Chapter 23
TAMSIN
Waiting for Gavin while he disarmed a bomb was one of the hardest things I’d ever done.
Wraith kept me out of harm's way around the side of the building, and I understood why Gavin had sent him with me. He knew I’d be tempted to run right back inside because I couldn’t bear the thought of losing the man I loved.
Instead, I was stuck out here, rubbing my wrists that throbbed after being tied too tight. I had dust in my hair and mouth, but I didn’t care. I watched the door, refusing to blink until it was necessary. I needed to see Gavin come through it for myself.
Finally, the comm at Wraith’s shoulder crackled.
“Clear.”
The breath I had been holding puffed past my lips.
I’d recognize that voice anywhere. Gavin.
He came through the door a moment later and headed straight for me. There was still a hint of the cold focus he would’ve needed to disarm the device. But that side of him didn’t scare me. It was part of why he was able to protect those he loved, including me.
I didn’t wait. Rushing forward, I met him halfway.
His arm locked around my waist, and he hauled me off my feet.
I grabbed the front of his cut. “I knew you’d come.”
“Always, Tamsin.” He pressed his forehead against mine. “Nobody is ever going to take you away from me.”
His hands were steady at my waist, with no sign of nerves. Even with me trapped in that building and then sitting in front of a countdown on a bomb, his control hadn’t slipped. But the way he held me tight now, not letting go, told me what it had cost to maintain it.
When he pulled back, he kissed me hard. His hand fisted in the back of my hair to hold me in place while his tongue delved into my mouth to tangle with mine.
It only stayed short because Reaper walked over to us.
Gavin lifted his head but didn’t let go of me. His thumb stayed on my pulse while Reaper turned my wrists over and checked the scrape on my knee. He kept one hand at my neck, tracking every flinch.
Reaper met his gaze and arched a brow. Gavin just smiled back, although it didn’t reach his eyes.
“She’s bruised,” Reaper pointed out. “Not broken.”
I rolled my eyes. “I can hear you.”
Gavin looked down at me. “Good. Keep doing that.”
Reaper shook his head with a chuckle, then got to work on my scrape. After he cleaned it and wrapped my wrist, he declared, “She’s cleared to leave.”
I heaved a sigh of relief as he went to check the Black Crowns who were injured in the fight. The good news was that the worst of it was a couple of flesh wounds that needed stitches. Between the number of bullets that were shot and the bomb that had almost gone off, it could’ve been so much worse.
Hawkeye came back from the maintenance trail with two zip-tied men walking in front of him. Len and the fake inspector.
“Caught them past the bend,” he told Stryker. “Vehicle’s in the ditch.”
Trigger held up the remote by two fingers and tossed it over. “Took it off him before he could press the button.”
The rest of the gunmen were already on their knees by the company trucks, disarmed, with their wrists bound. Black Crowns combed the grounds to make sure that there weren’t any other devices Len hadn’t told them about.
“Nothing else live,” Nomad announced when they were done.
Stryker looked over the men still breathing. “Dump the rest at the sheriff’s station. Pretty sure they’ve all got warrants. I’m guessing they’ll be singing for deals soon as the bars shut.”
“Will do,” Hawkeye confirmed.
Stryker’s attention shifted to Len and the crew leader. “Those two come with us.”
Black Crowns loaded the extras into one set of vehicles. Len and the inspector went into a different one. Gavin watched it pull out without any hint of his easy humor in his eyes.
I wasn’t sure what was going to happen to the two men they weren’t delivering to the police.
And I didn’t care. They’d tried to blow me up twice.
Set fire to our warehouse. Rigged my display at the veterans’ fundraiser so it was supposed to send a live shell in the audience where children sat with their families.
Whatever the Black Crowns did to them, they’d more than earned it.
Gavin’s hand settled at my lower back. “I’m taking you home.”
“Yes, please.” I wanted my house and the comfort it could provide.
He loaded me into the SUV we’d driven here and drove with one hand on the wheel and another on my thigh.
The house was lit when we pulled in, and my parents were already in the driveway.
Mom had her arms around me before I got both feet on the ground. “Oh, my poor baby.”
When she stepped back, Dad glanced at my wrapped wrist, then pulled me in for a hug of his own. “Are you—”
“I’m okay,” I assured him. “Just some scrapes.”
Gavin stayed half a step behind me while we headed inside. Then I filled them in on what happened.
Dad’s lips pressed into a flat line. “I trusted that man with the company. And you.”
“I know, but he fooled us all. Not just you,” I reminded him.
Mom wiped her damp cheeks. “The rest of the company talk can wait until we’ve all slept.”
Dad looked at me, then at Gavin. “Can I have a minute with my daughter?”
“I’ll be on the porch,” Gavin offered.
We went into the kitchen. Dad rubbed a hand over his face and stared at the table.
“When the numbers started looking wrong, I asked if it could have been because of mistakes you made. That wasn’t okay. I know how you work, but I was scared and wanted an ordinary explanation.”
“Dad—”
“I’m sorry.”
“Thanks.” I gave him a hug. “We’re good.”
“I appreciate it, honey.”
Dad and I walked back into the living room, and Gavin came back inside like he had a radar telling him exactly where I was.
Mom looked from my face to his and then at Dad. “We should go. They need quiet more than they need us hovering.”
Dad hesitated, then kissed my hair. “Call if you need anything.”
“I will.”
They were barely down the drive when a truck pulled in. Jacqueline and Bex got out, takeout bags from my favorite restaurant in their hands.
Jacqueline lifted one of the bags higher. “We brought food.”
“I can see.”
“Someone gave us very explicit instructions for what to bring over,” Bex explained.
I tilted my head back to grin at Gavin. “I’m sure I can guess who.”
He didn’t look the least bit guilty for having done so. “You need to eat, pretty girl.”
“We brought plenty,” Jacqueline murmured as I opened the door wider for her.
Gavin took the bags from the women. “Get comfortable in the living room. I’ll bring out plates.”
“You’ve completely domesticated him,” Bex joked.
Jacqueline laughed. “He’s protective like Brogan and Cipher are with us. It’s adorable.”
“And he calls her ‘pretty girl,’” Bex sighed.
Gavin brought a plate out for each of us before serving himself. He watched every bite I took and brought out a cold pack for my wrist when I was done.
Then his phone buzzed, and he glanced at his screen. “Gotta go.”
I could guess why he needed to leave, but I didn’t ask. “I’ll be here when it’s done.”
“You better.” His hand tightened on my good wrist, and he tugged me forward to kiss me.
He got up and grabbed his keys before heading out the front door. Then I heard the engine start, and he backed out of the driveway.
Jacqueline locked the deadbolt and checked the window.
Bex picked up the remote. “We should watch something that doesn’t make us think.”
“Sounds like a good plan to me,” I agreed.
She clicked past news and landed on a cooking competition we didn’t need to pay close attention to. Jacqueline put the leftovers in the fridge and dropped onto the other end of the couch.
“You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to.” Bex tucked her feet under her. “We’re just here to keep you company.”
“I appreciate it.” I pulled the throw blanket from the back of the couch and spread it across my lap. “Does the waiting ever get easier?”
Jacqueline thought about it before answering, “Not easier. More familiar.”
“You learn to trust the men riding with him.” Bex leaned deeper against the back of the couch. “That helps.”
I understood the point she was making. Being with Gavin meant trusting the brotherhood surrounding him. And with everything they’d done for my family and me, the Black Crowns had already earned that from me.