by Atlas, Lilly
Moving gingerly, she climbed into the bed and settled against him, one arm across his stomach and her head on his shoulder.
With the head of the bed elevated, he was able to look down at her sad emerald eyes. “You were right, you know, Marcie.”
A frown appeared. “Not that I don’t love to hear that, but what was I right about?”
“You’re so fucking strong and independent. And you can handle some serious shit without anyone’s help. Jesus, Marcie, Jester told me you were the one to get me out of there. You saved my fucking life, babe. And by the way, I’m going to need those details.”
A small sniff rose from her and she shook her head against his chest. “We’d both be dead if Striker and Jester hadn’t found us at the end. And I realized something myself. I’m tired of doing everything alone. I use my independence to shield myself, but I want a partner. Someone to take care of me and someone for me to take care of.”
Her words released a tension in him he hadn’t realized had been building since their fight. “Any idea who you want to fill that position?”
She chuckled. “You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted to take that job.”
“Thank fuck.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. It ended far before he was ready, but neither of their breathing was completely back to normal and they needed air before long. “I love you, Marcie. And I promise I won’t walk in front of you, but stand beside you for the rest of your life.”
“Hook…” Her voice was thick with emotion and love darkened her irises to a forest green.
“Christ, babe, don’t look at me like that. We need to find a way to get me out of here as fast as possible because I need inside you. And soon.”
“Sorry, buddy,” she said. “Doc wants to keep you overnight.”
“Fuck. Well then, I guess that gives you plenty of time to fill in the blanks and tell me what the fuck happened tonight.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Tanner went crazy. That’s what happened.” Some of the all-consuming fear finally left her. Hook was alive, awake, and aside from a few scars that would linger on his legs, expected to make a full recovery.
And he loved her.
“He started spraying bullets around the backyard and took some poor club girl hostage. Striker kept me safe, but when I smelled smoke, I knew you were in danger.” Tears threatened to fall again, but she managed to hold them at bay this time. “Um, Striker distracted him while I snuck into the house. After that, I missed everything that went down in the backyard, but from what I understand, Striker goaded him until he was so riled he lost his focus. That gave your friends Jester and Gumby enough time to take him down. From what they told me, the cops showed up then and took custody of Tanner.”
Hook tightened his grip around her and dropped a kiss on the top of her heard. “What happened inside?”
“The door to your office was tied shut with a rope from the doorknob to the stair rail. It took me forever to get it to budge. God, Hook, I was terrified. I could feel the heat, see and smell the smoke. I knew you were in there but I couldn’t get to you. It was so awful.”
There went the ability to hold back the tears. They poured from her eyes, soaking Hook’s hospital gown. “Shh, baby, it’s over. I’m fine. Because of you. Because of how fucking fierce and brave you are.”
His words registered, but now that she’d opened the floodgates, the story tumbled out between sobs. “Finally, I moved the chair and opened the door. It was hot. So hot. I couldn’t see, couldn’t breathe. The only thing I could do was crawl around on the floor, so that’s what I did. Eventually I bumped into you and I dragged you out of the room. The goal was to get you out the front door, but I didn’t make it. Striker and Jester rescued us.”
Hook’s hold on her tightened to the point of uncomfortable, but she didn’t say anything. Nothing was more important than being close to him in this moment. “Babe, I know I said you were strong, and fierce, and so fucking brave, but if you ever put yourself in danger like that again I won’t be held responsible for my actions.”
One eyebrow rise and she glanced up at him. “Oh really? What are you going to do about it?”
“You think I’m joking? You could have been killed, Marcie. I promise you, if you ever do something that foolish again, I’ll tie you to my bed and fuck you so hard you won’t be able to leave for a week.”
“Hmmm, maybe you shouldn’t wait until the next time I put myself in danger to dole out that punishment.”
“You think this is funny, woman?”
He sounded truly upset so she stopped teasing him. “No, Hook. I don’t, but your life was in danger. I love you. I had no choice but to try to save you. Your house was burning all around you—oh my God! Your house! You worked so hard on it. There was so much damage.”
He’d purchased that house when it was in ruins and spent years rehabbing it. Her heart hurt to think of all his labor wiped out in one evening by her crazy ex.
“You think I give a fuck about the house? Seriously?”
“But your blood, sweat, and tears are in that house.”
“Yeah and your blood was almost in that house. Burn the fucking thing to the ground for all I care. I’m not sure I could live there again knowing you came so close to dying.”
“I’m sorry I brought this horror into your life.” Guilt was heavy in her stomach.
“Woman, are you trying to piss me off?”
His outraged tone only served to make her laugh. “You really do love me, don’t you?”
“Yes, I fucking love you,” he said in the same livid voice. “What the hell do I have to do to prove that to you?”
She rose on her elbow and kissed him for all she was worth. “Get better very fast so you can dish out my punishment.”
He growled against her lips. “Yes, ma’am.”
“I love you too, TJ.”
“Damn straight, you do,” he said before he captured her lips in another sizzling kiss.
She’d thought giving her heart to Hook meant giving up her independence and autonomy. She couldn’t have been more wrong. It meant gaining a partner, a lover, a champion.
And that was everything.
Look for Lucky and Kori’s story in Summer of 2017!!
Thank you so much for spending some time in the No Prisoners’ world. If you enjoyed the book please feel free to leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads.
Join Lilly’s mailing list for a free 9000 word novella A No Prisoners Wedding.
www.lillyatlas.com
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
About the Author
Lilly Atlas is a contemporary romance author. She’s a proud Navy wife and mother of two spunky girls. Every time Lilly downloads a new eBook she expects her Kindle App to tell her it’s exhausted and overworked, and to beg for some rest. Thankfully that hasn’t happened yet so she can often be found absorbed in a good book.