43. Reath
43
REATH
I finished talking with the police while keeping one eye on Frankie as the paramedics checked her over.
We were at the entrance to the cemetery. It was now lit up with red and blue lights from several police cars and an ambulance. Nearby, I watched two men pushing a gurney with a black body bag containing Auclair’s body toward the Medical Examiner’s van.
It was over.
Frankie was safe.
Simon appeared, slipping his notebook back into the pocket of his jacket. “We rounded up the rest of Auclair’s crew. A cruiser spotted their Explorer.”
“Good.”
“And we recovered Trent Weare’s body.”
I nodded.
“I’m sorry about your man, Axe.”
“Me too.”
My detective friend glanced toward the ambulance. “How’s your girl?”
“Alive.”
Simon nodded. “Glad you can put this all behind you now.”
“Thanks, Simon.”
I headed in Frankie’s direction. The paramedic had cleaned her head wound, and she had a bandage at the edge of her hairline. Now, she just looked tired.
“Hey.” I sat beside her on the back of the ambulance.
She turned to face me. She plucked nervously at her shirt. “So, I promised myself that if I made it out, I’d tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
She fidgeted, pressing a hand to her stomach.
“Frankie?”
“God. I just survived a killer, so this should be easy.”
I cupped her cheek. “Just tell me.”
“I’m falling in love with you.” The words tumbled out of her. “I know we said just sex, and no emotions, but I just survived a crazed international killer criminal. I have emotions. So many. For you.” She heaved in a breath. “I’m falling in love with you, Reath Fury.”
I froze, unable to look away from her face.
She swallowed. “You do have a heart, Reath. I’m going to show you that you do.” She rubbed her chest. “You don’t need to say anything, just—”
I yanked her onto my lap, and she let out a small squeak. Then I took that mouth that had first captivated me with mine.
She moaned. I knew the kiss was deep, possessive. I let everything I felt for her pour into the kiss.
When I pulled back, she was panting. I pressed my forehead to hers. Now it was my turn to take a deep breath. “I’m falling in love with you too, Frankie.”
Her mouth opened. “You are?”
“I am. I’ve never said those words to any woman before.”
“Oh.” Her hands clenched on my shirt.
“I’ve been falling for a while. My brothers kept trying to tell me, but I kept denying it. You came into my life and turned everything upside down.”
She smiled. “I didn’t mean to.”
I ran my fingers along her jaw. “I know. It was just you. So smart, and full of life. You made me realize that I did want love, that I did need it. And while it still scares me, what I feel for you makes me stronger, not weaker.”
“Reath.” Her hands slid up my chest, her palm spreading over my beating heart. “Being with you made me realize that I’d thrown myself into my work to the exclusion of everything else. That I was a little like my dad and Jack, avoiding what really mattered.” She fiddled with my shirt. “Can you say it again?”
“I’m falling in love with you, Francesca Parker. I only ever plan on saying that to you.”
She smiled. “Good. I’m really happy about that.”
“I’m glad. Now, it’s your turn to kiss me.”
She was very happy to oblige. She gripped my shoulders and covered my mouth with hers.