Before I could say another word I heard someone say, “That’s no longer true.”
Jacinda looked up startled and Phoenix said smoothly as he walked towards us, “I understand your concern. But Bree is no longer in danger."
“How can you be sure? Danger seems to follow your type,” Jacinda said crossing her arms over her chest and moving to stand next to me protectively. I admired her gumption and loyalty.
“Let’s just say the guys who caused me problems are no longer around.”
There was silence and then Jacinda blurted, eyes growing wide, “Did you kill them?”
“No, but I should have,” he said emotionlessly. Jacinda’s mouth fell open and Phoenix took advantage of the fact that she was speechless to say, “Can you give us some privacy?”
She looked at me and I nodded, showing her that it was okay.
“I’ll be right outside if you need me.” She then left, not hurrying as she eyed Phoenix suspiciously.
When she was gone Phoenix grinned and said, “She’s loyal and pretty fierce. I see why you guys are friends. You two have a lot in common.”
“Tell me what happened. Start at the beginning,” I said not caring for idle chatter. I needed answers.
“I paid Marquez a visit. Apparently he didn’t know that his two guys had targeted you as a way to get to me.”
“And you believed him?”
“Oh, yeah. He’s a grandfather who is raising his grandkids on his own. His daughter died in childbirth.”
“That’s terrible,” I said softly, meaning it.
“He doesn’t take kindly to men who beat on women. Anyway, they won’t mess with us anymore. They’ve been permanently eliminated.”
“So they are dead?” I said feeling sick.
He shook his head, “I wish. No, there were warrants out for their arrest. It turns out they worked with a crime syndicate out west and were rumored to have stolen from a pretty nasty drug cartel. Someone made an anonymous call to that cartel and to the police. No clue who found them first, but they’re either swimming with the fishes or will be serving back to back terms in prison. Not that I care about their fates. I only care about you. I’m so sorry for all of this. It’s all my fault. All of it. If I hadn’t walked away, I would have been there with you and they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to hurt you.”
“You’re right.” I said simply. “But you also showed up and saved me. That counts too.”
He shook his head, “Not for much. Please forgive me, Bree. Please. I just was so shocked by you being pregnant. I didn’t know what to say or how to say it. So I walked away. But I can do better. I will do better. For you, us and the baby. I’m not going to walk away again, that is if you still want me around.”
I thought about rejecting him, making him hurt like he had hurt me, but I wasn’t a vengeful person and life was too short to hold grudges, especially against the man who had saved my life.
“Please, Bree,” he continued as I stayed silent too long for his comfort, “Just give me a chance.” The last statement was said softly and his voice broke at the end.
I looked up at him, knowing that the emotion in his voice is what truly made me consider his words. A chance? Did he deserve one? I didn’t know the answer to that, but I know I deserved a chance. I deserved a chance to try at love, to try for a family. And part of me, no all of me, knew that I wanted Phoenix to be the center of it. I wanted him to be my rock, my confidant and my lover. And I wanted him to be more than just some guy I’d slept with. I wanted him to be my child’s father in the real sense of the word.
“One more chance, buddy,” I said taking his hand. “But two more strikes and you’re out.”
“I can agree to work with that.” He then bent down to kiss me and I knew as his lips covered mine that life was all about second chances and in Phoenix, I had found mine.
The End
About the Author
Selina Coffey is a romance writer who lives happily in London with her husband and son. She is a hopeless romantic who grew up always believing in love and she is not ashamed to admit this! It is this belief that makes her so passionate about writing crazy love stories.
A stereotypical girly girl, she loves shopping. So whenever she gets a chance and the spare cash, you will probably find her browsing online for the next pair of shoes to add to her collection.!
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Fallen Angel (Paranormal Romance) Page 52