Chapter 48
FORTY-EIGHT
Justice’s T-shirt is soft against my skin and smells like him.
There’s a touch of soap, a little cupcake icing, and whatever addictive chemical men must secrete when they’re in love.
My favorite scent ever.
As I wiggle into my new yoga tights—from the drawers full of new clothes Justice had delivered to me—there’s a delicious reminder of last night.
Bites on my neck. Handprints on my hips. A lingering heat in my womb.
A slow smile curves over my lips.
Time to find Justice. He’s been gone for an hour and I’m ready to feel his arms around me.
I wander out of our room, wondering if he’s already raided the kitchen for breakfast, when I hear quiet conversation from the cave’s main lounge.
His voice. And a woman’s.
Liberty’s early morning flight must have arrived. My heartbeat lifts, excitement making me walk faster.
The instant I see him, I get a deeper, warmer glow inside.
Justice is sitting on the plush leather sofa with a woman who looks so much like him there’s no question—this is his younger sister.
She stands the moment she sees me, the fall of dark hair around her face highlighting whiskey-brown eyes that are a shade lighter than his.
Her expression is cautious, a little shy, like someone who hasn’t been welcomed many places lately. I know that feeling well.
With my smile, I try to ease her concerns. “You must be Liberty. I’m so glad you’re here and can’t wait to spend time with you.”
She hugs me carefully, and when she steps back, her shoulders are lower, like we just released a pressure valve.
“She just got in,” Justice says with a husky warmth to his voice. His gaze is hopeful, something about his expression softer than I’ve ever seen..
“The one and only Rosalie,” she says quietly.
“That’s me. I’m so happy you came. We’ve been really looking forward to you being here.”
There’s a flicker in her eyes as she glances at her brother. Disbelief, but fading. And then something softer. Hope.
Justice’s gaze locks on me. “Love you,” he whispers roughly.
There’s another message there too. This one unspoken. Thank you for seeing her. For treating her like she belongs.
“I wasn’t sure…” Liberty glances around, then down at her hands. “I didn’t want to intrude.”
“You’re not,” I promise as I motion for them to sit on the couch again. Trust me, if Justice minded, you wouldn’t have made it past the military checkpoints, cave guards, or the terrifying security system on this property. You’re here because we want you here.”
He grins, shaking his head, but she’s still worried.
Sitting down, still looking conflicted as she fidgets with the thin silver necklace she’s wearing.
“Rosalie, this is your time to recover after all the terrible things you went through. I can’t imagine how you feel after having to face down an assassin.”
With a shaky exhale, I take the chair across from them, tucking my feet up underneath me.
How do I feel?
We’ve talked about this a lot in the deep hours of the night, and things come up, but I’m surprised by how good I do feel.
“It’s a lot to process,” I agree, “But in truth, it happened so fast. Before that day so much had happened leading up to the face-off with Walton, including the kidnapping. It’s almost like I had some kind of emotional shield.”
Justice shifts, taking a deep breath, trying to release the tension he gets whenever the subject comes up.
He’s so protective. Always.
The flutter in my pulse kicks around and a warmth builds behind my eyes.
“Honestly, your brother is the real reason I’m doing so well,” I tell Liberty. “I knew he was coming for me. With one hundred percent certainty, I knew he would do everything he could to stop Walton.”
He snuggles me close, his warm arms not just holding me, but grounding me when memories could assault me.
Speaking in a warm rumble next to my ear, he says, “Walton’s injury isn’t fatal and he’s going to be in prison for the rest of his life.
The man who kidnapped Rosalie is federal system, and it looks like the same thing for him from what we can tell.
Having both of those men put away makes us all rest easier. ”
Okay, we need to lighten this mood.
I turn to Liberty. “If you need to learn to shoot bear spray, I’m your girl.”
She stares at me for a breath, a warm laugh coming up when she relaxes.
As her eyes drift to her brother’s she says, “She’s a lot like you. I’m glad she’s going to give you hell.”
Justice huffs out a rough sound that’s a laugh in SEAL language. “Told you, she’s amazing.”
I lean forward, smiling. “I’ve heard you’ve got some amazing things going on too. I can’t wait for you to tell me all about the work you do helping young women with eating disorders.”
She blushes, a look of surprise in her eyes. “How do you guys know about that?”
Oops. Maybe I wasn’t supposed to say anything.
Justice reaches for her shoulder, gripping it affectionately. “Just because we weren’t close doesn’t mean I wasn’t keeping up with your life.”
His tenderness that cracks my chest wide open.
“We have a lot to talk about,” he tells her quietly. “But we’ve got all the time we need to do that.”
Footsteps echo from the corridor and we all glance that way as Spence appears.
The former SEAL’s broad chest is bare and damp with sweat, his gray sweatpants are slung low, and there’s a stainless water bottle in one hand and a jump rope in the other.
He stops dead in his tracks when he sees Liberty.
The shift in his expression is anything but subtle. His body flinches as if someone just punched all the air out of him.
Liberty is frozen too. Her hand at her throat as they stare at each other.
Oh boy. Justice doesn’t miss the crackling airwaves vibrating between the two of them.
His gaze narrows, flicking between the two of them with tactical precision, and no small amount of protectiveness.
“Ma’am, you must be Juctice’s little sister. Glad you made it here safely.”
Spence clears his throat, his gaze bouncing away, but coming right back to Liberty. “Didn’t mean to interrupt.”
His rumble is low, huskier than his usual tone, and I’m so intrigued I could pop.
“I’ll let y’all catch up,” he says with one more lingering look before he disappears down the corridor.
The air he leaves behind hums.
Liberty stares after him, brow furrowed. Then she glances at Justice.
“Who,” she says slowly, “was that?”
Justice exhales, long and low, like he just spotted a storm on the horizon and he’s getting ready to batten down the home front.
His answer is a low growl.
“That,” he says, without looking away from the hallway Spence disappeared down, “is a problem I didn’t know we had.”
And from the look on Liberty’s face…
The problem has already begun.
Justice sets me aside, kisses my temple. “I’ll be back.”
Liberty and I watch him stalk away, the same direction Spence just went.
“Well,” I say, “shall we go find some breakfast?”
Liberty’s blushing when she gathers up her purse. “Good plan, I’m starving.”