Page 79 of Protect Me
The relief and rightness of clutching her to me, shirt fisted in my hands, could only be love. This nauseating, terrifying elation. The ability to do anything because she stood nearby. The hope for a future brighter than the past.
The words locked in my throat as I tightened my arm around her shoulders. She snuggled close when I anchored her in. Hernandez’ voice floated through my mind, filled with exasperation.
So what’s your problem?
I had no idea why a ball lodged in my throat. Why my heart raced in terror, my mind spun back, back, back, but didn’t land on anything except pulpy pain and darkness. Kate had given me no reason to fear, yet I did.
I loved this woman.
That scared the courage to admit it out loud right out of me, because I couldn’t be certain that love was enough.
“I hope you’re right,” she whispered. “Thank you, Vik.”
“They’ll get him, Kate,” I murmured, rubbing my palm against her back in a gesture that soothed me more than her. “And when that happens? I’ll be at your side the whole time.”
The sizzle of fresh-grilled corn-on-the-cob, buttery rolls, and fresh-sliced watermelon tempted us back outside. Our fingers remained firmly locked together as I tugged Kate into the backyard. The tension in her shoulders eased as the bright sunshine hit us. I surveyed the yard.
Hernandez had changed into a loose pair of basketball shorts, flip flops, and a white t-shirt. He stood next to Dagny at the smoker, a hand on her hip. She gave him an adoring smile, then laughed at something Dahlia said. Hernandez threw an oven mitt at Dahlia, who giggled.
Bastian quirked an eyebrow at him in warning.
“Kaaaate!” Dahlia cried. “The party has finally arrived!”
Dagny’s gaze dropped to our intertwined hands, then back to me with a knowing grin. I ignored her, but had a feeling I wouldn’t be able to fend her off for much longer. Dahlia shot to her feet, wrapped an arm around Kate, and pulled her to a cluster of chairs near the smoker. Dagny dropped into one next to Kate and the three of them leaned forward, giggling like a bunch of hens.
Bastian eyed me as I returned, grabbed my open sparkling water, and chugged half the can. It burned all the way to my chest. Far too often, I wished I still drank the harder stuff.
“So,” Bastian drawled.
“Shut up,” I muttered.
He laughed, deep and rolling. Hernandez chortled from near the smoker.
After an easy silence where I let my thoughts unroll, and the sound of laughing children and a sprinkler issued from the other side of the fence, Hernandez settled on a lawn chair next to me.
“She good?” he asked.
“She’ll be fine.”
“I told Bastian.” Hernandez nodded to him. “He’s going to work from the Frolicking Moose and keep an eye out.”
I met Bastian’s gaze. “Thanks.”
He gave a brief nod, raised his glass, then had a pull of ale.
Hernandez leaned back. “We’ll get him, my friend. In the meantime, pay attention. He can’t go that far with as few resources as he has now.”
For some reason, the confidence in his tone didn’t reassure me.
ChapterNineteen
KATELYN
Vikram’s words haunted me later that week.
Frankly, Kate, any reason to spend more time with you is a welcome one. If it happens to keep you safe from that bastard? All the better.
My traitorous heart gave into the fluttering sensation he inspired yet again, though I tried to hold back. He tugged my heartstrings with animalistic ferocity and he didn’t evenknowit.
