Page 61 of Erik's Redemption
There was a small catch in her breath. It caused fear to spread over his skin like wildfire and burn into his chest.
Was she having second thoughts about them?
She reached up and cupped his cheek. “I meant everything. Not just last night, but before then. You’re my person. It’s not a choice, because we don’t choose who we love. Our heart just links to another. And my heart linked to yours.”
The air stalled in his throat, and he lowered his forehead, touching it to hers. “You have no idea what those words do to me.”
He kissed her…a long, slow kiss. Tasting her. Loving her. When their lips separated, it was too soon.
He lowered to her side, his gaze catching on her wrist. Without thinking, he reached down and traced the cloud charm. “I’m sorry he’s not in your life anymore.”
He wasn’t sorry that the man was dead, but he was sorry about the pain his death caused her.
She swallowed, watching as his finger moved over the charm. “I still don’t know if I believe he did what you were told. He fellin with some bad crowds in his teens, but at heart, he was always a good person. Well…at least that was the side of himself he showedme.” She wet her lips. “But they obviously had evidence, and you were just doing your job.”
“It must have been hard being told he was gone.”
Pain raced over her features. “It was the hardest moment of my life. I was only two when I lost my mom and dad, so I don’t remember those losses. But Nico had been my family for years. His death was something I thought I would never recover from.”
Damn, he hated hearing that. “Did you have to identify the body?”
Her eyes became wet, but she blinked away the tears. “No. There was no part of me that wanted to see Nico like that. I found out about his death because his girlfriend called me. When I saw her at the funeral, she said his body was burned beyond recognition when his place burned down, so I don’t think anyone identified him visually.”
Erik froze, his gut coiling. “Burned?”
Hannah either didn’t notice his reaction or was too far in her own head. “We shouldn’t talk about this. I need to test my blood sugars, take my insulin, and get ready. I have an open house today, and you need to check in on your dad.”
She went to rise, but he grabbed her arm. “Angel—I didn’t burn Nico’s place. I used a sniper rifle and shot him on the street.”
“The home is beautiful,but we’re just a bit concerned that it’s too much space for us.”
Hannah offered a distracted smile to the woman and her husband. They were in their mid-fifties, both with a few graysweaving through their hair. “You’re welcome to think about it, and in the meantime, I do have some smaller homes on the market I can show you.”
The man nodded. “That would be great.”
“Perfect. I’ve got your contact details, so I’ll give you a call tomorrow to set up some viewings.”
The woman grinned. “Wonderful. We look forward to hearing from you.”
Hannah watched the couple walk down the path, then get into their black Toyota. It wasn’t until they drove away that she finally dropped the smile. Her cheeks ached from the effort it took to act normal.
Her mind had been reeling all day, thoughts of Nico and the circumstances of his death racing through her head.
Erik had told her that a car had stopped and he’d had to flee the area, so Nico’s death had never been confirmed, but if not Erik…who had killed him?
She stepped back into the house and set her sign-in iPad on the hall table. The open had gone for a few hours and was very busy. But then, a lot of her opens had been busy lately. It was so different from the position she’d been in just months ago.
Despite everything she’d gone through, at least she now knew the reason she’d had so few homes to sell was because that competing agent had been bad-mouthing her—with her coworker’s help. Thank God the former had been fired.
Some people would walk over anyone to get a leg up. She hated that about the business.
She moved up the stairs, going from room to room to switch off the lights. She’d just slipped into the last bedroom when something sounded downstairs. She paused and listened. Had someone else arrived? It wouldn’t be the first time people had come right at the end of an open house.
She went back down the stairs, but there was no one there. Strange. Maybe it was a neighbor?
She turned off the kitchen and living room lights, as well as the overhead in the downstairs bedroom, before moving to the alarm. Quickly, she punched in the five-digit code before slipping outside and pulling the door closed, hearing the lock click into place. Her phone dinged, and she smiled as she walked down the steps.
Erik: Leaving the hospital soon. Dad’s damn stubborn, already pushing for the doctors to sign his release paper. Put me at ease and tell me I’m seeing you tonight.
