Page 158 of Inside the Wicked

“Oh, I am definitely getting that whole story,” I say with giddy amusement. “Save it. I think I’ll want wine and chocolate to hear it all.”

Allie flushes more, but her smile widens. “I guess it’s been a very long,nonexistentwhile since I’ve had a decent girl’s night. You’d better recover fast. I’m looking forward to it now.” She squeezes my hand, and just then the door opens.

When I see the stunning silver locks and Rhett’s worn, dirt-smudged face, I crumble inside.

Allie stands from the chair, and Adam slips off my bed.

“I guess I shouldn’t leave Liam suffering at the station any longer. I just know he would have wanted me to stay to see you pull through.”

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“Can you give me a ride, Rix?”

He nods, and they all bid me farewell. Jeremy coos into the bag like a crazy person when one of the dogs gives a little yap, and I giggle.

When they leave and I meet Rhett’s eyes, I don’t expect to fall apart so much that I have to cover my face with the one hand I have right now as the emotions rock through me.

“What’s wrong?” Rhett asks softly, pulling my hand away and brushing my tearstained cheeks.

“I don’t know,” I say, smiling now, and maybe I am concussed and someone should be concerned, because my emotions are all shades of fucked.

I scoot over, but Rhett eyes the space warily.

“I’d barely fit on that thing myself,” he says.

“Please.”

He gives me a look that reprimands me for using the sympathy card. Rhett slips off his shoes and lies beside me. We maneuver carefully and slowly in consideration of my wounded shoulder, until I’m comfortably tucked against him.

Rhett strokes a hand down my hair. “How are you feeling?” he asks in a whisper.

“Happy.”

“You might be the first to wake up after an explosion and a bullet wound and say that.”

“I mean, physically, I feel like I want a new body, because this sucks big-time.”

I can practically feel his smile. “That’s more like it.”

“But I’m happy to suffer in this one. To heal in it. Because it’s yours.”

He tips my chin back to press his lips to mine. “Yes, you are.”

“How many ice-cream trips do I get for this?”

Rhett breaks into a grin. “Fuck me, Ana. I’ve been pacing and worried and going out of my mind, but I’m so damn relieved you have your spirit in full swing.”

I say nothing, basking in our comfortable silence, which feels different. It feels like true peace.

“We made it,” I whisper, lighting up inside with so many hopeful endeavors we’ll get to take. No more looking over our shoulders.

“Yes, we did. And somehow your dad decided I’m an okay kind of criminal after all.”

“We should get a plaque,” I say. “‘Xoid: Presidentially approved criminals.’”

The vibration of Rhett’s chuckles under me lighten my chest.

“They’d love that, actually.”

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