Page 53 of Protecting Salvation

“You hungry?”

“A little.”

“Want some grilled cheese?”

“If you’re making some.”

She patted his arm and moved to get up but he didn’t let go and she fell against him laughing. “You’re the biggest koala I’ve ever seen.”

“Just five more minutes and then you can go.”

Peyton laughed and sat back on his lap, stroking his face as he laid his head back against her chest and let her heartbeat steady him. The rhythm was strong and sure, full of life just like the woman. He could stay here forever but he knew he had some tough choices to make and the clock was ticking. This bout today only pushed the point home.

Dr Decker had said when they’d met Monday that surgery needed to happen soon and the accelerated growth wasn’t a good sign. He was tempted to have the surgery because living like this was no life at all, but dying when he had so much to live for right now was a cruel twist.

They did have one possibility for a blood donor but as soon as he found out who it was, he shut that shit down. He’d rather take his chances than have the blood of a serial killer in his veins. The man was on death row in the US for heinous crimes and the only other option was pregnant, which meant she’d be taking a mammoth risk and it wasn’t something he’d allow.

“You want me to feed you, big guy? Then we can head to bed with some tea and biscuits.”

“Biscuits in bed, you naughty minx.” He chuckled, not willing to think about this anymore.

Peyton laughed. “Don’t worry, I won’t make you sleep with crumbs in the bed.”

“I’d sleep on nails for you, sugar.”

“There he is, my sweet man.”

“I think you meant sexy.”

“That too.”

He let her go and followed her into the kitchen, grabbing a tray and some of their favourite Hobnobs and custard creams. “We taking the grilled cheese to bed too?”

“Yep, I want you in my arms. I missed you today.”

Her eyes were warm and full of emotion that neither had said aloud yet as she watched him, he could see it. He loved her and he was pretty sure she loved him too. So what did that mean for his decision? Either way, she got hurt. She either spent her life caring for him with many more days like today and eventually him not being able to see or he possibly died and left her with a broken heart.

It weighed heavy, even on his big shoulders.

* * *

“Hurricane, we got him.”

He blinked at Lotus’ excitement down the line. “Got who?”

“Trevor, we got him.”

It was three days since his last headache that ended in a bed picnic with the woman he loved. “Tell me.”

“I’m on my way over now but Aubrey is going to arrest him this afternoon.”

“I want to be there.”

“I told her you would. She’s got your number.”

“K.”

He hung up and glanced at Peyton who was watching him. “Lotus is coming over. Apparently they got Trevor.”