Page 71 of Craving Sin

“You’re the governor’s son.”

“So? That doesn’t mean someone would put a hit out on me. What could they possibly gain from that?”

“I don’t know, but none of this ever really made sense. Yes, I’d killed their brother, so they would want revenge, but usually people who actually plan to kill someone don’t go talking about it around town. That’s what someone who is all talk does.” Rian paces, then walks over to the window, separating two of the blinds and looking out. “They were at the hospital, and sure, they could have followed me and sat there all night, but it just doesn’t make sense for them to have done it there. They weren’t waiting anywhere near where I parked…they were in your row, Abbott.”

What he’s saying makes sense. Would they have waited all night for him when they didn’t know what time he would leave? Wouldn’t that draw attention? If they knew a rough estimate of how long I would be at the hospital, then they could have come right before I got off.

Knots tighten in my gut, but I try to ignore them. “Maybe they got lucky…or hell, maybe they just drove around at the right time. I don’t know, Rian, but there is no reason someone would plan to have me killed.”

He walks over and kneels in front of me, taking my face in the warm hands that just minutes ago had blood on them…they will always have blood on them, even when I don’t see it.

“You said you feel like someone has been watching you. When I was here the other night, that’s the first time I’ve come here. I haven’t followed you. I hadn’t been in your house until that night.”

My skin gets cold as ice. It can’t be… I’d felt someone watching me when I was running.

I’d felt it more than once.

“Conan?” I ask.

“Him either. He hasn’t come here at all. I warned him off you.”

“Someone had been in my house, Rian. I could tell when I got home. Things were moved, even just slightly. My drawers were messed up. I—”

“Christ. Why didn’t you tell me?” He pushes to his feet.

“Because I assumed it was you or your pack of willing killers! You’ve threatened me enough!”

He winces, then sits beside me. “My life would be a whole lot easier if I could hurt you.” He shakes his head. “But I can’t do it, and I’m sure as shit not going to let anyone else hurt you either.”

His words rip any response from my lungs. I know I should say something, but that’s about as far as my brain is able to go—at least right now. Rian just admitted that he doesn’t think he can hurt me…that he plans to protect me.

Rian reaches for me, cupping my face once more. I can’t stop myself from nuzzling into his palm, feeling like home. “You’re mine, pretty thing. There’s nothing I won’t do to protect you. Come on. Let’s pack some things.”

His. Rian says I’m his, and damned if I don’t want that more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my whole life.

“Where are we going?” Because clearly, I’m going to go with him. Hell, I probably would have even before he’d been open with me and told me the truth. I want to be with Rian, despite all the reasons I shouldn’t. The loneliness I’ve felt all of my life is even heavier since I lost him, so heavy that I don’t know if I can keep carrying it…and if he wants me, if I can be with him, and shed that hurt, I’m going to find a way to do it.

“To my house.” Rian doesn’t give me a chance to answer before he moves toward my closet again. He comes out with a suitcase just seconds later.

To his house. The one I know he raised his son in, the one he lived with his wife in. Rian is taking me there.

“Okay.” As far as answers go, it’s not the most intelligent response I’ve ever given, but it works.

I’m not sure what it is about this moment that makes the truth of everything he’s saying slam into me.

Someone tried to have me killed…?

If Rian hadn’t been there that morning, maybe they would have succeeded, and we never would have met. There’s a wrongness in that, one I feel deep in my gut—like the world would be tilted off its axis—this thing that should be wrong, but feels like the rightest thing I’ve ever done. Dizziness sweeps me up, making me unsteady on my feet, my thoughts wreaking havoc with my whole body.

Rian’s arms wrap around me, this dangerous man pulling me close.

“I’m fine,” I say, face feeling flush, whether from embarrassment, the emotions of the moment, or both, I’m not sure.

“I’ll take care of you, Abbott. I promise. I’ll protect you with my life. No one will hurt you.”

I smile, not doubting him for a second. I don’t understand why my feelings for him are so strong, so intense that it feels like nothing in my life would be right without him. “I know, but that’s not what I was thinking.”

“What, then?” he asks.