Page 96 of Secret Gifts
“I love you.”
“We’re almost there,” Rex interjects, his hand sliding back to pat my knee, and I snuggle into Jase as relief fills my body for having avoided any more bloodshed tonight.
“I’ve never been so happy to be back inside the United lines,” I sigh out.
The gates of the border open for my Uncle the second he shows the awaiting officers his badge, and I close my eyes to hide the violet from the guards' full blood night vision.
“We heard it was a rough one out there,” one man murmurs.
“Very. Has Captain Angelica Morris called or made it back yet?” Unc asks worriedly.
“She, General Ericson, and Dr. Jude are here with Mrs. Mordel and Admiral… er, I mean Mr. Mordel, Sir. They caught it on the radios that you had Ms. Banner back.”
Fuck. Mom’s here. Not one word about the threat.
“I know. She was just worried. It’s protocol for someone to notify your emergency contact number if you’re… taken… or worse.”
He looks away again, his eyes trying not to show me the hell he has gone through tonight, as we drive on through the gate.
I need to take her off my emergency contacts until this is over.
“You could list me,” he says almost hopefully, and my foolish grin emerges.
“That sounds serious,” I say with my best vixen’s tone.
“There’s nothing more serious than the way I feel about you,” he utters with nothing but authenticity.
I dissolve under those pale eyes showing me such genuine love. It’s surreal, and I don’t know how I was so fortunate to end up with someone that makes me feel this way.
“That’s how I feel too,” he murmurs while kissing the back of my hand, and I just lie against him as we slowly crawl into a parking place.
“Are you coming with us to meet the others?” Rex asks while climbing out.
Jase holds me to his body as he climbs free from the car, and I shake my head at my brother.
“I need to heal, shower, rest, and avoid Mom’s meltdown. I don’t feel like hearing about how I was never ready for the field. This will just cement her adamancy to get me back into the tech labs.”
Rex’s laughter escapes, and Jase stifles his own while holding him to me all the tighter.
I choose healing first.
His smirk emerges, and he blushes as he rolls his eyes at me for the less than decent images rolling around in my scandalous mind for him to see.
I shrug, and then I look back to my brother who seems to have grown irritated by our silent conversation.
“I’ll have some blood sent to you,” Rex grumbles while walking away. “And I’ll tell Mom her interrogation on you will have to wait until tomorrow."
“Just deal with Mom. Jase has the blood under control,” I crudely interject, laughing when my brothers hands clap against his ears in a muffing motion while shaking his head upon hearing my over sharing moment.
Jase’s laughter slips free, and then his lips cover mine as we head into the towering, glorious hotel.
“Your brother hates me even more now. Thanks,” Jase teasingly releases.
I smile, and then a tear slips free from my eye. Now that we’re alone, it’s all rushing in. I was so close to losing it all. I was close to turning into my mother so long ago when men strung her up and tortured her for days just to learn more about her.
Jase winces as my thoughts take over, and his soft lips find mine again - his chill forcing my anxiety to slowly dissipate.
“I wouldn’t have let it happen. I would have found you no matter what. The entire damn United would have abandoned the war to go in search of you,” he murmurs against my lips, his sincerity wrapping around his words.
