headlines.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing? Step down, Summers. It’s an order.”
“I don’t take orders from you or anyone else any longer. I quit my fucking job today. I’m tired of being used by cowards like you.” The deep sense of satisfaction that surged through me confirmed that I’d made the right decision to quit.
“I don’t really care what you do with your fucked up life, but if you didn’t notice, there was a wedding taking place. How dare you burst in here, threaten us and cause havoc?” Parker went red in the face as he spat the words at me. Yet I didn’t miss the edge of fear in his voice.
The fool was baiting me. As much as adrenaline was pumping through my veins, I stayed in control. Years of training were paying off. I sneered at him, putting an end to his false bravado.
“Not in this lifetime. I have evidence of how your bride came to the island. I know about all your dirty secrets. Every single one of them. You better start praying, Senator, and hope your god is listening.”
Chapter 41 — Eva
Harrison stood in the doorway, and for a few seconds, while he probably assumed nobody saw him, his mask slipped just long enough for me to see the weary expression on his face. My heart squeezed for the man who had orchestrated my rescue. I owed him big time. From what Ryder had told me, he’d put everything on the line to find me.
But still, I needed more from him. I never wanted the sense of abandonment that left a bitter taste in my mouth again; it would always haunt me.
When Ryder told me he was going to arrange a room for me to change in before we flew home, anxiety at being left by myself even for a short space of time took over, and my palms went clammy and my throat tight as I watched him walk off. I’d sunk deeper into the luxurious chair, small and alone.
Swiping a hand over his face, he composed himself and met my gaze. Even from the distance I could see the fire in his eyes as he took long strides toward me. He looked so damn good; his skin was slightly sunburned, and he had a shorter than usual haircut that somehow made him look younger.
God, I miss him.
The familiar frown was still in place though. He wouldn’t be Harrison without it.
“Eva, ba—” He hesitated for a few seconds. “Are you okay?”
Raking his gaze over my body and back to my eyes, he drank in every detail of my appearance, including the frothy dress, yet he didn’t touch me.
I burned to launch myself into his arms, to feel his hard body against mine, his kisses raining down on me. Instead, I nodded, not tearing my eyes off him.
“Yeah. I’m alive, right?”
A lopsided smile graced his face, softening it the tiniest fraction. “You are, and I’m glad.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice breaking and croaky with emotion. How does one thank the man who saved your life with mere words?
“It’s my job to save people. You owe me nothing.” His tone was brusque, the half-smile gone.
“No?”
“No.”
“Right. Justice, huh?”
“Exactly.”
“So you would have done it regardless of who the victim was?”
“Um . . . yeah, I would.”
Oh, the brutal honesty.
You’re a damn fool, Eva. Nothing has changed.
“Okay. Thanks for clearing that up for me.”
A puzzled look crossed his face. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, just that I’m very lucky you take your job so seriously,” I said on a shaky breath, casting my eyes down so he couldn’t see the hurt in them.
My head jerked up when Savage barged through the doors seconds later while talking on his phone. His voice carried over the large silent space to where Harrison and I were.
“We’ve packed the media reporters back home. They don’t have any footage of today’s events. Not even from before we arrived.”
Thank God. I could kiss Lucas Savage. As soon as I was able, I was burning the fucking dress and hopefully every painful memory with it.
As soon as he saw me, Savage shoved his phone into his pocket and grabbed both my upper arms, pulling me roughly to him. He hugged me as if we were long-lost family.
“Thank fuck we made it in time. Lover boy would have killed himself if we didn’t.”
Harrison groaned. “Shut the fuck up, man.”
“What the hell is wrong with you? Why are the two of you even standing here just looking