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I had a man that I would die for. I’d sell my soul to the devil ten times over if it meant saving Court and the people he loved most. I’d never let him get hurt, not if I could help it.

“Good. When do I get to meet him?” I asked, suddenly feeling nervous about the notion of meeting Court’s younger brother.

Court smiled wide. “Any time you want. I told him about you. He’s excited to meet you. Said he always wanted a sister.” The wink he gave me sent a flurry of butterflies through my stomach.

I scoffed. “A sister?”

Court leaned in and kissed me slowly. “Yeah. Because I’m gonna marry you. That’s non-negotiable.”

My heart did a somersault and then pounded against my rib cage. “And what if I say no?”

He bit his lip, and the amusement in his eyes sent a rush of affection through me. “I’ll just spank a ‘yes’ right out of you, then. I’m not too worried about it. You’re mine, and I have always been yours. Now tell me you love me.”

I pressed my lips together.

Court, unfazed, rubbed his cheek against mine, kissed my ear, and whispered. “Come on. Tell me you love me. I can see it in your eyes, but I want to hear it.”

He nuzzled into the crook of my neck. “Please. Please, just⁠—”

“I love you,” I rushed out, and he shuddered against me.

“Oh, fuck. Say it again.”

My lips twitched. “I love you.”

“Again.”

“No.”

He pulled back and stared into my eyes, and all amusement fled. There was so much love in his eyes, and I reached up to cup his face. “I love you, you big, beautiful bastard. Happy now?”

A slow smile crept across his face, and he pressed a hard kiss to my lips. “I’m always happy when I’m with you.”

Me too.

I finally knew what happiness looked like. It looked like Court McNair as he smiled down at me.

I wanted to be at his house, in his enormous bed, lying with him as the TV played in the background, as he stroked his big hands over every inch of me. “When can I leave here?”

“The doctor said you can be discharged as soon as you’re stable. But before that…there’s someone who wants to see you.”

My brows drew together, apprehension filling me. “What? Who?”

“Don’t freak out. You know I’d never put you in danger, right? You trust me?”

I stared into his eyes and nodded, because yes. I trusted this man with my life and my heart and everything that was mine.

“Good.” He kissed my forehead, got up, and went to the door to let in whoever it was that wanted to see me.

As soon as they walked into the room, my entire body tensed, my fight or flight activated. I was about to run when Court came back to me and cupped my face in his hands, forcing me to look at him again.

“They just want to thank you. You’re safe, Whitney.”

I looked over at Angelo and Valentina Rossi, my heart hammering in my chest.

Angelo Rossi.

He was so much smaller than I remembered. His back was hunched, and he was visibly shaking. He was obviously ill, though I hadn’t a clue what ailed him. His clothes hung off his thin frame, and there was a resignation in his eyes that disturbed me. Like he knew he was on death’s door and, when it opened, he’d be ready to step inside.