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Jake, Mac, and Coop continued talking about nothing important, doing their best to not go crazy while waiting to hear something.
Grant and Derek came back a few minutes later, and while Derek joined right in on the conversation, Grant went back to being his silent, observant self.
Trevor brought Jake up to speed on Ryker’s plan to clean up Cetro’s mess. Thankfully, Homeland had the ability to make something like that go away without anyone being the wiser.
Of course, those who needed to know would be read in, and Ryker would make sure anyone left in Cetro’s circle knew exactly what happens to those who come after innocent women. Especially on American soil.
Trevor also confirmed the other man with Cetro was, in fact, the other escaped convict. Somehow, Cetro had enticed Marcus Anthony to go with him and help with his plan for revenge against Olivia. Turned out, Marcus Anthony used to run around with Carlos Hernandez, Liv’s stalker.
The theory was that Cetro had Anthony get in touch with someone he trusted to do the dirty work when it came to stalking and attempting to abduct Liv.
When Trevor tried to apologize for what had happened, Jake shut him down immediately. They couldn’t start with the what-ifs. It didn’t change anything and would only end up driving them both crazy.
In the end, the only one to blame was that sadistic fuck, Cetro. And he was finally burning in Hell.
Hours later, A white-haired man in surgical scrubs came through the swinging double-doors. He didn’t look surprised to see them sitting on the floor, there rather than in the waiting room where they should have been.
Jake shot up, nearly stumbling in his haste. “How is she? Is she okay?”
The rest of the team got to their feet, as well, all surrounding him, ready to catch him if he fell. Figuratively and literally.
“I assume you’re Jake?”
Jake approached the doctor with an extended hand. “Jake McQueen. I’m Liv’s...we’re...together.” God, he prayed that was still true.
The man shook Jake’s hand. “Agent Ryker told me you’d be here. I’m Doctor Wyrick.”
“How is she?” Jake asked again.
The doctor removed his surgical cap and rubbed the back of his neck. “The surgery was tricky. The wound in Miss Bradshaw’s arm went deep. There was a microscopic tear in her brachial artery. The angle and location of the tear was difficult to reach, and small tears like that are much harder to repair than larger ones. However, we were able to secure the artery and repair the torn muscles. With some physical therapy there shouldn’t be any lasting impairments in that arm.”
Jake’s heart hammered against his chest. “So, she’s going to be alright.”
“Aside from the artery, our orthopedic surgeon set and cast her broken wrist. She was lucky there, too. The break was clean and didn’t require any pins. The cuts on her back were cleaned, and those that needed it were sutured.”
He paused to take a breath. “All of her scans were clear and showed no signs of internal injuries. She’ll need to stay here for a few days, but after that, I see no reason why she can’t finish her recovery at home.” The doctor looked around at the team and back to Jake. “I’m assuming she will have someone to help her?”
“She’ll have everything she needs. Now, can I see her?”
Jake felt like he was crawling out of his skin with the need to see for himself, that she was okay.
“Miss Bradshaw is under heavy sedation to give her body time to start healing. She won’t wake up for several more hours, but I’ll take you to her.” He looked around at the others, again, adding, “I’d like for it to just be you for now.”
Fine by him. Right now all he cared about was seeing Olivia.
Jake started to follow the doctor but stopped and turned back to his team. “Thank you. For being here.” He gave a quick glance to Trevor then Grant. “For everything.”
Trevor, Derek, and Coop were smiling like a couple of goofballs. Mac’s eyes looked suspiciously wet, and damn if Grant Hill’s mouth wasn’t turned up, just a bit.
Trevor smiled wide. “Go be with your girl.”
A few minutes later, Jake was standing outside Olivia’s room. He’d waited hours to see her, but now that he was about to, he found he was scared to death.
“My biggest concern is the amount of blood she lost,” the doctor said beside him. “We gave her two units and will continue to monitor her cell count over the next twenty-four hours.”
“But, she’s okay, right? You said she was going to be okay.”
“Physically, yes. I’m sure you’re aware there are certain risks involved with any surgical procedure. But, barring any unforeseen circumstance, she should be fine.”
Jake gave his thanks and reached for the door, but the doctor’s next words stopped him.
“That young woman was put through hell.”
Jake turned and spoke over his shoulder. “I know.”
“I won’t lie. She doesn’t look good. The bruises and swelling will all go away with time, as will the cuts and scrapes. Some will most likely leave scars. Her back...” The doctor shook his head. “Tell me you got the bastard who did this.”
A muscle in Jake’s jaw bulged just thinking about it. Surprisingly, the doctor looked almost as pissed as he felt.
“I did.”
Jake and Dr. Wyrick shared a look, and Jake knew the doctor understood exactly what he wasn’t saying.
“Good. Now, go be with that young lady. She’s going to need a lot of support to get through this. And I’m not just talking about her physical injuries.”
“She’ll have it. Trust me.”
With one final nod, the doctor turned and walked away, leaving Jake at the door alone.
He took a deep breath, attempting to get his emotions under control before going in. Olivia didn’t need the raging storm still bellowing inside him. She needed his help and support. His love.
Pushing everything else away, he slowly entered the room. His heartbeat stalled when he caught his first sight of her.
The blood had been cleaned off, amplifying the bruises covering her face. Her left eye was still swollen but looked as though it had gone down slightly.
Her right arm was in a white cast from below the elbow down, and a sling held it in place as it rested on a pillow across her belly.
Her other arm was wrapped in gauze where the cut had been treated and sewn. An IV tube ran from beneath the tape on the top of that hand, up to the fluid-filled bag hanging on the metal stand positioned near her.
Tears pricked the corners of his eyes. The doctor had said she didn’t look good, but he’d been wrong.
The bruised and broken woman lying before him was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen.
Jake moved toward the left side of the bed, sliding a plastic chair as close to her as he could get it. Mindful of the IV, he reached through the metal railing to take her hand into his.
He exhaled long and slowly, as though touching her gave his lungs permission to breathe again.
He brought her hand to his lips, keeping it there. She was too cold. Too still. He needed her to wake up.
The doctor had said she would be okay, but until she opened her eyes, until he heard the sweet sound of her voice—
He used his shoulder to wipe a tear from his cheek. She’d been through so much. More than any one person should ever have to endure. Her sleeping image blurred as he leaned over the railing to kiss the top of her head.
Squeezing his eyes shut, Jake rested his forehead against her cool skin. He knew his tears were raining down on her, but he couldn’t bring himself to move away.
“I love you, baby,” he said with a broken whisper. “Come back to me soon, okay?”
Kissing her again, he could taste the saltiness of his sorrow. With her limp hand still in his, Jake sat back down. He wiped the tears from his face, but they just kept coming.
With his head hung low, Jake’s entire body shuddered as he wept. He prayed for her forgiveness, and guidance on how to help her get through this.
Sometime later, Jake woke with a start. A soft moaning caught his attention, slapping the rest of the sleepy cobwebs away.
Olivia was having a nightmare. Jake watched her brow furrow. He felt her fear when the small hand he was still holding squeezed his tightly. Her legs began moving about as if she were running from something. Or someone.
Olivia mumbled something incoherent. Jake stood and began carefully caressing the bruised skin on her cheek with the back of his knuckles. He kissed her temple and whispered sweet, soothing words.
Before long, her jerky movements stopped. The creases on her forehead smoothed, and her entire body relaxed.
The cycle repeated itself several times throughout the night. At one point, it got so bad that the nurse had to inject a stronger sedative into Olivia’s IV, and the doctor had to re-stitch the wound on her arm. She’d busted it open while trying to escape whatever hell she’d been trapped in.
The next thing Jake knew, a large hand was on his shoulder and a sliver of morning sun was peeking through the curtains. Through eyes that felt like sandpaper, he looked up and saw Trevor standing next to him.
“Sorry to wake you, but I thought you might want something to eat.” He held up a fast-food bag with one hand, a large coffee in the other.
Jake ran a hand over his face and sat up from his slouched position. “Thanks,” he said, reaching for the coffee. “I’m not hungry, but I’ll take this.”
Trevor sat the paper sack down onto the portable tray nearby, and pulled another chair closer. Sitting next to Jake, he looked at Olivia for a while and then, “So, how is she?”
“Doc says physically, she’s going to be fine. But the other...” Jake trailed off, shaking his head. “I don’t know, man. A person can only take so much, you know? She had nightmares all night. Never really woke up, but I know she was reliving everything. The doctors had to give her something stronger. She’s just so—”
“Tough,” Trevor finished for him. “If anyone can make it past all this, it’s her.”
Without taking his eyes off her, Jake agreed. “She’s as tough as they come.” Which reminded him—
“Where’s the video?”
Trevor suddenly looked uncomfortable. “Uh...what video?”
“There was a camera in the barn. The bastard recorded everything he did to her. I want to see it.”
Trevor’s eyes flickered slightly and shrugged. “Asshole must have forgotten to hit record.
Jake’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “So, there’s nothing?”
Trevor shook his head. “Even if there was, you wouldn’t want to see that, Jake. Trust me. It’s bad enough remembering the way we found her. The other...you can’t un-see that shit, man. That crazy bastard is dead, and Olivia’s safe. Truly safe. No sense in looking backward.”
Trevor’s gaze slid to Olivia’s sleeping form and back to Jake’s. A sadness was there when he spoke. “You’ve got a shot at something really good here, Jake. Don’t dwell on the past. It’s a waste of time and won’t change what happened.”
Jake studied his friend for a moment. “We still talking about Olivia?”
Trevor shrugged one shoulder and broke eye contact. “I just know blaming yourself for something you can’t change won’t do you or her any good.” He looked back at Jake and gave him a sly smile. “And I don’t want to see your dumb ass ruin the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”
Jake grinned for the first time in days. It felt odd...almost unfamiliar.
His mouth fell as quickly as it had risen. Studying Olivia again, he asked, “How do you know I haven’t already?”
“When I was at her house, before, she promised she’d talk with you. That she’d listen and really try to understand everything. I believed her.”
Jake’s thumb absentmindedly caressed the top of her hand, to the side of where the IV was placed. “Doesn’t mean she’ll be able to forgive me for lying about Mike. Or that she won’t blame me for this.”
“You underestimate her, Jake. Sure, she was upset, but I saw the way she looked at you before that chopper came. Olivia still loves you. She’s not going to blame you for what happened.”
Jake closed his eyes and found himself back in that helicopter.
Jake?
I’m right here, baby.
L-love...y-you.
“Although, I do predict a massive amount of groveling in your future.”
Jake did smile at that. “She’s worth it.”
He’d give her any damn thing she wanted, if it meant they could be together again.
With another squeeze, Trevor stood and carried the chair back to its original place. “I’ll leave you to it, then. And don’t be a bullheaded ass yourself. You need something, just ask.”
“I will.”
“I mean it, Jake.” Trevor looked at him pointedly. “The whole gang’s already said. Anything you or Olivia need, you’ll get.”
Jake’s heart swelled, and his throat became thick. He was truly blessed to have friends like Trevor and the others.
“Got it.”
With a single nod, Trevor turned to leave the room.
“Hey, Trev?”
The other man turned back toward him. “Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
With another solemn nod, Trevor walked out the door.
Jake leaned up and kissed Olivia on the lips. She didn’t move.
“He’s right, you know. You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” He kissed her cheek, and whispered in her ear. “I love you, baby. I’ll be here when you’re ready to come back to me.”
He settled back down in his chair. The hard plastic bit into his back, but he’d sit there until Christmas if he had to.
When Olivia opened her eyes, Jake needed his face to be the first thing she saw. He needed her to know she was safe, and he was here for her.
With a prayer in his heart that she’d find a way to forgive him, Jake took hold of her hand and sat back, prepared to wait for as long as it took.
****
Everything hurt. As Olivia lay in a state of semi-awareness, she tried to remember why. When no answer came, she began mentally cataloging the worst of it.
Her right wrist ached and felt much heavier than usual. The left side of her face felt sore and swollen, and she had a marching band stomping around in her head.
The bass drum was beating to the rhythm of her heart, and Olivia wanted to shove her foot through its center to make it stop.
Her back felt as though she were lying on a bed of broken glass, several places on her skin stinging and pulling.
As she began to regain consciousness, she realized she was in a hospital bed. She just couldn’t remember why. Unfortunately, the blessed ignorance didn’t last long.
It came back to her in waves. Initially, it was like the tiny ones that hit your toes as you first make contact with the water. Then, they began to grow in size and ferocity, each one stronger than the next.
She remembered getting ready for work. The attack at her house. Waking up in the back of an SUV. Fighting off Cetro’s goon and hanging from that hook, helpless while at the mercy of a madman.
Olivia remembered thinking she was going to die and damning Cetro to hell for what he’d threatened to do. How, even though they’d had their first big fight, Olivia knew with certainty that her death was going to destroy...
“Jake.”
The beeping from the heart monitor sped up with every beat of her heart. She felt trapped. She needed to wake up and get out of this bed.
She needed to go find Jake. Olivia had to let him know that she understood, now. That she forgave him and still loved him. Still wanted forever with him, if he’d have her.
Something glorious happened next. Over the beeping of machines, she heard Jake’s voice. His excited, worried, amazing voice.
“Liv? Baby, did you say something?”
He’s here! Oh, thank God!
She had so much to say to him. So much to apologize for. Olivia felt his fingers tightened around hers.
“Open your eyes, sweetheart. Talk to me.”
She wanted to. More than anything she wanted to see him again, but her eyelids felt weighted.
Working to peel them open, her body fought against the strong painkillers the doctors must have given her. When Olivia heard a moan, it took her a second to realize it had come from her.
“You can do it, baby. That’s right. Come back to me.”
Quick flashes of light felt blinding as her eyes finally began to open. They felt scratchy and dry. At first, everything around her was blurry, including the shadowed figure hovering over her. She blinked a few times to clear her vision until finally, she saw him.
Jake was leaning over her, his one hand holding her uninjured one. With his other, he caressed the top of her head with such gentleness it brought tears to her eyes.
“H-hi.”
She was surprised by how sore her throat was, how ragged her voice sounded.
Jake choked out a sound that was something like a half laugh, half sob. He smiled, but he looked so tired and weary. There were shadows under his eyes, and from the growth covering his strong, handsome face, Olivia knew he hadn’t shaved in a while.
She was so busy noticing how exhausted he looked, it took her a second to realize there were tears sliding down both of his cheeks.
Her heart hurt. For him. For herself. For all of the pain they’d both been forced to endure.
She started to raise her casted hand, wanting to somehow ease his pain, but it was heavy, and she was too weak to try to remove the sling.
Jake brought the hand he was holding to his cheek, uncaring that his emotions were literally spilling over her.
“Hi, sweetheart.”
He drew in a stuttered breath then let it out slowly, looking down at her through those red-rimmed eyes. All she could do was stare back.
They stayed like that for a precious moment, and Olivia relished every second of it.
She was alive. Jake was here, and she was okay. Well, maybe okay was a bit of a stretch.
She hurt like hell and knew that when she actually allowed herself to really think about all that had happened, she’d probably break down into a total mess.
For now, though, Olivia was determined to remain focused on how lucky she was to be alive and to have the man she loved by her side.
A trickle of doubt starting creeping its way in. Did she still have him? He’d saved her life, but that didn’t mean he still wanted to be with her.
Jake would never allow anyone to suffer unjustly if he was able to prevent it. It’s who he was. And she’d walked out on him. Just left without giving him the chance to explain.
An image of Jake’s tortured face hit her so hard she had to close her eyes, again. In her mind, she saw Jake looking at her and crying like he was now. Except there was no joy in his eyes. No relief. Only misery.
“What’s the matter, sweetheart?” Jake’s question snapped her back to the present, his brow creased with concern. “Are you hurting? I’ll go get the nurse and tell her you need more pain medicine.”
“N-need to t-talk.” She was trying to tell him they needed to talk, but she couldn’t get much out past her scratchy voice.
Jake reached over to the plastic pitcher sitting on the tray next to him. He filled the insulated cup next to it and secured the lid. Sliding the bendable straw between her lips, he held the cup steady for her.
The cool water felt amazing on her dessert-dry throat.
When she was finished, he returned the cup to the tray before getting up and turning to leave the room. Olivia saw him wiping away his tears as he walked. She had to stop him.
Yes, she hurt, but she needed to tell him before the nurse came back in. Whatever they were giving her was sure to put her back to sleep, and Olivia couldn’t bear the thought of Jake spending one more second thinking she didn’t still want to be with him.
“I couldn’t...let him...hurt you,” she rasped.
He froze when he heard her broken sentence. Spinning back around, Jake looked at her questioningly.
“What? What do you mean, sweetheart? Couldn’t let who hurt me?”
Olivia swallowed, her throat still feeling dry. She had to get through this. “C-Cetro.”
Jake took a tentative step back toward her, his expression a mixture of confusion and...fear? “What do you mean you couldn’t let him hurt me?”
“I tried to f-fight him off...when he came to my house. But he...” She swallowed again. “He was too strong.” A tear slipped from the corner of her eye down to her pillow.
“I know you fought, baby. I saw your house.” A muscle in that strong jaw of his bulged. “There was never any doubt that you gave him hell. But what did you mean about him hurting me? Besides the obvious.”
Jake glanced at her broken arm before zeroing in on her bruised face. His eyes darkened with sorrow. “I didn’t think I’d survive it...knowing he had you again.”
Olivia shook her head, immediately regretting it. She had to get through this. He needed to understand.
“I’m talking about...after. When I tried to run. He told me to get up...and walk to the barn. I told him to go to hell. I didn’t know exactly what he had p-planned, but I knew it couldn’t be good. So...I refused. I told him...just to kill me, right then. He said”—she paused, licking her dry, cracked lips—“he said if I didn’t go in there willingly that he’d find you.”
Jake’s eyes widening with horror and disbelief. “No.”
Olivia knew Jake was going to be royally pissed at what she was about to tell him, but it didn’t matter.
She had to make him understand that she truly understood why he did what he did. This was the only way she knew how to do that.
“H-he said if I fought him anymore...he’d go after you and your team...when he was done with m-me.”
“No.” Jake’s eyes filled as he emphatically shook his head.
“He swore if I stopped...trying to run, it would end...with me. He promised...he’d leave you...and the others, alone.”
“No!”
Jake took a step forward. He was mad, but his eyes held something besides just anger. Tears were streaming down his face, again, but he didn’t seem to notice.
“Don’t say it. Don’t you dare say you went into that place and let him torture you to try to save me! Tell me you didn’t do that, Liv. Swear to me that’s not what happened.”
“H-had to.”
His face nearly crumpled with obvious pain and guilt. “Jesus, Liv, he was lying! A man like Cetro can’t be trusted any farther than you could throw him!”
Jake ran a frustrated hand through his hair and swore. “It wouldn’t have mattered what you let him do to you, that bastard still would have come after me. But you still...after what I did to you? Why, baby? Why would you do that?”
Through her own tears, she quickly finished what she was desperately trying to say.
“I had to, Jake,” she said, her voice breaking. “Because if there was even the slightest chance he was telling the truth, I had to protect you. Don’t you see? I get it now. I understand why you lied about Mikey. You didn’t have a choice.” Then, she whispered, “And neither did I.”
She held out the hand with the IV attached and waited, praying he’d understand. “I did it because...I love you.”
****
No, no, no!
Jake looked at Olivia’s outstretched hand as if it were a snake preparing to strike him.
Not because he was afraid to touch her. Hell, all he’d ever wanted was to be able to touch her freely. For her to be his and for him to have the right to hold her in his arms whenever he wanted. But her admission had just knocked him flat on his ass.
Jake hung his head, his eyes squeezing tighter, causing more tears to fall. He worked to control his breathing for fear he’d hyperventilate and pass out on that damn hospital floor.
Christ, Liv. Baby, what did you do?
With every step closer to that barn, Olivia had to have known the worst was yet to come, and she’d done it anyway.
To protect him. To protect his team. He didn’t know how to process that.
He’d lied to her for an entire decade. While he was supposed to be her best friend, and even later when they’d become lovers, he’d continued to betray her undying trust.
Then, she’d left him. Had turned her back on him and walked out of his life—was that just four days ago?
Jake had deserved every bit of her wrath. What he didn’t deserve was her sacrificing her fucking life for him! Not for me, baby. Never for me.
Olivia started to lower her hand and Jake realized he still hadn’t taken it. The movement brought him back just in time to see loss and heartbreak behind her eyes.
“It’s okay, Jake. I understand. After the way I treated you, the things I said. I don’t blame you for not...wanting me...anymore.”
Not want her? Jake was dumbfounded. What the hell was she talking about? He opened his mouth to ask her, but she continued on with her absurd line of thinking.
“Especially now”—she looked at her lap—“I...can’t see m-my back, but I can f-feel what he did to me. I know I’ll have s-scars, and I don’t blame you for not w-want—”
Jake rushed forward and snatched up her hand. “Look at me.” He wasn’t gentle in his command.
After a moment’s hesitation, she lifted her head. The heartbreak and pain reflected in her eyes was almost enough to end him. He had to set things straight. Right. Fucking. Now.
“I love you. I’ve always loved you, and I will always. Love you. For the last, I don’t even know how many years, your face is first thing I picture when I wake up in the morning. You’re the last thought I have before falling asleep at night. I’ve wanted nothing more than to have the right to hold you and kiss you whenever I damn well please. I only held off because of the fucked up situation with Mike, but now, you know about that and”—he looked at her tentatively—“you say you understand.”
“I do understand,” she whispered.
The tightness in his chest eased for the first time in over ten years.
“Good. Because I refuse to hold back anymore. I love you, and no amount of scars will ever change that.” He narrowed his eyes at her. “Quite frankly, the fact that you could even think they would pisses me the hell off. Any scars you have will only be proof of how strong you are. How brave you were to have fought against that monster.”
Jake ran one of his hands down his face before continuing. “Jesus, woman. I swear to God if you ever do anything like that again, I’ll tie you down and never let you leave the house. That shit isn’t going to fly, understand? You don’t sacrifice yourself for me. That’s my job, do you hear me? It’ll my place as your husband to protect you. It’ll be—”
Olivia’s eyes grew wide. “Husband? Jake, what are you—”
Only then, did he realize what he’d said. Funny, though. He didn’t regret it for a second.
Okay, maybe the way he’d said it and the fact that they were in a hospital room and she was tied up to a million different machines wasn’t the ideal proposal, but damn if he’d wait another second to lay claim on her. He wanted the entire world to know she was his.
His grip on her hand softened, and his thumb began caressing the inside of her delicate wrist. Careful of her bruises, he moved his other hand up to the side of her face.
“I know I’m screwing this whole thing up by doing it here. Like this. You deserve flowers and candlelight and...Shit! I don’t even have a ring, yet.” He looked at her apologetically. “I swear, I’ll get you one as soon as I can. Until then, just know that I love you, Olivia. I want to marry you and have babies with you.”
He took a breath and kept going. “I know it won’t always be easy. In case you missed it, I’m an overprotective asshole. And in the interest of full disclosure, you should know that’s not likely to change. In fact, after this, I’ll probably get a lot worse. I’m going to hover and worry. Your safety and the safety of our children will be above anything else.” He took another breath and let out everything else he’d ever wanted to say and more.
“I wish I could promise that nothing bad will ever happen to you, again, but you and I both know that’s not realistic. We’ll need to have a good, long talk about my job and what it all means, but...sweetheart, you’re my life. Without you, nothing else matters. I know you’re going to have a lot to deal with from all of this, but I will be by your side every single step of the way. This isn’t like last time, sweetheart. I won’t be taking an active role in any jobs for a while, so you don’t have to worry. I’m here for you. Only for you.”
“I’ll listen if you want to talk. I’ll go to counseling with you, and I’ll hold you through any nightmares that may come. I’ll make love to you over and over again, and eventually, with time, we will replace every one of your bad memories with good ones. Together.”
Jake was rambling, but he meant every single word. He kissed the back of her hand and then, “So, what do you say, Liv? Will you marry me?”
He looked into Olivia’s eyes and waited with baited breath, praying she would say—
****
“Yes,” Olivia whispered.
Her heart soared, her head dizzy from the sudden turn of events. She brought her good hand up to cover his. “Yes, I’ll marry you, Jake. You’re all I’ve ever wanted. I love you so much. And I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have left the way I did. I should have listened to you and Mike when you tried to explain. I...”
“Shh.” Jake moved a finger to her lips. “Baby, stop. You have nothing to apologize for. I was an ass, and you reacted accordingly.”
“But—” she tried to interrupt, but he just shook his head.
“No buts.” He moved his finger and began caressing her cheek with the back of his knuckles. “The rest is in the past. All you need to focus on now, is our future.”
Olivia knew they’d never forget what had happened. As Jake carefully brought his lips to hers, she also knew that—despite the horrors she’d suffered the past few months—she was the luckiest woman in the world.
