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Strong, Elizabeth finished. She could feel tears on her cheeks. Saxon was always strong. What
she wanted, what she needed most was& him. Hang on, she begged him. Because you re not
supposed to leave me.
His lips moved. So faint. She couldn t hear him so Elizabeth leaned closer, desperate to hear the
words he d said
Never. Never leave& you.
A sob broke from her. His blood was on her hands, and her Saxon was promising her
I love you, she told him and Elizabeth pressed a soft kiss to his lips.
His eyes didn t open, but he smiled.
***
The ambulance raced to the scene, with a line of cop cars behind it. Sirens were screaming and the
swirl of lights illuminated the night. Fire trucks were there, too, like they d be any good against the
blaze.
I m FBI, Victor called out as the cops emerged from their vehicles. Agent Victor Monroe. He
flashed his ID. And that man is to be given the absolute best care you got, understand?
The EMTs were already loading Saxon into the back of the ambulance. Elizabeth was with him.
Close at his side.
Always.
She loved his brother. He knew that. He d never forget the sight of her, in that street, refusing to
leave Saxon as she struggled to get him to safety.
If I hadn t grabbed that gun in the basement, she and Sax would both be dead.
What the hell would he have done then?
Agent Monroe, what the hell happened here? One of the cops demanded as he stared up at the
blaze.
Another betrayal. He was so sick of them. He turned his head and saw Zoe Peters trying to edge
away. He caught her hand and pulled her back to his side. Not so fast.
Look, police stations aren t so much my scene&
That fit. He was getting an idea of just what he d been missing in his little deal with Luther Bates.
I think I can imagine why.
A few cops were headed toward the smashed SUV. It s too late for her, he said, feeling an ache
in his chest. She s gone. He d already checked the vehicle, and he knew that Tracy had been dead
before the SUV hit the tree.
Who was she? Zoe asked him softly.
An FBI agent.
She tried to pull away then, but he just held her tighter. Vic shook his head. I m guessing you know
plenty about crooked agents?
Her gaze darted to the cops around her. Everyone s on the take. Give them enough money, and
they ll do anything. Her laughter was bitter. But you know that, right? I mean, how much were you
paid to come and get me?
The ambulance had pulled away. Saxon and Elizabeth were gone. I haven t gotten my payment
yet, but I will.
He felt her stiffen.
I just have to give proof of life, and then we re clear.
Their voices were low, carrying only to each other.
But Zoe inched ever closer to him. Her body brushed against his. Please, I m begging you&
don t. Don t give him proof of life. Let Luther Bates think I m dead.
That wasn t the deal. He shook his head.
I ll do anything, Zoe told him, voice breaking. Anything. Do you think Hugh Rowe was the first
guy to come after me? He kept me for days, waiting, and he told me about all the others out there who
want me dead. He would have killed me& except he got a phone call. I-I think from the dead agent
over there. Her head turned toward the smashed SUV. She d found news on someone else that he
was looking for, and Hugh wanted to wait& he had a plan for the other woman, too.
A plan for Elizabeth?
He wanted to take us out at the same time. He said& he said that Luther was clueless& that he
didn t even realize he d been destroying his own house. Her breath heaved out. I ve never hurt
anyone, not a single soul, but Hugh was going to kill me She broke off abruptly.
But he knew what she d planned to say. Because you re the daughter of Luther Bates.
The blue lights from the police cars continued to swirl around them even as the firefighters poured
water on the blaze.
I ll do anything, she said again, just don t give him proof of life&
But if he didn t, what would happen to Elizabeth?
***
Another scar to join the collection, Saxon muttered as he opened his eyes. He wasn t surprised
to see the stark walls of a hospital staring back at him. My home away from home. His head turned a
little more, and, this time, instead of finding Victor at his side, Elizabeth was there.
Her clothes were stained with blood and dirt. She had scratches on her face, a faint bruise near her
cheek, and she was the most gorgeous thing he d ever seen.
How about we stop adding to that collection? Elizabeth asked as she inched forward until she
was leaning against the rail on the hospital bed. Because when you re hurt, I m terrified.
She s with me. I ll try, he told her, but Saxon wasn t going to make any promises. As long as
there were threats to her out there, he d be fighting. He d do anything, risk anything, for her.
When did I fall so deep?
Like it mattered. The when and the where& screw that. The only thing that mattered was that he did
love her. He wanted to spend the rest of his days with her. Wanted to build a real life, with her at his
side.
Her lips trembled. Thank you, she told him.
And he remembered the way they d met. The way he d mocked her about not telling him thank
you and Saxon shook his head. No, sweetheart, you don t ever need to thank me, not for anything.
He should thank her, for changing his life, for fighting for him, for
Thank you for loving me.
The machines beeped around him.
Finally realized that, did you? He d wondered when she d realized just how tangled up in her he
truly was. Saxon stared up at her. He didn t even feel the pull of the new stitches then. Loving you is
easy, he told her because this was the time for complete honesty. The easiest thing I ve ever done
in my life. He paused. And the best. For years, he d had the dream of escaping the undercover
work and getting away. Of starting a brand new life.
Then he d realized that if that life didn t include her, he didn t want it.
She was the one thing he d found that he would fight for. No matter what.
Always.
***
Two days later&
Victor sat at the narrow little table in the prison. Maximum security lock-up. He wore his suit and
his ID was on the table. As if Luther Bates would have forgotten who he was.
The door opened, the grating clang seeming to echo in the little room, and then Luther was being
led inside.
A new guard was at his side. One who looked far older than the last, one with glinting eyes and a
clenched jaw. But when that guard looked at Luther Bates, Victor could see the fear in that man s
gaze, too.
Everyone thinks he s the bogeyman.
Maybe because he was.
The guard secured Luther in the chair across from Victor. Luther didn t say a word while his
restraints were checked.
You can leave us now, Victor said when the guard was done.
The guy hesitated.
Victor sighed. Same story as last time.
Luther rolled his shoulders and glanced toward the door. This won t take long, Luther told the
guard.
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