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She disappeared into the room as the twins rushed upstairs, sandwiching both of us in their arms, as they started their lecture.

“We should be mad at you for not taking our advice.”

“But because of this stupid stunt, he’ll be in jail for the foreseeable future.”

“And if he ever comes back…” Yu whispered.

Ri finished, “We’ll destroy him.”

Dad was waiting outside for the twins and Echo, promising to come by the next day to check on us. I relaxed, knowing the danger to them had passed.

The minute Donovan left in handcuffs, the rest of the police started taking pictures of the damage and collecting witness statements.

And all of it a buzzing in my head as the adrenaline waned, leaving me a weeping, clingy mess. We gave our statements, including Donovan’s threats in horrific detail. The pitying looks they sent my way after the detectives watched the entire play through of the event made me want to hide. But for the moment, the security footage and recording turned out to be enough testimony for them.

Graham called for a window replacement and after paying a handsome fee for same day service, the window was as good as new.

Unable to be away from me… who’s kidding whom here, with me clinging to him with no sign of letting go; we locked up the house, making sure we secured the new window and set the alarm. He carried me into our room and locked us in our sanctuary.

There were several scenarios I expected from Graham the moment we were alone. Yelling about how I’d armed myself, ready to put myself in danger, which was the stupidest idea I’ve ever had. Or silence as the most analytical man I knew contemplated every scenario that might have played out, which would include several where I met my demise. But my vote was our intense need to prove both of us were alive and unscathed, which played out in my head as a mad scramble to get naked before he claimed me in every way possible, while marking my skin with love bites and beard burn.

“Sweetheart, I know what you’re thinking.”

“Huh?”

“What?”

“You don’t sound like you’re mad at me.”

“Why would I be mad at you?”

I’d no clue how to answer the question, so I gaped at him. My jaw dropped and I’m uncertain, but my eyes were wide and unblinking, so I must have looked like a lunatic.

Graham cupped my face and met my lips with a scorching kiss. I clutched at his shirt and savored the way his lips parted mine, the sweep of his tongue inside, which stirred my pure need for the man. When we kissed, reality fell away, and for me, my concentration centered on the ways he could splinter me apart before reconstructing me.

We broke apart, both gasping for air, as he placed his forehead against mine.

“I’m so damn proud of you. You kept your focus, even when he stood mere feet from you, threatening everyone you love. Although fear seeped into me, making me weak the moment you grabbed the hammer, I knew you were a fighter. But you’ve experienced enough violence to last you a lifetime, and that’s why I intervened.”

“And it’s why I kicked him. I would protect the twins, and Echo, and Hensley, and my parents with all my limited power. But when I saw the hate reflected in his eyes as he stared at you, I recognized and accepted the dark part of myself in an instant.”

Graham beamed at me. “There’s the man I fell in love with.”

“What?”

A chuckle escaped his throat, and he brushed his lips against mine before he explained.

“You’re much stronger than you give yourself credit for. Instead of making excuses for what Donovan put you through, you learned it wasn’t your fault, exposed yourself to your audience, and channeled it into something positive by teaching them the signs of an abusive relationship.”

I blinked back tears and shook my head. “You… it’s because of you…”

“No, sweetheart, you are fierce, and brilliant. I was fortuitous enough to have met you that night and helpless to stay away. But I’m not the reason you fought back.”

All those times I wished for a partner, a man who loved me for who I was and what I strove to become in the future, never could I have dreamed of Graham. Many times I’ve thought he was too everything; perfect, beautiful, kind, but through it all, he’d been mine and I, his.

Our connection and love was unconditional, and it took me until that moment to realize there was nothing I could do or say, and trust me, I’ve said some outlandish shit in Graham’s presence, that could drive him away.

“Fuck!”