soothed. “Let’s spend Christmas in Creswell Springs, though. Your parents’ place is kind of a dump.”

She glanced around, taking in the chaos around us, and a smile ghosted over her lips. “I’m not cleaning this up.”

Sniffling, she wiped her hands over her damp cheek, smearing dirt and some of my blood over her skin. Reaching up with my left hand, I traced my thumb over the blood. “I love you.”

Blue gems dropped to mine, and she inhaled sharply. Discreetly, Anya moved away. I vaguely heard her giving commands to some of the Vitucci soldiers.

“I love you, Samara,” I repeated. “I’ve needed to say those words for so long that it physically hurt to hold them back. Maybe you’re not ready to hear them yet, but I couldn’t go another minute without telling you. You own my heart, baby girl. It beats only for you. My soul was yours the moment I saw you in that club.”

Fresh tears spilled down her face. “I love you too. So much. I can’t live without you, Elias. I won’t. Do you understand me? If you ever try to leave me, you won’t get far.”

“Ah, princess.” I cupped the back of her head, pulling her down to meet my lips. “You won’t ever have to. No matter what happens, I’ll be waiting for you. Do you understand me?”

“I stalk you.”

I snorted. “I thought we already covered this. I stalk you too.”

Panic lit her eyes. “I don’t want kids.”

“Baby girl, your tantrums are enough for me to handle.” I brushed my nose over hers. “Kids haven’t ever been on my priority list, Sammy.”

“But Jos wants grandkids,” she whispered.

“Reid can give them to her. It’s not my job to make anyone happy except you.”

“I love you.”

Crunching gravel had our heads turning. I blinked, then blinked again. “Do I have a concussion? Because I see two of Ryan.”

“About that…” She sighed.

“Give me the code to unlock the panic room,” the Ryan on the left commanded. When he stepped closer, I saw him more clearly and realized he wasn’t Ryan at all.

“Elias, this is my brother Vaughn. Vaughn, Elias.”

I instantly recognized the name. “Wait. Professor Vaughn, that Vaughn?” Samara shrugged. “As in Abi’s Professor Vaughn?”

“Yes,” the Ryan look-alike confirmed, pointing at Samara. “And she is the only one who has the code to get Abi out of the panic room. Give it to me. Now.”

“Okay. Fine.” She rolled away from me, and I thought for a minute she was going to get up and whisper the code to him.

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