Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
“I’ve got to go.” I ended the call, ran out the door, and jumped into my car. I squealed away from the curb right into traffic. Horns honked, but I ignored them.
I zipped in and out of lanes, wondering how quickly I could get to the airport. How fast would he be able to get a flight? He’d probably been trying to book one on the ride there.
Don’t let me have missed him.
35
COREY
Somehow, through all the noise around me, people talking, suitcases squeaking, planes coming in and taking off, I heard the sound of fancy shoes, someone walking fast but with a limp, the sound of a cane thunking down beside them.
Dom had taught me to always listen, to pay attention to my surroundings. Otherwise, I would never have heard him, but what the hell was he doing here?
I was waiting for my bag and my suitcase to come through the security scan.
Our eyes met, and he shouted my name.
The TSA agent checking boarding passes as people entered the security line blocked him from entering. He was going to get himself arrested.
I had no idea what to do. People were watching the standoff and blocking the lines.
Then Dom yelled, “I love you, Corey. Please don’t leave.”
I steadied myself on the edge of the conveyor belt as my suitcase rolled out. No way had he just said that. This had to be a dream. He loved me?
People around me sucked in their breaths. I heard comments like “so sweet,” “I might swoon,” and “the most romantic thing ever.”
“Where’s Corey?” people began asking.
I met Dom’s eyes, and I knew there was no way in hell I was leaving. I grabbed my bag and suitcase and yelled to him. “Wait for me. I’ll be right there.”
“Good luck.” “Go get him,” people yelled as I raced out of security and looked around frantically for the exit.
When I found it, I ran like my flight was leaving in one minute, except I was going the wrong way. I saw Dom in the hallway outside security and let go of my suitcase so I could move faster. “I love you too,” I called.
He pulled me into his arms, and it felt incredible. I wanted to be mad at him, but I couldn’t be, not when he had told me he loved me in front of a whole airport. Finally, he pulled back from the kiss. “I was scared. I should’ve asked you to stay because I need you with me, because my life is going to be shit without you, even shittier than it was when I hid myself away and didn’t talk to anybody, not even my sons. Come back with me. I want you to stay with me, not because you need a job, not because you need protection, but because you want to, because you’re mine. I want to give you the fairytale.”
There were tears in his eyes, and it nearly broke me. “I’ll stay. That’s all I ever wanted, but I had to know you felt the same way I did, that you weren’t asking me because it was your duty or because you felt sorry for me.”
“I need you here because I love you, because I hate the thought of living without you.”
“So this is it? We’re officially together now.”
“Yes. Officially. We’ll tell my family; we’ll tell anyone you want. Just don’t leave me.”
“I think we just told most of the people here, and I don’t ever want to leave you. I’ve never been happier than when you hold me.”
His smile melted me. “You comfort me like no one ever has. I want to take you home and keep you in bed for days.”
I glanced behind me to see if my suitcase was still there. It was. People had been thoroughly trained not to touch a suitcase that wasn’t theirs. I raced back to grab it, and Dom followed me.
I turned to him. “I think that sounds like the best idea ever. I might even want to stay in bed for a week.”
“Whatever you want. I’ll give you.”
I raised my brows. “Is that a promise?”
“Yes. It is.”
36
EPILOGUE
COREY
one month later
It took several weeks after Dom came for me at the airport, but I finally convinced him to host a dinner party. I would finally get to meet Zeke and Liam, and seeing as how I now belonged to their father-in-law, it was high time. And then there were Dom’s nephews and their men. I’d heard a lot about them, but I didn’t know them at all.
Dom refused to let me have any say in the menu for evening, which—while I pretended to be offended—didn’t matter in the least. I’d succeed where I’d wanted to. I would get more time with his family, and he was excited about something that didn’t involve killing.
I’d broken the ice around his heart and gotten him to admit that he could love me. His sons had succeeded in drawing him out into their world, but there was a long way to go to repair the damage Dom’s upbringing and Lisa had done. I didn’t think I’d ever turn him into an extrovert, but I was making progress bringing him into the light.