I pause for a moment. “You know what she said?” I still can barely believe it. “She thinks I’m an angel. Like an avenging angel from the Bible that brings God’s wrath.”
He grabs some grenades. “Not gonna lie, brother. That’s pretty fucking metal. Can I be an angel too?”
“Sure,” Orchid chirps from behind me.
I turn to find her standing in the doorway, one of my shirts hitting all the way to her knees. “I’m your only angel.” I go to her and claim her in a rough kiss.
Reeve whistles, then chuckles, and goes back to selecting weapons.
When I let my sweet Petal take a breath, she looks up at me. “Okay, you’re my only angel.”
“Good.” I squeeze her ass.
Orion jumps up on one of the smaller safes, his tail twitching.
“Oh no, young man.” She hurries over to him and scoops him up. “This is not your fight.” She turns to me. “It’s not yours either, not really. I know I said—”
“I’m going to handle these people. They’re never going to hurt you or anyone else ever again. Don’t worry.” I knew what I was going to do the second I saw the marks on her back. Whoever put them there was already dead the moment the belt made contact.
“You’ve got that look again.” She smooths her palms down my cheeks.
I take her hands and kiss her palms. “Let me handle this, Petal. I have to.”
She sighs. “I understand. And … I want you to. I want it to stop. All of it.”
“Sounds like there are some sick puppies out at this commune thing. Don’t worry. We’ve dealt with some extreme assholes before. This’ll be a cakewalk.” Reeve loads the magazine of his favorite 9 millimeter.
“They have guns,” Orchid says quickly. “Lots of guns. They think the government is going to come in and do the David Koresh thing or the Ruby Ridge thing to them, so they have tons of weapons and bunkers.”
“We’re not going in guns blazing,” I reassure her. “Now that you’ve drawn us a map of the buildings, we’ll be able to move quickly and cut the head off the snake.”
“My father, you mean?” she asks.
I finish my loadout and heft a bag over my shoulder, then lift my case. “Yes.”
She chews her lip.
“Second thoughts?” I ask.
“No.” She shakes her head. “Not about that. I’m just afraid for my mother and the others. I don’t want them to get caught in the crossfire.” She backs up so I can maneuver out of the armory and into the front hall. “But I think I should go with you.”
I stop dead. “No.”
She runs around to stand in front of me. “Listen, I know the compound far better than you do, and that map isn’t going to be as helpful as having me there.”
“It’s too dangerous. I won’t risk you.”
“I’m not going to be in danger.” She grips my forearms. “I’m going to walk right in. They’ve wanted me back ever since I left. If I go willingly, I’ll be the perfect distraction for you. Then I can warn my mother and the others and make sure they get to safety before it all goes down.”
“No.” I get what she’s saying, and it makes sense, but I can’t put her in harm’s way. I step around her and walk out the front door, then load up everything in the back of my truck.
“Sully.” She stands on the front porch, her hands on her hips, looking like a goddamn snack. “You can’t just shut me out like this.”
“I can’t take you with me, Petal.” It goes against every instinct I have. There’s no way I’m letting her fall into their hands again. “I’ll never risk you like that. What you’re saying–it’s like using you as bait, and I won’t do it.”
I climb the steps until we’re almost at eye level. “I love you too much.”
Her eyes water. “Really?”
“More than anything else in this world, Petal.” I kiss her, softer this time, giving her my love in caresses.
She grips my shirt, her hands fisting the material as she pulls me closer.
I can’t get enough of her, and I hope she knows that. I hope she knows there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her.
She pulls back and presses her forehead to mine. “I love you too.”
I never dared to hope for her love. Maybe for her presence, her acceptance, her understanding. But her love? A man like me could never ask for that. But here she is, giving it to me without any reservation.
“Petal.” It’s all I can say as I look into her eyes. She’s given me everything.
She kisses the tip of my nose.
“Gross.” Reeves hops down the stairs and deposits his stuff in the back of my truck. “I’m riding with you, right? I don’t know if the Beamer can handle some backwoods country roads.” He pets his favorite toy. “I’ll be back soon, girl. Don’t worry. Daddy still loves you best.”