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I grimace. “It should’ve been me helping you. Not Leni or Raegan.”
Sebastian studies me a long moment, then holds out a hand. “Don’t worry about it. I want to get my shit together. I will,” he vows.
I clasp his forearm.
“Brunch is at two down at the marina,” he says. “Tyler and Annie are bringing the baby.”
“Is Beck coming?” I ask.
An exasperated sigh. “How the fuck should I know?”
Natalia appears with a coffee, and I thank her as I drop into a chair. “Raegan’s upset. What happened in that room… I don’t blame her.”
“What did happen?” Sebastian asks.
I don’t want to talk it out, but I need to tell someone because it’s burning a hole in my gut. So, I tell him everything, struggling to get through a few parts.
“That’s intense.” He blows out a breath.
“I wanted to save her.” I pause, my coffee halfway to my lips, then set the cup back down. “It felt like I was the one on my knees.”
Noises behind us have Ash looking over my shoulder. “Morning, sunshine.”
I turn as Rae comes down the stairs wearing a T-shirt and denim shorts. I rise and hold a chair for her. She sinks into it.
“You were on fire last night,” Ash comments. “Have you checked out social yet?”
“Been busy.” But her lips twitch, and I’m grateful to my brother for reassuring me it’s still possible for her to smile.
Natalia brings her coffee and biscotti, and Raegan murmurs her thanks. My gaze runs over the bruise on her cheek as she breaks off a piece of cookie and holds it out to Barney, who devours it and eyes her like she’s the sun, moon, and stars.
Get in line.
Ash rises from his seat. “Brunch this afternoon. With everyone down by the port. If you’re up to it.” Her gaze flits to mine, then away again.
Raegan doesn’t answer, and my brother shifts out of his seat and heads toward the door.
I can’t stand the distance between us. But when I cover her hand with mine, she flinches.
“How’s your shoulder?” she asks.
“It’s nothing.”
Not compared to what happened to her.
She looks away, and I grab her chair and drag it toward mine until she can’t avoid my gaze.
“It hurts, love. Is that what you want to hear? It aches, but the only thing I cared about last night, the only thing I care about now, is you.” I try to put my agony into words. “When I saw you in that room, I’ve never been so terrified in my life. I did everything I could to protect you. But underneath… I felt helpless. If he wasn’t dead already, I’d have killed him for touching you. The second I got free.” I grimace. “I didn’t expect you to be the one to do something fucking crazy. It took everything in me to hold back.”
Her gaze softens with compassion. “You waited?”
“You asked me to. And I told you, we’re a team, love.” I smooth back her hair from her face. “You’re brave and beautiful, and you came into my life like a storm and wouldn’t leave. You taught me there’s more to life than a list of assets bearing my name or a team of people in my employ.
“You reminded me that damaged people can still love. You tried to take down a Russian drug dealer. Unassisted. Fuck. If you need space after last night, I will give it to you. But I won’t pretend I want to be anywhere other than where you are. I won’t tell you I’m not jealous Barney got to lick your hand just now.”
Her eyes glaze over, her lips parting. Every second she’s silent leaves me ripped in two.
“You want to lick my hand?” she asks at last.
