Page 230 of Redeemed

“Forget it.” He kisses me again. “I’ll protect you until the day I die, deal or not. Letting you go was a mistake, and I’m not going to make it again.”

Hope rises in my chest. “Does that mean you forgive me?”

His fingers thread through my hair, and he meets my gaze with a sad smile. “I do. I’m sorry it took me this long.”

This time, when Lucas kisses me, it feels remorseful. His lips move slowly against mine, like he’s trying to apologize again without words.

“Can you forgive me?” he asks hoarsely.

Pain blooms in my chest. “I want to, but I…”

I just don’t know if I’m ready to yet.

It feels almost hypocritical, telling Lucas I love him but that I don’t forgive him. That’s bullshit, though. I know firsthand what it’s like to love someone and not have it in me to forgive them for what they did.

He nods. “Take however much time you need. I’ll wait a lifetime for your forgiveness.”

I intertwine our fingers and bring our hands to my lips so I can kiss his knuckles. My lips move to the dagger tattoo on his wrist, brushing over it softly. “Thank you.”

It’s then that I realize Xander is standing in the doorway. His jaw is set, like he’s pissed, although I can’t imagine why. There’s no reason for him to be jealous.

Colton brushes past him, his face grim. He’s holding his phone in a tight grip, and when his gaze lands on me, his expression turns pitying.

My stomach sinks with dread, my peaceful moment with Lucas shattered. “What?”

“Isaiah is back.”

Colton

“He’s…back?”Havenasksweakly.

“We’ll deal with him,” I promise her.

“No!” Haven grabs onto Lucas. “No, please don’t leave me.”

When I entered the room, Xander looked pissed, but his features soften as he crosses the room toward Haven and Lucas.

“He can’t get to you in here,” he says as he kneels next to them. “You’re safe, doll.”

Haven shakes her head frantically. “He knows your faces now. Whoever has been feeding him information, they can tell him where we are. He has agun.He can—”

“Angel,” I say firmly. “Calm down. We’re not letting him near you, all right?”

“Just please don’t leave me,” she whispers. “The two men who took him away. Can’t they deal with him?”

“What, you mean kill him?”

“No!” Haven cries. “No, you can’t kill him.”

Lucas sighs. “Little fawn, it’s the best way to keep you safe.”

“You can’t. Promise me you won’t.”

“We’ve already promised,” Xander points out.

“Look, we’ll deal with him tomorrow,” I say. “For tonight, we all need to sleep, especially now that we have an active threat on our hands again.”

“What if he breaks in?” Haven asks, her voice quiet.

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