Sweet Pain (Amatucci Family #3) - Sadie Jacks Page 0,58

admittance to perjury, on record. Is there anything else you need from us? I’d like to get us home at some point while it’s still today.”

I looked out the windows. Full dark had fallen while we sat in here and relived the agony and horror of the past three weeks. I marveled at the idea. It had really been a very short amount of time. Less than a fucking month and it felt like years.

Wright chuckled. “Time flies…I’d say ‘when you’re having fun,’ but I doubt much of this has been fun.” He hit a button on his recorder. “I’ll upload this to our secure server, make sure we have ample copies. It won’t be lost in the future, of that I can personally guarantee you.”

Willow smiled. “Thank goodness.” Her voice was a little raw from over three straight hours of talking. She raised a hand to cover her yawn. “I’m so sorry, that was rude.”

Wright waved it away. “No, it was rude to ask you to do this at the end of the business day. But I do thank you for doing it right now. I’m going to write up some notes for myself, and then go home to my wife and just hold her.” He stood up, reached across the desk. “Thank you for your bravery, your strength, and your moral code that brought you to report these things the first time around. New Trenadie is a richer city for having you in it.”

Willow stood, as did I, as she took his hand. “I’d hope I wouldn’t be the only one to make the same decisions, but thank you.”

Wright turned to me, hand out.

I leaned forward, shook it. “We’re available tomorrow. Let’s say after twelve noon?” I smiled. “If it’s an emergency, you can call before that. But please make sure the sky is falling before you dial either of our numbers.”

We all chuckled as I led Willow from the office. We took the stairs down the single flight to the ground floor. Cupcake might have been joking about too many elevators. I just couldn’t blame her for it. Way too many elevators the last couple of weeks.

I held the door open for her as we passed out into the night air. Autumn was just getting started, and her nip was a bit fierce. I wrapped my arms around Willow. Neither of us had thought to bring jackets.

With one eye on her, I kept watch over our surroundings. Too many things had happened in too short a time for me to ever take security for granted again. I noted the four silent shadows of the Amatucci soldiers who followed us.

Instead of being butthurt that they thought I couldn’t protect Willow by myself, I welcomed their help. She was more important than my pride. Hands down. No contest.

I got us to the car in short order. Settling her in the front seat, I walked around and slid behind the wheel. I even gave our shadows a couple minutes to get into their own vehicles.

“I’m so surprised, hero.”

I smirked. “About?”

“You being nice to the soldiers. You’re living proof that an old dog can learn new tricks.” She reached over, patted my leg.

I snorted, grabbed her fingers. “I’m not old. And I’ve been on the verge of losing you too many times over the last three weeks to ever be cavalier about extra protection for the rest of our lives.” I planted a kiss in her palm.

She was quiet.

“What’s going on in that head of yours?” I asked softly as we passed the halfway point to home.

“Three weeks. That’s not a lot of time. We’ve already talked about marriage.” Her voice was soft.

I could feel my belly start to twist. “And?”

“And it’s only been three weeks, hero. Are we moving too fast?”

“No.” I made it a short hard statement. “No. Neither of us are fickle or flighty. We’ve been through the worst life has to offer. We know our own minds and hearts. If you want to take longer before we get married, that’s fine. But we will be getting married.” I wanted—needed—that knowledge out there. For her to hear it. I wasn’t going to change my mind. Not about this. Not about her. Not about us.

We were forever.

We were always.

She squeezed my fingers. “But three weeks? I’m sure some of your business negotiations take months, if not years, to work out. Are you sure you want to tie yourself to me for the rest of your natural life on the