Page 85 of Virtue & Vengeance

Pulling away from me, his eyes remained on mine as he said, “Jerome.”

Jerome stepped forward, his wide shoulders blocking out the light from the window behind him. His eyes didn’t move to me at all. Instead, his full attention was on Zander.

“Get this cleaned up. I’m taking my girl home.”

Then he smiled down at me, his face transforming into an expression I’d never seen on him before.

He looked satisfied.

He looked relaxed.

He looked happy.

“Yes, sir, I’ll have it taken care of.”

Then Zander took my hand, slipped it into his rough palm, and walked me out of the hotel room and into a new life I never imagined for myself.

There would be no more running.

There would be no more worrying.

There was only him, and he loved me.