Page 190 of The Outlaw's Savage Revenge

“So you got tested.”

“I did.”

“And I suppose you want to get married? Because, what, suddenly you feel worthy of my love?”

Sherears back, spine stiffening. “No. I want to marry because the last three days showed me the one thing I can’t live without: you. I want to be bound to you. I thought you wanted the same thing.”

I take a steadying breath and push through a ravaged throat. “What I wanted was your trust, not your courage—you’ve got enough of that to last a lifetime. I need you to let me love you through every moment, better or worse.”

Her eyes flash with that familiar fire. “This wasn’t about you or us at all. It was my decision. Something I had to do on my own.”

I inhale sharply, steadying my fraying temper. “In that case, you wouldn’t mind if we held off getting married so I can focus on the Reaper Druids, would you?”

For a second, I think she’ll relent, but then she snaps, “No, of course not. Take your time.”

The air crackles with tension. My feigned indifference is starting to slip, but I refuse to let her see it.

“So what does this mean for us?” she bites out.

I try to shrug, immediately regretting it as pain lances through my shoulder. Still, I manage a flippant response. “We’ll still love and annoy the hell out of each other. You can visit me in Harmony when you have time. I’ll do the same for you in Chicago. We’ll make it work.”

Her pursed silence holds for all of two seconds, and then she sputters. “You can’t be serious!”

The damn monitors are starting to broadcast the frustration I’m trying to bury. Christ, I can’t even fight properly in this state. “Baby. It’s been an intense couple of weeks. We could do with a breather.” Then, I deliberately change the subject. “Now, where’s St Michael?”

Shestares at me, stunned. Then the disbelief bleeds into fury, and she snaps. “You’re an ass, Cade Quinn.” Before I can respond, she reaches over the side of the bed and grabs an envelope.

“I was waiting to give this to you.” She tosses the envelope onto my chest like it burns her fingers. Without another word, she storms to the door. “I’ll let the rest of our family in. Try not to make them want to wring your neck, too.”

Something about the way she saysfamilysqueezes at my chest.

I don’t get the chance to examine the sealed envelope before the door opens.

Sophie enters first, and her sharp intake of breath cuts off any smart remark. “Jesus, Cade.” Tears spring to her eyes and her voice wavers despite her best attempt at composure. She rushes to my side.

Nico follows, then Dante. Their eyes take in everything with that precise Vitelli assessment, moving with the careful grace of men used to death but not comfortable seeing it touch family.

“Don’t ever scare me like that again, Cade,” Sophie manages, clutching at my hand.

I try to give her a reassuring smile, but my attention is drawn to Luna like gravity. She’s at the window now, arms wrapped tight around herself, staring out but seeing nothing.

Even angry, even across the room, she pulls at something in my soul. Her thick, dark hair falls over her shoulder, catching the morning light. She’s wearing just jeans and a T-shirt, but it doesn’t matter. It’s how she holds herself—rigid with irritation, while every line of her body begs for me.

Nico’s talking security protocols, then says something about Saint being evaluated. He mentions Phoenix and the others, waiting outside because of critical care restrictions. All his words fade to background noise.

“Do you have to be so fucking stubborn?” The words escape before I can stop them.

The room falls silent. Nico and Dante exchange a look while Sophie’s gaze flits between Luna and me.

Luna takes a moment, seemingly steeling herself, then turns away from the window to face me.

And everything else disappears.

Her eyes flash, chin lifting in that defiant angle that never fails to make me hard, but there’s a slight tremor in her voice when she says, “Do you have to lose your shit when I don’t do as you say?”

My fingers find the envelope on my chest. I lift it. “Tell me something.” I hold up the envelope, my voice low, steady. “Why is this still sealed?”

Her teeth sink into her lip, but the fight drains from her eyes. She whispers, her voice trembling.

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