Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Tears gathered in the corners of my eyes as he dropped the next set of dirty cloths on the tile floor and reached for new ones. He was being so incredibly gentle as he washed away the memories and the terror and the evidence of what we’d gone through. Every touch felt like a benediction, his lips brushing over the bruises and scratches he found as he cleaned me off.
“Danny,” I whispered as he helped me sit so he could wash my feet.
“What is it, love?” he murmured, looking up from where he kneeled at my feet in nothing but a towel.
“I fucked up last night,” I confessed.
“How did you fuck up?”
The fact that he didn’t try to argue that I hadn’t, just asked what I’d done—no recrimination in his tone—made tears drip down my cheeks.
“I was supposed to guard Seamus,” I choked out. “He was counting on me to keep him safe. Everyone was counting on me.”
Daniel smiled gently and reached out to wipe the tears from my cheek. “I’m not going to try to convince you otherwise.”
I nodded, trying to hold back a sob.
“But I am going to tell you this—are you listening?”
“Yeah.”
“When we undressed you last night, there wasn’t a single person in the room who understood how you could’ve stayed on your feet with the wounds you had.” His hands wrapped around my ankles and squeezed in emphasis. “You should’ve been unconscious. At the very least, you should’ve been down—but you weren’t.”
I sniffled pitifully, not even bothering to wipe my nose.
“You stayed on your feet, Rosie. You kept going, and no one knows how you did it. I know I can’t change how you feel about it right now, but, baby, you didn’t fuck up. You fought until the very end to keep that boy safe. Try to remember that when you’re feeling guilty for shit that was out of your control.”
“Okay,” I replied halfheartedly as he went back to cleaning my feet.
“I felt the same way when Zeke died,” he continued a few moments later. “Knowing that I wasn’t there to protect him?” He shook his head. “That was my job as his big brother. I should’ve known he was in trouble. Hell, I should’ve known that he’d found his mate. I hadn’t been keeping in touch like I should’ve. That was on me.”
I ran my fingers over his wet hair.
“I won’t make that mistake again,” he said, dropping the last of the dirty washcloths on the pile. “You got any mistakes that you won’t repeat?”
I replayed the night before, going over every move I’d made from the moment Aunt Halle had called the house phone. From picking my weapons to the feel of Seamus’s blood squelching between my fingers.
“No,” I replied, swallowing back my tears. “No, I don’t.”
I’d done everything in my power. I’d prepared well with the time I had available. I’d called in help. I’d used my training to the best of my ability. I’d ignored the fear and the exhaustion. I’d kept going even when everything hurt.
Daniel smiled and rose. “Come on, let’s get you something to wear.”
Getting a T-shirt on without moving my arm was a bit of a pain, and Daniel’s sweats were way too big in the waist, but we made it work. I’d just sat down to watch him dress, and I was marveling at the way his ass flexed as he moved, when a disembodied voice came through an intercom on the wall, making me jump in surprise.
“Hey, Danny,” Beau called. “Arthur just landed, if you want to be there.”
Daniel strode to the wall and pushed a button. “Be there in a few minutes,” he answered.
Ignoring the twinge in my hip, I pushed myself to my feet as he pulled on a pair of jeans.
He looked at me in surprise.
I could see the thoughts racing through his expression. He didn’t want me to go to that meeting. He wanted to tell me to stay in bed and rest. Contemplated how he could cajole me into doing it. Wondered if it was worth the fight if I didn’t comply.
I nearly smiled when acceptance made his shoulders slump just a little.
“I deserve to be there,” I said, holding his gaze. “You know I do.”
“Fine, but I’m carrying you down there,” he said as he turned away to grab a shirt. “You shouldn’t even be out of bed.”
“Deal,” I replied, hiding my smile.
“You need socks,” he mumbled to himself.
I was completely bundled up, from a zip-front hoodie to hiking socks on my feet, when Danny carried me downstairs to the kitchen. I wanted to hold my back straight so I looked a little more like a queen and a little less like a waif that he’d just saved, but I didn’t have it in me. Instead, I let my head rest on his shoulder, the scent of his skin soothing me. I was so fucking tired, and if it had been anything else happening, I would’ve happily waved goodbye as he left without me.