“Do you?”
“Yes, but that’s not the point. You didn’t let me know. You didn’t give me a chance to—”
“Say goodbye. There was no need. I’m not going anywhere and neither are you. I love you, Tulip, and I know you love me. You and I, we’re together in this life.”
Rather than question it, Tulip threw her arms around his neck. “Yes, I’ll marry you. Yes, I love you. Don’t do anything crazy or stupid like that again. I don’t think I can handle it.”
He wrapped his arms around her and she closed her eyes. “I’m so glad you’re alive. I love you so much. You can’t ever leave me.”
“I’m not going to, Tulip. Thank you for giving me a chance and not giving up on me.”
“Never. I will never leave you. I love you too much.”
****
Mason Savona cursed as he saw Tamsin walking across the street, without a care in the world. She looked happy. Her smile tugged at his fucking soul but what he didn’t like was the fact his father wasn’t too far away.
The evil bastard had seen her.
He had to make his move now.
Following her at a steady pace, he knew his brothers were all ready with the car. Once he took Tamsin, he would have to go back to the Dentons. He knew they were going to be hurting with the news of Landon’s death spreading like wildfire throughout their circles. The bounty had been paid in full and the debt wiped clean. No one was after the youngest Denton brother, but now he needed Tamsin, his association with the Dentons in order to overrule his father. He had a plan, and leaving this young woman to live her life wasn’t going to help him get what he wanted.
Mason struck when Tamsin least expected it. He already had the chloroform on the tissue, and he placed it over her mouth. She struggled for a few seconds before finally giving in. She was his now, and there was no way his father could get his disgusting grubby hands on her.
Epilogue
Six months later
“And then your mommy was so angry with Daddy because … well, I wasn’t a very good friend.”
“Do you really think she can hear?” Tulip asked.
“Yeah, she can hear. Why would they get babies to listen to that boring classical stuff if they couldn’t hear? They want to bore them to death.”
“Don’t even start. I saw you listening to it yourself. It’s relaxing.”
“Nah, I’m all for the heavy metal.”
Tulip burst out laughing and Landon did the same. To the outside world, he would always be David. Tulip called him it, but in his own head, he was Landon. Never in a million years did he ever imagine he’d give up his family for a woman.
Being a Denton was all he’d ever known. Killing his father had set the course of his life. He’d done it because he truly believed he had nothing to live for, whereas now, he knew the truth. He had Tulip to live for. His wife. They’d gotten married in a registry office, bringing their lives together.
The past six months hadn’t been easy. They were learning all kinds of new things together and he loved her more than anything.
“Are you still happy?” Tulip asked.
She asked him every other week.
“With you, Tulip, I’ll always be happy.” He placed his hand on her heavily pregnant stomach just as their little girl kicked. “Holy fuck, did you feel that?” he asked.
She cupped his face. “I know you get tired of me asking, but I know you, Landon. If you were struggling, you’d tell me, right?”
“Yes, I would tell you if I missed getting shot at and dying every other day. I don’t miss anything. I have you. This life, and there’s nothing that will pull me back. Of that, I promise.”
He kissed her hard, knowing there was no way in hell he’d ever let this woman go. She completed him and he would take every second he had with her to show her what she truly meant to him.
She’d given him a second chance. She made him want to live, and he would give her the world for allowing him to feel this way.
The End