He shook his head.“There’s no need toapologize.”
He brought her close so she could lean herhead against his shoulder.Ryker reached out and closed his fingersover hers.Her hand felt small, comforting against his biggerone.
“How long have you been having these kindsof nightmares?”he asked.
Ryker didn’t need to ask what she dreamedof.He knew.Seeing her in pain like that gutted him on a deepestlevel.Years ago, he managed to persuade her to see a therapist,but after a few sessions, she told him not to waste any more money,that being around him and the Familia was the only cure sheneeded.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“Tell me,” he said in a firm but coaxingvoice.
“For a while,” she admitted.“When you’re inbed next to me, they don’t appear at all.It’s like you’re thismagical talisman.”
She bit her lower lip, seemingly hesitating.He waited.Not for the first time he wished he could rewind timeand prevent his asshole brother from leaving her scars, both insideand out.If he could kill River all over again, he would.
Over time, some men turned rotten on theinside.Ryker knew that from personal experience.Ryker hadpersonally put a bullet in the skulls of other Familia members whoceased caring about right from wrong.River had somehow ended uplike those men without Ryker realizing it.
He gritted his teeth, surprised she placedone hand on her name inked over his heart and stole a quick,fleeting kiss from him.So sweet and he wanted more.He could helpfuck her nightmares away, but he knew they needed to have thistalk.
Ryker speared his fingers through her hair,bringing her close for a more adult kiss.He nipped on her lowerlip and grazed it with his teeth, loving the soft and pliant wayshe responded to him as she kissed him back.He rendered them bothslightly out of breath as he pulled away to continue theirconversation.The prospect of sex could wait.
“Don’t you think it’s about time you stoppedblaming yourself for the actions of your brother?”she asked,running her fingers over the ink on his chest.“And it’s been solong ago.”
“What did I do to deserve an angel likeyou?”Sky had always been too good for him, for this kind of life,but she was old enough to choose and she chose him.Them.Part ofhim worried she might end up changing her mind about staying, aboutbecoming his wife, but she seemed set on her choices.
She let out a rich, sexy laugh that didn’tfail to make his dick rock-hard.“I’m no angel.”
“It’s thanks to River you’re having thesenightmares,” he said bitterly.
“In the past I put these horrible memoriesin a locked box and threw away the key.It’s inevitable I face themagain at some point in my life.”
“My brave and beautiful wife,” he murmured,bringing her close for a comforting hug.“You won’t face themalone.Not anymore.”
Ryker made a mental reminder not to workovertime too much.Sky had steel in her spine, he knew that.Oneday, these memories would no longer hurt her.He’d make sure ofthat.Once they got married, he’d make her the happiest wife in theworld.He’d give her anything she asked for—not that she asked fora lot.
“We’ll find you a therapist you’recomfortable with.With my help and the therapist, these nightmareswould eventually stop, because all you’ll be able to think of arethe good moments we’ve created.”
“A shrink?”she asked, making a face butseeming to consider his words carefully.She smiled at him.“You'reright.Bringing in a professional might help.Promise me you'll beright next to me?"
“Always, you're my wife, after all.”
“I’m not your wife yet.We haven’t decidedon the wedding location, the reception—”
He pressed a finger to her lips.
Ryker made a decision.If weddingarrangements stressed her out, then there was only solution.Besides, he couldn’t wait any longer either.It had only been threedays since he proposed.Ryker thought he’d give her time to enjoythe engagement, but he’d never been a patient man when it came tohis woman.
He wanted her to carry his family name, forthem to become man and wife officially under the law.Seeing herharmlessly talking with other Familia men only made him insanelyjealous, even more possessive.Once she became his wife, everyonewould know she belonged to him.
“Ryker?”she asked.His mind must havedrifted.
“There’s no need to wait.Tomorrow.We’ll goto city hall and get married.”
She made a face at him and said in a grumpyvoice, “Giovanni’s going to complain.He keeps giving mesuggestions about where we can hold the wedding.He said he’ll evenuse his connections.”
Ryker chuckled.“Who cares about what thatold bastard thinks?”
She looked horrified.“I can’t believe yousaid that.I’d like that as well, but Giovanni’s just being niceand he took his time to—”
