The heat from his body lulled her. His heartbeat thumped under her ear, so reassuring and affirming. She brushed her palm over his chest, back and forth. Pure intimacy but not the sexual kind.

She let her body melt against his. “You’re very good at cuddling.”

He laughed and the sound rumbled under her cheek. “That kind of talk will ruin my negotiating position back home.”

The longer they sat there, wrapped up in each other, the more the peace settled in. The connection, with him like this, made every worry and fear slip away.

“I hate to think of you leaving here.” She hadn’t meant to say the words right then but she did mean them. She wanted him here.

He didn’t react. His hand kept smoothing over her hair. “And I hate when you talk about disappearing forever.”

“I told Evan I would consider getting back into the program.” After years of keeping things to herself, she wanted to share that. Not hide anything from him.

“Don’t be a martyr.” He kissed her head again. “Go back because you’re scared for yourself and need to do it for you. No other reason.”

“I have to think of other people.”

“For once, think about what you need.”

The words sank in and she opened her eyes. She needed to hear every single one. They grounded her, made her regret she ever gave Evan hope that she would do anything but stay and fight. “It’s a balance.”

“And you’ll figure it out, but not tonight.”

“We’ll figure it out.” She felt him smile against her hair in response.

“Yes, we.”

Chapter 25

All the pieces fell into place. She’d thought she was safe but now she knew the truth. She’d gotten cocky and now her past found her.

No more secrets. She couldn’t lie her way out of this. She had to face up to her mistakes and her failures. Make an admission because it was time.

At least she finally looked scared. No more false bravado. About time.

She’d lost her edge, which was good. Less lethal, less careful might finally put an end to this.

The threats. The visits. The murder. She could no longer run or avoid. She needed to understand that her future skated on a very fine line. No more living as if the horrors of her past hadn’t happened.

It was time for her to deal with the consequences of her bad choices.

Chapter 26

Something jolted Connor out of a deep sleep. He glanced at the clock on the bedside table. It felt like he’d been out for hours. A little after five in the morning. Nowhere near time to get up. The sun wouldn’t be up for at least another two hours.