Page 130 of Ugly Beautiful Scars

"Then I'll book the flight," I say. "We'll have a couple of days to pack and prepare. Then we leave." I study her, noting the hard line still in her shoulders, and the way she's curling into herself. I know I'm rushing ahead and jumping into action because that's how I've been trained. I'm used to needing to adapt quickly.

But that's not Londyn's world. Asking her to pack up so we can leave in a matter of hours is a shock to the system. Just like I imagine it was the first time she had to do it. I run a thumb over her temple, trying to slow down for a second. "How are you with all this?"

Her voice shakes a little, like all of this is too much to contain. "Well, confronting him is… I want to. I want him to face consequences. But going public about the assault is terrifying. I don't know if I'm ready to start talking about what happened over and over. I'd have to tell the police, and the lawyer. The media. It's a lot." She sits up with a bit more strength. "As far as leaving, that's fine. I did this once before; I can do it again. I can quit my job since I don't like it anyway. I also have some savings to get us by. Not much, but we can make it work."

"Money's not a problem."

She frowns like everyone else in the world would disagree with me. "Why? Oh, what about your company? How does this work with NexaProtect? I don't want you to—"

"I'm not with them," I blurt out, knowing it's time I come clean.

"What? I don't—"

"Don't hate me for this but, uh, I haven't been working through them." Her mouth falls open and I grimace from how long I let her think I had a company behind me. "My friend, Declan, used to own NexaProtect. I worked as his personal security for several years. I'm still technically in the NexaProtect system, but I'm not working through them. Actually, I haven't worked at all this past year. I was taking some personal time. Then I was at the conference as a favor to Declan. And… you needed me, so I came. I've been paying Mike. But don't tell him because he has too much pride. He'll try to pay me back."

She releases a puff of air and then stares at me, unblinking.

I brace for the worst because she has every right to be mad that I lied.

"I can't believe you," she finally whispers, but there's no anger in her voice. There's something else there, and it's squeezing my heart because I don't know if it's good or bad.

She lifts her hand to my cheek, her fingers trailing lightly along my jaw. "I don't believe you're real. Are you?"

Everything in me stops, waiting, listening for her to say more, but she just looks at me with those big fucking eyes and my chest tightens so much I have to take a breath before it bursts.

"I'm real," I tell her, speaking around the ache. "And I'm yours."

Her eyes fill with tears, but there's a smile breaking through. "I never thought I'd find someone who would..."

"Who would what?"

"Choose me. Over everything else." She blinks rapidly, sending a tear sliding down her cheek.

I catch it with my thumb. "I'd choose you every time, beautiful. In every lifetime, in every scenario. It's always going to be you."

She leans forward, wrapping her arms around my neck. I pull her close to breathe her in again. I can feel her heartbeat against mine, our rhythms synchronizing.

"Australia," she says into my neck. "Let's go to Australia. But what about your life? I don't have anything here, but you have a life and—"

"My life is right here." I press my palm against her heartbeat. "The rest is just details."

She presses her forehead against mine and nods. "Okay. Let's do this."

I kiss her because I can't get over how damn strong she is.

And she's mine.

Chapter 41

SEAN

WE RETURN TO LONDYN'S APARTMENT later that day. She decides on a quick nap, then she'll start packing and making preparations. I quietly let myself in across the hall, where Mike's on monitoring duty. He stands when I enter. We exchange one of those guy hugs: quick slap on the back, zero emotion, maximum unspoken understanding.

"Any updates since yesterday?" I ask, glancing at the security feeds.

"Nope." Mike settles back into his chair. "While you guys were at the hotel, I set up a few cameras outside the windows. Nothing too noticeable. No sign of anyone suspicious, unless you count the hairless cat who sniffs around the fire escape."

I stand behind him with my arms crossed, scanning the external feeds. "Navy Caps are still silent?"

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