Page 47 of Stolen Hearts

He issued a soft noise in his throat and leaned in to brush a kiss over her temple, not wanting to mess up her lip gloss. “I’ve got my family on guard. Navy will be completely safe.”

Her lips compressed. He could see she had something to say. He just wasn’t ready for what it was.

“You don’t have to worry about Navy. Robert doesn’t want her.”

He stared down at her. “What do you mean?”

Her eyes were filled with shadows. “When I found out I was pregnant…he showed up at my OB appointment…”

“Go on.” He clenched his fists.

“He tried to convince me to terminate the pregnancy.” Her voice broke. “He said we could start a family together. That the baby was a mistake, and I’d thank him later.”

His entire body locked, every muscle tightened with fury. “He. Fucking. Said. That. To. You.” He could almost feel his blood boil.

“I thought he would back off after that. Then he showed up at the daycare, like I told you, and that’s when I disappeared. I cut off everyone and moved. I…” she nibbled her lip, “made efforts to hide myself.”

He was going to kill the bastard.

Rhae looked up at him with glassy eyes, watching his reaction like she expected him to run. To judge her. To back away.

But all Denver saw was strength. Resilience. The sheer force of will it must’ve taken to protect herself and Navy, to walk away from everything and rebuild her life, stunned the breath out of him.

She nodded, her breath hitching with emotion. “You’re right. I can’t let him scare me off. I’ve come this far.”

He stepped in close and cupped her cheek. “You’re so damn strong.”

A tear rolled down her cheek, and he caught it with his thumb.

“I mean it,” he whispered. “I’ve done some dangerous things. Seen people fall apart under far less pressure. But you? You’re a force of nature.”

She leaned into him, her hand planted on his chest.

“I’m not going anywhere.” He pitched his voice low. “You and Navy—you’re mine. And I’ll destroy anyone who tries to take you away from me.”

Her breath caught, and something shifted between them. More than just heat or need. Something deep. Something real.

It slammed into him like a freight train.

This wasn’t just attraction. This wasn’t just about Navy or the past they shared. He loved Rhae. Until now he never could admit he was in love with her, right down to his bones.

And he was ready to burn down the world if it meant keeping her safe.

She swallowed hard. “I was so scared.”

“I know.” He kissed her forehead. “But you don’t have to be anymore. I’ve got you.”

Chapter Ten

Rhae tilted her face toward the office window, soaking in the sunlight streaming in. The glow from dinner still clung to her too, just as warm.

She sat at her desk, a file open before her. A pen rested between her fingers, paused for too long as she let distractions intrude on updating patient notes.

Her mind kept drifting back to the previous evening, how she’d been sitting on the edge of her bed, shaking, her bags packed. Ready to run.

And how Denver had stopped her with nothing more than his unwavering certainty that he—and the rest of the team—would keep her safe.

Now the fear she’d carried like a deadweight for so long had eased. It wasn’t gone entirely, but Denver made it more manageable by dulling it with his mere presence.

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