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I grit my teeth, my muscles tensing. I hate that he’s asking about her. I don’t even know why I don’t like it.

“Kurt, I’m gonna say this once and once only, stay out of my business.”

He scoffs, widening his stance as he points at me. “Stay out of your business? How the fuck are we meant to do that when you’ve brought us all into it, huh? You’re the one that has us all chasing this guy and you haven’t even seen how your woman is?”

He starts to walk out and I follow him into the pit, my anger rising with each step.

“What the fuck—”

He spins around. “She’s not Emmy,” he grits out, his eyes burning with fire.

The breath leaves me at the mention of her name. He fucking went there, he actually went there. I open my mouth, ready to lay him on his ass but nothing comes out.

He’s right, she isn’t Emmy, but that doesn’t stop me building a wall around myself. It’s better to push people away than have them leave you. At least, that’s what my fucked-up mind keeps telling me.

My eyes move around the pit slowly, taking in all of their faces. He’s right, I’ve involved them all and for a second, I doubt going after Jonny. I’m using all the resources that I can get and I don’t even think twice about it because of my need to protect her.

“One, don’t you fucking say her name to me again… and two, you’re a fucking detective, it’s your job to bring down the bad guys and that’s exactly what he is… so fucking do your job!”

I don’t stay around to hear what he has to say, I barge past him, jogging down the stairs and out of the building, heading straight for my SUV.

The drive to the compound doesn’t take long and as soon as I’m through the gates, I drive as close to Kitty’s place as I can and park. There’s no way that anyone won’t miss my car here, but I don’t care, I need to see her, I need to touch her, to make sure she’s still here, safe and sound.

I head down the path, the flowers lining it a complete contradiction to who she is.

Kitty is the epitome of a badass, she’s hardcore complete with a potty mouth, but she loves the beauty of flowers, she loves spending hours out here, planting new ones and tending to old ones. She may think that I don’t pay attention to her, to all the little things that she does, but I do.

“Kitty?” I call as I walk inside, not hearing an answer back. I head into the living room and then her bedroom.

There she lies, on the bed, her mouth hanging open and a frown on her face as she sleeps. My lips lift up into a smile at the sight of her.

I can’t believe I nearly lost her. Never again. I’ll make sure she knows what she means to me, even if it means I have to let go of something else, because Kitty is here and I need to be present with her and not living in the past.

“Charlie?”

I step forward and crouch down beside the bed, placing my hand on her cheek. My fingers buzz with electricity as I touch her and my stomach flutters. This is exactly where I’m meant to be, right here, with her.

“Hey, Kitty Kat.”

“Hey.” She smiles, her full lips lifting and then dropping as she shuffles on the bed.

“You okay?” I ask, panicked. “Do you need some meds?”

She looks at the clock on her bedside table and grimaces. “Not for another hour.”

I can see the sweat starting to build on her forehead, the pain so apparent that it makes me physically hurt for her. I’ve never been shot myself but I imagine it would hurt like a bitch.

“Have you eaten?” She shakes her head no. “I’ll make you something.”

“I’m not hungry,” she pouts, moving onto her side and groaning at the movement. “I just need to sleep.”

I worry my lip, hating that I don’t know what to do. Ty would know what to do, how to deal with her. I feel like I’ve just entered the unknown and my feet itch to run away, to save myself before the inevitable pain takes hold, the pain of losing her because that’s what will happen. I’ll lose her one day and surely it’s better to lose her now rather than a year down the line when things are so much more intense.

“Charlie?”

“Yeah?” I croak, bringing myself out of my own head.

“Lie with me?” She moves her head to the side, her eyes capturing mine and I nod, slipping my boots off and climbing onto the bed.