Page 223 of Beyond the Blue Horizon

“I feel safe, Theo. Safe here with you.”

“That’s because it’s you and me now. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“And Finn?” I needed to hear him say it again.

For him to claim this.

Us.

Old wounds flashed through his expression, ones I couldn’t quite place, and he swallowed hard. “Think that kid broke me wide open the first time I looked at him.”

My nod was tremorous. “I do need your help with something,” I told him.

“Anything.”

“Your uncle…Dr. Reynolds?”

Theo gave me a guilty smirk. “Not really my uncle.”

A soft puff of laughter rolled out of me. “I know. Emery told me about the day she found out about Kane after he’d been shot, and Dr. Reynolds took care of him.”

“He’s a good man. Risks his practice, license, and likely his freedom to help the women and children we protect.”

“Would he see Finn?”

Worry ripped through Theo. “Is something wrong with him?”

I shook my head. “No. He’s just…the only medical care he’s ever received is from different urgent cares where I paid cash. He’s never had someonereallytake care of him.”

Nelly had helped deliver him in a motel room. He didn’t have a birth certificate or a social security number. No real record of his existence except for the things I made up when I’d gone into different urgent cares.

God, it was all such a mess, and I didn’t know how I’d ever truly dig us out of it.

Theo cupped my jaw with his palm, his thumb stroking the apple of my cheek as he stared at me. The reflection of the flames lapped in his moonlit eyes. “This is his home now, Piper. Your home. Nelly’s home. And I’m going to see to it that you’re taken care of. In every single way.”

“How did I find this place, Theo? In all the places we’ve gone through the years? How did I end up here with you?” The awe flooded out of me as I traced my fingers over his plush lips.

He wrapped his hand around my wrist, and he swept the gentlest kisses over the tips of my fingers. “Because it’s where you belong. With me. You don’t have to be afraid. Not anymore. Not ever again. Because I’m always going to be with you.”

He brought my hand to the thunder of his heart. “You’re safe now.”

FORTY-FOUR

THEO

I always thoughtthe view of the lake from my balcony was the paragon of beauty. Whether summer or winter, nothing could compete with the vast, shimmering lake and dense forest that surrounded it. Backed by the gorgeous mountains with their summits and peaks that stood proud in the sky, tucking the endless blue waters in this breathtaking valley.

I was wrong.

Completely fucking wrong because there was no contest when it came to Piper.

And now that beauty was her backdrop. The woman sitting curled and wrapped in a blanket on my lap with the flickering flames dancing around her.

The warmth reflected against the contours and shape of her unforgettable face.

Stunning.

Rip the breath from my lungs and bring me to my knees stunning.