Chapter 33
33
R hys strode through the house and ensured all was well. Even though they had been home for just over an hour, he was still tense. Rhys walked to the front door and tested the handle. His heart was still pounding.
He had almost been too late.
When he’d reached the clearing, multiple gang members had tried to stop him. He’d been in such a frantic state to get to Jordan that he had made light work of each and every man who’d stepped in his way.
He glanced down at his knuckles which were still raw and red. He attempted to make a fist, but his joints were tight and swollen.
Rhys had finally found Bravon, but what he’d seen had sent a cold chill down him. The man was standing before Jordan with a gun aimed right at her and his dog.
“Too bad,” Bravon said.
Rhys skated to a halt, raised his weapon, and pulled the trigger. Bravon’s body jerked with each bullet slamming into his chest. Bright-red spots appeared. Bravon glanced down before looking up, his gaze connecting with Rhys’s. Bravon fell to his knees, keeling over onto the ground.
Jordan spun around in shock. Her face was bruised, her lip busted and bleeding, and she was covered in dirt from head to toe.
All that didn’t matter.
She was alive and breathing.
Rhys stalked toward her, not taking his eyes off her. He quickly sheathed his weapon just in time to catch Jordan throwing herself at him. Her small frame melted against his. Rhys had never been so scared before in his life.
“I didn’t think I was going to get to you in time,” he said.
“You were right on time.”
Once he was closer to her, he could see all of the damaged done to her. Someone had hit her multiple times, and her neck had even started to bruise. Imprints of fingers were appearing on her skin. Rhys glanced over at the dead gangbanger’s body. He was satisfied that it was his image that Bravon had seen last.
Lights out in the front yard caught his attention. Rhys peered out the window of the front door and saw Nova’s car park in the driveway. He unlocked the door and swung it open. He flipped the front porch light on before stepping outside.
“Dad,” Nova cried out. She slammed the driver’s door shut and raced up the front steps.
He opened his arms, and she flew into them.
“Hey, cupcake,” he murmured. He wrapped her up in a hug and bent down to drop a kiss on the top of her head.
Her body shook as she squeezed him tight. She pulled back slightly to stare up at him. Her eyes were red, and dried tear streaks lined her face.
“Are you and Jordan okay? It’s been all over the news about the prison break, police officers going missing, multiple shootings, and I couldn’t get a hold of either of you?—”
“We’re fine,” he said. He reached out and brushed away the new tears that appeared. It pained him that his daughter had to become involved in the craziness. He never wanted her to worry about him when he was on the job, but his child was a worry rat. “Banged up a little, but we are fine.”
“Where’s Jordan?” she asked. She ran a trembling hand through her pink-streaked hair. She glanced at the door before looking back at him. “Honor?”
“They’re both upstairs. Jordan is taking a bath and Honor is with her,” he replied.
Honor hadn’t left Jordan’s side since they had come home. The EMTs had taken Jordan to the local hospital to get a thorough checkup by the emergency room physicians. His discussion with Spook hadn’t lasted long. With the chaos that surrounded the scene, the mayor and the governor on the captain’s ass, he’d alerted Rhys that he was on paid leave until an investigation could be completed. Rhys was to report in to see him on Monday morning. That left Rhys free to go straight to the hospital to check in on Jordan.
According to the doctors, she was banged up pretty good, but no broken bones. She’d been released, but she hadn’t wanted to leave the hospital. Mac had been whisked away to emergency surgery, and they had stayed in the waiting room with Sarena and the MacArthur family. It hadn’t been a surprise that the entire SWAT team had showed up.
Jordan wouldn’t listen to him or her sister. They had tried to convince her to go home. She was not leaving the hospital until she was sure Mac would be okay. Omara was unable to convince Zain to leave either.
They’d all waited at the hospital until Sarena had alerted them that Mac had made it through surgery and was being transported to the intensive care unit. She had sent them all home with the promise to call and update.
“Okay. Daddy, I was so scared. I thought the worst. With everything that has been happening…” Her voice ended on a hiccup as more tears flowed.
He brought her back to him and held her tight.
“There is nothing that will ever keep us from coming back to you, cupcake,” he murmured.
He meant that. Jordan loved his daughter as if she were her own. There was nothing that he or Jordan wouldn’t do for this young lady right now. He didn’t want to think of her as a little girl, but she would always be that to him.
Nova’s head moved in a nodding motion, but she kept her face buried into his chest.
“I love you, Daddy.” Her voice was muffled, but he’d heard what she said.
“I love you, too, baby,” he replied. His eyes grew scratchy, and he inhaled sharply. Tomorrow, his girl would be off for her adventure of a lifetime. He pulled her back and offered her a small smile. “Are you finished packing?”
“Almost,” she replied sheepishly.
He chuckled and wrapped an arm around her and guided her into the house.
“Go finish so you won’t be late tomorrow,” he said.
Nova gave him one last hug before spinning on her heels and jogging toward the stairs. Rhys turned to the door and ensured it was locked. Now that everyone was home, he would send Honor out to guard the house for the night.
Once he was sure the place was secured, he headed up the stairs. Rhys grimaced from the feeling of dirt caked on his skin. He would hop in the shower while Jordan soaked in the tub. He’d had to force the woman to run a bath and get in to relax.
He entered their room and whistled softly for Honor. The dog trotted out of the bathroom with her ears erect in the air.
“Hey, girl,” he murmured softly.
Her ears flattened on her head as she arrived at his side. He gave her a rub on her head. He owed her a big steak for making it to Jordan before he had. There was no telling what would have happened had she not arrived to Jordan when she had. Honor whined as if already sensing what he was going to say.
“Don’t give me that look, girl.”
Honor’s eyes were wide, and she was doing that thing that always had him caving in to her demands.
But tonight was not the night for him to cave. He had almost lost his woman, and his nerves were still frazzled. He needed to be comforted that his dog—partner—was keeping them safe while they slept.
“Guard the house, girl,” he said. He walked her over to the door and let her out of the room.
She paused in the doorway and gave him the look again.
He shook his head. “Go.”
She slunk off and walked over to the top of the stairs and flopped down onto the floor with a huff. Rhys shook his head at her sass and closed his door. He peeled his filthy clothes off his body. He grimaced from the scent that came from him. He tossed his clothing in the basket in his closet before entering the bathroom.
The lights were dim, and a few candles were lit sitting along the double sink vanity. He was thankful that he had installed the soaking tub. When he’d remodeled his master suite he had almost not included it. He never took baths and had nearly dismissed the notion.
Jordan rested back in the water and bubbles that reached her neck. Her dark hair was tied up in a bun on top of her head. A folded towel acted as a pillow for her. Jordan’s eyes opened, and her gaze landed on him.
“Hey,” she whispered. Her voice was going in and out.
Rhys didn’t want to think that it was due to her almost being choked to death. He brushed that thought aside and walked over to her. He grabbed a towel from the rack and placed it on the edge of the tub so he could sit on it.
“What are you doing?”
“I was coming to see if you were okay, then I was going to jump in the shower,” he replied. He reached out and gently ran a finger along her cheek. Her face was bruised and swollen on one side. Her lips were plump, and the cut on the top one was crusted over with a scab.
“There is room for one more,” she murmured. She slid forward in the water as if to prove her point.
Rhys chuckled and stood. He stepped into the water and held back a grimace. How the hell was this woman sitting in water hot enough to boil? He gently lowered himself down and hissed.
“Whoa.” The grimace won out as the water came up to his chest.
Jordan waited for him to settle back against the tub before she positioned herself in front of him. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. For a while they didn’t speak a word. It wasn’t needed. They both were where they belonged. He reached down and cupped his hand to draw water into it. He poured it on her shoulder while watching it run down her soft brown skin.
“I thought I would never see you again,” she admitted.
Rhys paused, leaning forward to press a gentle kiss to her shoulder. She turned and laid those big brown eyes on him. His breath caught in his throat at the tortured look in her eyes. As much as he wanted to draw her to him and kiss her, he resisted. Her mouth was tender and lips swollen from trauma. He was a patient man when it came to certain things, and this would be one of them. He’d take care of his woman, and when the time came, he would claim her lips, her body, and her soul.
He ran a hand along her shoulder and down her arm where he entwined their fingers together.
“We’ll always be together,” he swore. His heart thudded.
Jordan gave a small nod then pulled away from him. She turned and came back, straddling his waist. His cock stiffened from the feeling of her core brushing against him. Jordan softly kissed his lips.
“I love you,” she said. Her fingers tunneled through his hair.
He gathered her closer to him, her breasts crushed between them.
“I love you, too,” he said.
Rhys guided her head to him and kissed her. Her arms came to settle around his neck. She rotated her hips, rubbing herself along his engorged member.
“Baby, we can’t.”
“Please. I need this.” Her big brown eyes widened.
She did the move again, eliciting a groan from him. How was he to resist when she kept doing that? His cock grew even harder. He smoothed his hands down to her waist and held her in place. Jordan pressed another kiss to his lips. Her fingers entwined themselves in his hair and tugged slightly.
“Please, Rhys.”
Jordan would never need to beg him for anything.
“Lift up,” he muttered.
She did as he said to allow him to nuzzle the blunt tip of his cock at her sick opening. Her warm, tight channel accepted him as she lowered onto him. Their audible groans filled the air. Her hot, wet sheath wrapped around his cock and welcomed him home. She settled down completely on him. His fingers dug into her hip, and he focused on not blowing his fucking load at that moment. He watched her eyes flutter close. Her hips rotated in a small circle. Her breasts glistened from the water and soap suds that trailed along her soft skin. His gaze landed on her dark areolas and took in her beaded nipples, then went back to her face. She opened her eyes and met his stare.
“Marry me.”
Those words escaped him before he knew it, but he wasn’t going to take them back. He had thought to plan something special for them. A night out on the town. Maybe even out underneath the stars on the farm with just the two of them.
But no.
This was perfect.
He’d almost lost her and he didn’t want to waste another day without giving her his last name.
Jordan froze.
“What did you say?” she whispered. Her fingers slid through his hair and came to rest on his shoulders. Her tongue slipped out and ran along her bottom lip.
She was the most beautiful woman in the world, and he needed her.
Forever.
“Jordan Knight. Will you marry me?” His heart raced while he waited for her to answer him. After his divorce from Sara Beth, he hadn’t even thought marriage would be an option in the future. But then he’d met Jordan and had fallen in love with her. He had never imagined that when he asked for her hand in marriage, he would be balls-deep inside her.
A slow smile spread along her lips.
“Yes,” Jordan breathed. She leaned forward and covered his lips with hers.
He allowed her to control the kiss. He didn’t want to cause any pain to her. She rose and fell back down on him. He gripped her hips and helped guide her in a steady rhythm. She broke the kiss and gave him a crooked grin.
“Yes, Rhys Newman. I’ll marry you.”
They had a future together, and Jordan wouldn’t have to be looking over her shoulder anymore. A chapter in her life was officially closed, and Rhys vowed right then and there, that their future would be bright and he’d try his damnedest to give her the world.