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Carver stood up, his chest heaving, and turned to Lucy, quickly cutting her free from the ropes that bound her.
“Are you okay?” Carver asked her.
Lucy nodded, tears of relief in her eyes. “I knew you’d come,” she said.
Carver pulled her into a tight embrace. “I promised, didn’t I?”
He helped Lucy to her feet, keeping a protective arm around her as they walked out of the warehouse.
The night air felt cool and refreshing after what happened inside. He made a mental note to call Devlin for a clean-up crew. As they drove away, Carver glanced at Lucy, her hand clasped tightly in his.
“We’re going to be okay,” he told her.
“I know we are,” Lucy said.
****
Carver’s heart pounded as he lay next to Lucy that night, the memory of the day’s events still fresh in his mind. She had asked to stay the night, and of course, he couldn’t refuse her.
They had taken a shower together, the warm water washing away the grime and tension. Now, in bed, she huddled close to him, her body warm against his.
He held her tightly, his mind racing with worry and doubt. “Are you having second thoughts about us?” he asked.
After everything that happened that day, he felt he had to give her a way out. This life was dangerous, filled with constant threats. He had chosen this path, but Lucy still had a chance to escape it.
Lucy turned to face him, her eyes soft and searching. She cupped his cheek, her touch gentle yet firm. “Why did you ask me that?” she asked.
Carver took a deep breath, his heart aching with the thought of losing her. “I nearly lost you today,” he admitted.
“But you didn’t,” she whispered.
“Lucy, it’s not too late to back out,” he murmured, his hand brushing a strand of hair from her face.
The thought of her leaving was devastating, but he would understand if she chose to.
“Carver, don’t you get it? I’m all in,” she said, her voice steady and sure. “After Emmet took me, I didn’t blame you for putting me in this situation. We only have one life … and I want to spend that with you.”
Her words hit him like a punch to the gut, but in the best way possible. Carver felt a swell of emotion he hadn’t allowed himself to feel in years. He kissed her, a slow, deep kiss that conveyed all the feelings he couldn’t put into words. He hugged her close, his heart hammering against his chest.
He didn’t know what he had done to deserve her, but he knew he was never letting her go.
“I love you,” he whispered against her lips, the words feeling both foreign and utterly right.
“I love you too,” she replied without hesitation.
****
The next morning, Carver woke to the sound of voices. For a moment, a wave of panic surged through him, almost certain that Emmet had returned to threaten Lucy again.
Then he remembered—Emmet was dead. He rubbed his eyes, shook off the remnants of sleep, and headed toward the source of the conversation.
He found Lucy in the kitchen, chatting with Devlin. The sight was unexpected but strangely comforting. Lucy, wearing only one of Carver’s oversized shirts, looked self-assured and confident, her laughter filling the space. Devlin, in his usual impeccable suit, was an imposing figure to most, but Lucy seemed unfazed.
“Hey, you,” Lucy said, finally noticing him.
She set her coffee mug down and walked over to him, standing on tiptoe to give him a good-morning kiss.
“Your brother was at the door, so I decided to let him in and invite him for coffee and breakfast. I hope you don’t mind,” she said.
