They could never comprehend the love – the love – we share.
I need to call this in, but my cellphone is in the bedroom and if I make a wrong move, the men could scoop their weapons up and go for me again.
Footsteps sound behind me.
Fuck.
I turn my head but keep my gun aimed forward, maintaining my iron grip on Aaron’s neck.
It’s Liam, the third guard, clutching his side as he walks down the hallway. He’s a young man, tall and lean, with stark blue eyes that asses the scene quickly.
“Call this in,” I tell him.
“I already have,” he wheezes. “Those motherfuckers broke my ribs. Shit.”
He shakes his head, as though trying to clear his vision.
“Damn, Rider, did you take these bastards out yourself?”
I nod grimly.
“Fuck, you really are as tough as they say.”
“Collect their guns, kid,” I tell him. “We don’t want them trying anything stupid.”
I wait while Liam walks forward and picks up their weapons, tossing them to the other side of the hallway. Then, without asking – this kid is good – he starts gathering them up against the wall, aiming a gun at them.
“You’re lucky I don’t blow you two to hell right now,” he snarls, addressing his two FBI partners. “Fucking cowards.”
Once I see the men are secure, I drag Aaron toward the bedroom, a war song still hammering through me.
He trembles as his body tries to slide to the ground, as his gunshot-riddled legs quiver. I tighten my grip on his neck and drag him to the ensuite door, knocking with the barrel of my gun.
“Ruby,” I call.
The door cracks and my woman takes in the scene with a widening of her gorgeous eyes.
“Is it over?” she whimpers.
I nod. “Almost. But first, this piece of shit is going to apologize. Really apologize. Or I’m going to put a bullet in his head this time.” I give him a violent shake. “Go on. Now.”
Aaron makes pathetic whimpering noises, sounding like a rat caught in a trap. “I’m sorry, Ruby.” He has to push his words past a sob. “I’m so sorry. For everything I said. For everything I did. Oh, God, please… I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”
I look at my woman, my whole being buzzing at the sight of her.
Safe, alive, seeming to glow with the life that’s growing inside of her.
“I can still put a bullet in his head,” I growl. “For what he did. For what he said.”
She stares at him for a few moments and then shakes her head. “Let him rot in jail where he belongs.”
“Thank you, thank you—”
Ruby darts forward and slaps him across the face, causing his head to snap to the side.
“That’s for my Dad.”
She slaps him again, harder this time.
“And that’s for that soundproofing crap you pulled.”
I smirk at her, pride whelming up inside of me.
Despite everything, she smiles.
“I guess you’re right,” she murmurs. “I guess I do have a sassy side after all.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Several Days Later
Ruby
The end.
I sit on Rider’s balcony as the sun rises over the city, setting everything alight in glorious bright colors, the windows on the skyscrapers glittering all around me.
I move the cursor over the words, knowing it might be the end of my story but it’s not the end for Rider and me.
No, it’s only just beginning for us.
Uncle Aaron is in a maximum-security jail, awaiting trial for a laundry list of crimes, and the criminal organizations in the city are floundering. There’s talk of Rider getting a medal for how he heroically fought off the attackers in the FBI safe house, apprehending Aaron with the help of Agent Liam, who’s also going to receive a commendation.
No matter how real it is, I still have to forcibly remind myself that we’re no longer being hunted. Uncle Aaron is no longer going to pop into our lives, trying to ruin what we have.
The Irish mob is crumbling – which stirs no emotion in me, because after Aaron took leadership from my Dad they did no good for this city – the Cartel has left, scared away by the Federal attention.
It turns out not all law enforcement is corrupt.
A massive investigation has started, garnering national attention after it was revealed how two FBI agents worked with Uncle Aaron.
Life is good, better than good…
I’ve spent the last few days working on my story and then when Rider returns from work, I fall into his arms so we can unleash our lust on each other. I never believed I’d be able to put myself forward with such confidence, but after the second, third, fourth time we had made love, I found myself able to take the lead a little.
Not a lot – my man will always be mostly in charge in the bedroom – but enough to let myself know I don’t have to be the shy girl forever.