“You shouldn’t be out of bed,” I soothe, carrying her to the room with Cal’s help.
Once she’s settled, my brother touches her arm gently. “Ava? Did you mean to say Texas?”
“No,” she says, shaking her head. “Seth would go to Miami first.”
I see the confusion on Cal’s face, and I realize he’s still in the dark. “I can explain—”
“Save it for the plane.” He’s already at the door.
“Cal!” Ava sits forward, reaching out to him. He pauses and returns to take her hand. I see her swallow back tears. “Don’t let anything happen to her.”
The muscle in his jaw moves, and his hazel eyes burn with determination. “I promise you. I won’t come back without her.”
I step to the door to watch him leave.
“Email me everything you know,” he says before stepping into the elevator. “Fill me in on what I’ve missed.”
“I will. Be careful, brother.”
The doors close, and I return to Ava. Sitting beside her on the bed, she rests her dark head against my chest, and I wrap my arms around her, holding her body to mine.
Dropping my chin, I kiss the top of her head, speaking in a low voice. “When he returns with your sister, I will make you my queen.”
Her body tenses, and she looks up at me. “What?”
I smile down at her. “Your ring is at Occitan. I had hoped to propose to you tonight by the ocean, but I’m afraid to wait any longer. I don’t know what might happen next.”
“But… Are you saying—?”
“Will you marry me, Ava Wilder?”
She blinks several times, and a little laugh erupts from her chest. “You want to marry me? … Me?”
“If you would you consider being my wife, you would make me very happy.”
“Consider it!” She grasps my arms in both hands. “Consider it? I’ve dreamed of it ever since I met you. I couldn’t bear thinking of Zee with you. Thank goodness Cal—”
“Is that a yes?” I lower my head to kiss her cheek, which immediately moves in a rapid nod.
“Yes!” Despite her pallor, her face seems to glow. “Yes, yes, yes!”
My heart swells, and I cup her cheeks with my hands. Looking deep into her eyes, I say the words I’ve been thinking for so long. “I love you, Ava. I want to make you mine.”
“I’m already yours,” she whispers, eyes shining. “I’ve been yours since that first night.”
Our mouths collide, and I push her lips apart so our tongues can slide together. She presses forward, and I hold her close, sliding my palms down her soft hair to her lower back. I want to pull her onto my lap and make love to her beautiful soul.
Breaking apart, I speak in her ear. “The doctor said you should recover quickly.”
“It’s already taking too long,” she purrs, and I almost groan.
Another kiss, our lips chasing each other’s in hungry motions until I lift my head. Her forehead rests against my neck, and her fingers lightly touch my collar as I hold her, loving how she feels in my arms.
As complete as I feel in this moment, worry tightens my stomach. If Zelda is right, the chain of events set in motion today is vast and deadly. I’m furious these political players tried to hurt my Ava. I will make them suffer for their crimes, but I can’t forget their target is me.
Cal is on his way to the airport. He’s taking two of my best guards with him. As former military, the three of them have both the weapons and the training to bring her safely home.
Zelda Wilder might think she’s on her own, but we’ll find her. We’ll find the people who did this, and I will personally oversee their punishment.