Page 76 of Russian Rescue

As much as I enjoyed torturing him, I couldn’t stand seeing the sad look on his face for even a second more. “Oh! You mean the part where I told you I loved you?”

His eyes lit up as he snapped his head back up, his smile starting on his lips. “You remember?”

“Of course, I remember.” I grinned a sly smile.

“And... do you still mean it? Or was that just something you said because you thought we were gonna die, and you just wanted me to die happy?”

“Why don’t you lean down here and kiss me, and then you tell me.”

With a lengthy sigh, Wes leaned down and slid his hand gently across my face. When our lips touched, I let loose all the fear and anxieties I had about opening up my heart to him. I let our love move between us as our lips pressed together.

When he finally broke apart our kiss, he stayed leaned down, his breath brushing across my skin as he whispered, “I felt it. You do love me.”

“Of course, I love you, Wes. And I always will.”

He sighed and kissed me again. “I have loved you from the moment I saw you, and I’m going to love you until the day I die. And long, long after that. Even eternity isn’t long enough for how long I plan on loving you.”

With a happy sigh, I pressed my forehead against his. “And I’ll be right there loving you through eternity right back.”

I was so grateful I’d finally succumbed to the war waging inside of me over my stupid fragile heart. Wes had proven himself more than capable of handling it with the greatest of care. But then I remembered the other reason I had vowed to keep anyone out of my life.

“Uh, Wes?”

“Yeah, baby?”

“About that thing I told you I’d been doing.”

“Yeah? What about it?”

I exhaled a sigh. “I don’t want to put you in danger, but I also really don’t want to stop. It’s my calling to save people that need saving.” I looked around to make sure no one was around to hear. “Will you be okay knowing I’m out there on my own doing what I’m doing sometimes?”

“You know what? I changed my mind. No. I’m not okay with that.”

My heart sank. I didn’t want to choose between a life with the man I loved and a life fulfilling my true purpose in this world. “Oh.”

Wes slid his hand against my cheek and leveled his eyes to mine. “I’m not okay with you out doing what you’re doing alone. You’re not on your own anymore, and I’m going to help you do it.”

“Wes. I can’t ask—”

“Stop talking,” he commanded, and my eyes widened. His stern face softened. “You’re not asking. I’m not offering. I’m telling you that I’m going to help you. Together, we can accomplish so much more, and together we can ensure that you never ever get caught. No, I won’t be going out to...” He paused and glanced over his shoulder, then whispered, “kill people with you. But I will help you hunt them down. I’ll erase evidence, change medical reports, and basically work as a virtual broom to keep you and everyone you help safe. We help people. It’s what we do. And what you’re doing is brave and scary and amazing. Let me do it with you. We’re a team, Piper. Always. And in more ways than one now. We’re doing this together. One sick fucker at a time.”

I wanted to say no, to protect him from any blowback that could come from my actions, but I saw the commitment in his eyes. He was right. Together we could accomplish even more. Together we could accomplish anything. Rather than shut him out and force him out of my life, I decided to trust in his decision and trust in his skills to keep us safe.

“Okay.”

His eyes widened. “Really? Okay? No big fight about it?”

“No.” I smiled softly. “You’re right. Together we can save even more people. Thank you, Wes. This means so much to me to rescue as many of them as we can. You’re a good man for helping them. And it makes me love you even more.”

He smiled and pressed his forehead against mine. “I love you the most, baby. I’m excited to start this adventure together.”

We stayed pressed together for a few moments, and then the doctor stepped in and cleared his throat. Wes stood upright, spun around, and looked to the man standing in the plastic tarped doorway.

“Looks like our patient is feeling much better?” He smiled and came toward me.

“Yes. Much. I take it you were my surgeon?”

He moved to the other side of the bed. “I was. I’m Dr. Sidorov. You gave us quite a scare. That bullet nicked your femoral, but it was lodged in just tight enough it prevented you from bleeding out in minutes.”