“You’re the strongest person I know,” I whispered and took her mouth in a slow kiss. I pulled back, staring into her gray eyes. “Love you, Hallie. Might not always do it perfectly, but you have all of me. Always. Never thought I’d get that kind of chance again. But you gave it to me.”
Tears filled her eyes. “You love me?”
“With everything I have.”
A few tears slipped free, sliding down her cheeks. “That comes in handy because I’m head over heels in love with you, and it would be awkward if you didn’t feel the same.”
This time, I did laugh.
“You’re stuck with me now, Little Minx.”
She stretched up onto her tiptoes and pressed her lips to mine. “I guess I’ll just have to figure out a way to live with that.”
* * *
My family sat sprawledaround the sectional while kids’ laughter and shouts sounded from the family room down the hall. Remnants of pizza and soda were everywhere, but we’d moved on to brownies that Aspen had insisted she needed torage bake.
“I still think someone should let me use him as a real-life dummy for my knife-throwing practice,” Grae grumbled.
Caden pulled her closer to his side. “Dial it back a notch, Gigi. Your girl already burst his balls.”
Hallie hadn’t, but I wished she had.
Nash shook his head but grinned at Hallie. “He won’t be messing with Trouble again.”
No, Hall wouldn’t. Because I’d talked Hallie into a restraining order. Thankfully, we had a couple of new cameras in the living room, courtesy of Holt beefing up our security system. They had caught everything. Watching it back nearly had me going down to the station to kill Reed myself, but it was the proof I needed to bring charges and fire him from the force.
“I think I’m going to make a GIF out of him dropping like a stone,” Nash added.
Maddie shook her head but patted his chest. “I think that’s enough.” She glanced at Hallie. “You’re really feeling all right?”
Hallie smiled as she burrowed deeper into my hold. “I know it sounds weird, but I feel the best I’ve felt in weeks. Powerful. Maybe even a little badass.”
“Damn straight,” Wren said, lifting her water glass to toast Hallie.
Roan nodded. “I think I’m going to get you to teach my Cady those moves.”
Aspen gaped at him. “She’s six.”
He shrugged. “That little kid in her dance class looks like he wants to put the moves on her.”
Aspen dropped her head and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Lord, help me.”
Everyone laughed at that.
A doorbell cut through the noise, and I groaned. Whoever it was could go the hell away.
As if reading my impatience, Nash got to his feet. “I’ll get it.”
Muted voices sounded from the entryway, and then Nash reappeared. “There’s a guy here who looks like he chews nails for a hobby. Says he’s here to see you, Law.”
I frowned but got to my feet and headed for the door. I stopped a few feet away. He looked a hell of a lot different. Gone was his always clean-shaven face, replaced with thick stubble. Those alert eyes now had dark circles under them.
“Anson?”
A muscle in his jaw ticked. “You were right. You need my help.”
46
