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“Do not hide from me,” he whispers, ghosting his fingertips over my bruised cheekbone. “I love you. That much is clear. And, yes, Sander does, too. Just in a different way,” he chuckles softly.
After the day on the beach, I figured those feelings would fade. But knowing he was here with Bodhi the whole time makes me so happy I could cry again.
“We are your family. Okay?” He tucks my hair back behind my ears. “Family doesn’t stand by and watch the people they love go through hell. They sure as hell don’t let them do that shit by themselves.”
“But—”
“No, Keaton,” his expression tenses. “Look at where fighting these demons on your own has gotten you.”
“Bodhi—” I try, but he cuts me off again, albeit gently.
“Keaton,” he shakes his head. “I thought I lost you. We all thought we lost you. You can’t expect any of us to turn a blind eye to everything after what happened to you.”
“You have to,” I cry out, unable to hold back any longer. I blink back the sting in my eyes and sniffle. “I can’t let you fight this battle for me. Not after seeing how far they’ll go.”
His posture sags a little, and I think maybe he finally understands.
“I can’t,” my voice cracks and I clear my throat. “I can’t lose you. Not to them. Not over this,” I say, sweeping my hand around the room.
“Hey,” he says, shaking his head and leaning down to kiss my head. “You aren’t going to lose me. I promise.”
“But how can you be sure?” I ask around the lump in my throat.
“Because I’m not doing this alone, either. Sander is making sure we go as by the book as possible, so that whatever we do, sticks.”
I take that in, thinking over what Sander might be able to do. I never really gave him much information, but then again, he didn’t share everything he knew with me, either.
I guess Bodhi is right. It’s time we all start working together.
“How much does he know?” I ask.
“Everything I know. Maybe more,” he shrugs. “He has resources we don’t.”
Sander does have an advantage in all of this. I feel pretty shitty never having had enough faith in him to think he’d have helped me out of all this. I’m pretty sure an apology is in order. Probably a couple, if I’m honest.
“Hey,” Bodhi calls my name, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Hmm?”
“I know you’re scared, but I promise you, right now, with all of my heart, that I will do everything in my power to protect you. In this moment. In the chaos that is sure to come. In whatever life throws our way. I will be there by your side,” he vows.
Tears track down my cheeks once again, and just like before, Bodhi is there to wipe them away.
“You’re my girl,” he says, smiling softly.
I nod, reaching for him.
He doesn’t disappoint. He presses his lips against mine, sealing his promise with a kiss. For the first time since I met him, I drop my guard completely, allowing him into every inch of my being.
“I love you, Bodhi Kane.”
“And I love you, Princess.”
Chapter 81
I didn’t want to leave Keaton this morning, but I already promised to meet Rob and the attorney to sign all the necessary paperwork to take possession of my grandparents’ house.
It was a fairly simple process. Nothing more than a few signatures, and I had the keys and deed to the property in hand.
