Page 194 of Protecting You

“And Ghazi?”

“Dead. So is Benson. All Ghazi’s men were killed or injured.”

“The drones?”

“The pilot?—”

“Spencer.”

He hadn’t heard the guy’s name. “He’d programmed the targets, but Bartlett managed to undo it. None of the missiles were fired.”

“Thank God. I can’t believe it all worked out.”

“Miracles. I kept asking God for miracles.”

She smiled. “Me too. I’m sorry for that police officer.”

“Yeah. It’s tragic.”

Now that he knew Alyssa was all right, and Peri was all right, and it was all over… He was exhausted. Despite the few hours of sleep, he felt like he could pass out for a week.

He said, “I wanted to say?—”

“—I’m sorry it…”

Callan nodded to her. “Ladies first.”

“I’m sorry it all happened.” Her words came out in a flood. “If I hadn’t started working for Ghazi in the first place?—”

“You wouldn’t have if you’d known who he was. You’re allowed to have a business.”

“Not a business where I break the law. Bend the rules to get what I want. If I hadn’t, Ghazi might’ve moved on to someone else, someone more amenable. But I showed him my morals were iffy, where hacking was concerned, anyway.”

He wasn’t about to let Alyssa carry the burden for this. “As soon as you understood what was going on, you did the right thing. Hacking into a private database is one thing. Hacking into a defense contractor is something else.”

“But the Russian?—”

“Don’t do that. You risked your life to save my daughter. You protected her. As far as I’m concerned, you redeemed yourself times a thousand. I’ll never stop owing you for that.”

“This isn’t a transaction, Callan. If you forgive me, I’ll take that. You don’t owe me a thing. What were you going to say?”

He took a breath and dove in. “I love you.”

Her eyes popped wide.

“I know it was supposed to be pretend, the engagement and the kissing, and… I know it was supposed to be for show. But it stopped being that for me somewhere between the dancing and Dad’s heart attack, when you showed up. Or maybe… I don’t know.” He took her hand in both of his, praying she felt at least a hint of the depth of emotion he did. “What I felt for you in college never went away. And since I saw you again Wednesday night, my feelings have grown and… And I love you.”

He forced himself to shut up. Let her talk.

“I love you too.”

“Oh.”

She smiled.

He didn’t. “It’s just… I’m going to quit my job. I mean, I have to. I have to be with Peri, and if I want to be a good father… I will be a good father.”

“Youarea good father.”

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