Page 26 of Forbidden Confessions, Volume 2 (The Forbidden Volumes #1)

“ I saw that guy you work with finally leave. Did he stay last night to fuck you?” The way he leers at me tells me the idea excites him. “Is your little hole sore?”

“You’re disgusting.”

He laughs. “I’ll make it even sorer. I’m going to tear you up. Douglas Hartley’s little princess’s last thought will be of her aching, violated pussy.”

Suddenly, he’s yanked off of me and tossed across the room with a growl so low and guttural I’m not sure it’s even human.

Rush!

He looks murderous as my assailant crashes against my dresser with a thud, then hits his head on the wall. But that doesn’t stop the intruder from whipping his weapon up at Rush, pointing it right at his face.

But Rush is faster, and his barrel is already pressed to the man’s forehead. “I dare you to try it, Dunne.”

The thug pales. “You’re not a security guard. You work for Hartley, don’t you?”

“Oh, yeah. He taught me most of what I know. And since he isn’t here to kill you for touching Vanessa, I will.”

I don’t know what I’m expecting. Maybe something more like the movies where Rush extracts a confession from the bad guy about how they’re conducting their nefarious activities and why before the villain pleads for his life.

Then the hero relents because he’s the bigger man and the police take my attacker away once and for all. But that’s not what happens.

Rush just pulls the trigger.

Blood and brains splatter all over my bedroom wall.

I scream, then start to shake. Did that really just happen? Yes, and I feel like I’m going to throw up.

Then Rush takes my chin in his hand and forces my gaze to his, pinning me with his stare. “Are you okay?”

I give him a shaky nod. “I-I think.”

“Did he hurt you?”

“N-no.”

“Good. Stay here. Don’t look at him.”

I’ve barely registered the words when he releases me, then yanks the bent curtain rod from the slider’s doorframe and charges out to my back patio, weapon drawn.

I see a puddle of blood on the cement and hear cursing, followed by what sounds like Rush dragging the man whose foot I shot across the patio.

Then he’s back inside my bedroom. “There were no others, right?”

“Not that I-I know of.”

The murderous rage slides off his face, and he comes to a skidding stop on his knees in front of me. “I’m sorry, little girl. So, so sorry.”

When he opens his arms, I launch myself into them, feeling safe and warm and grateful. He holds me close. Tears I don’t want come. I’m still trembling uncontrollably.

He gathers up my comforter and wraps it around me, cocooning me as he holds and soothes me, crooning to me like he would a child.

“I’m here. And I’ll never let anything happen to you, Vanessa.

You’re my everything. My world, the air I breathe, the heart beating in my chest. I’ll always keep you safe. You know that, right?”

I don’t know much right now, but deep down, under the anger I don’t feel anymore, I know that’s true. Rush just proved that he would move heaven and earth for me. “Yes.”

“Good.” He peppers kisses on my cheeks as he cradles my face in his hands and stares into my eyes. “And you know why I’d do that, don’t you? I said it this morning while I was still deep inside you. You remember?”

How could I forget? “Yes.”

“Tell me why. Tell me what I said.”

“You love me.”

“That’s right.” He caresses my face gently and presses a kiss to my lips.

“And you love me, too, don’t you? I know we had a fight, and I’m sorry I wasn’t honest sooner, but I couldn’t be.

I wanted to be, but Bryan Russell and his pal Harold Dunne have been using the hotel to distribute drugs and government secrets all across southeast Florida and beyond. ”

“Our manager Bryan Russell?”

“Yes.”

If Dunne was inside with me, then… “Is that whose foot I shot?”

“Yep. You did great. You kept him from hurting you and from running away. We’ve been on the cusp of catching them doing something illegal for weeks.

But I couldn’t tell you. I couldn’t jeopardize the mission.

And I didn’t want to scare you. You’re everything to me.

Please believe me. I don’t want to be without you. ”

“I know.” And I do. I feel that in the way he’s holding me and staring into my eyes as if nothing else matters.

“You still love me?”

My earlier anger is gone. Only truth lies in its place. “I’ve loved you since I was sixteen. I can’t stop. Even when I hated you an hour ago, I still loved you. I was just too hurt and scared to admit it.”

I don’t know how I’ll handle being in love with a spy, but I grew up as the daughter of one. I guess I’ll deal with it like I always have. One day at a time.

A big smile creases his face. “I think I fell in love that night, too, with that pretty little girl in a pink prom dress. And I’m going to love you until the day I die.”

Tears fall then. I’m not sure if it’s the ebb of my adrenaline or the sincerity of his words, but I bury my face in his neck and cling to him. Rush brings me closer, his arms tightening around me, as he rocks back and forth, doing his best to settle me.

“What’s going on here?” barks a deep voice I’d know anywhere.

I raise my head and look over Rush’s shoulder. “Daddy?”

He’s standing in the threshold of my bedroom, dressed in head-to-toe black, clutching a gun and wearing a forbidding glower.

“You’re back,” I breathe as I scramble to my feet and right my robe.

He takes in the scene, then his stare lands on Rush, who’s already on his feet, hovering protectively beside me.

“Sit rep?” Daddy snaps.

“I put a bullet in Dunne’s head after he threatened to rape and kill Vanessa.”

“Good riddance.” Then he turns to me with a gentler expression. “You okay, baby?”

“Thanks to Rush.” I take his hand in mine and squeeze.

“Just before that, Vanessa shot Russell in the foot when he tried to break in through the slider back there.” Rush gestures with his thumb over his shoulder. “I zip-tied him to the post of the patio cover.”

“Good, but I gathered that already. I meant you two.” Daddy points to us. “You’re in love?”

“Yes.” I clutch Rush’s hand even tighter.

“Garrison?”

Beside me, Rush tenses. “Yes, sir?”

“You’re in love with my daughter?”

“Yes, sir. And I know you told me never to touch her, but?—”

“But you did. I heard something about unauthorized sexual contact. Explain.”

“Daddy!” I’m mortified. “Stop. I love him.”

“I know. I heard you the first time, baby. Right now, I’m talking to him.” He points at Rush. “What do you have to say?”

“Vanessa is mine in every way, and I don’t regret a thing. She may, even now, be pregnant. I didn’t do a damn thing to prevent it because I intend to marry her if she’ll have me. I don’t need your consent, sir…but I’d like it.”

Daddy is quiet for a long, almost painful moment. Rush is nervous. I can tell when he slips an arm around me and brings me closer, like he’s afraid I’ll slip away. And I’m holding my breath, wondering what my father will say.

“So you’re taking full responsibility for her?”

Rush nods. “For the rest of my life.”

Suddenly, a big smile breaks out across Daddy’s face. “It’s about damn time.”

“What?” Rush explodes in a surge of breath.

Daddy’s smile becomes a laugh. “After that prom, I knew Vanessa was in love with you. She talked about you all the time—for years. She kept tabs on you through friends and social media, just like a good spy.” He winks.

“When you were first promoted up to my team, I put you through hell to see what you were made of. To see if you were good enough for my daughter. Then I put you in charge of protecting her and I watched you. Honestly, I didn’t think you’d last a single day without putting your hands on her. ”

If there’s a word to describe being more than mortified, I’m that right now. “Daddy!”

“Seven months, sir, ” Rush growls. “Seven long, agonizing months. And you’re telling me all this time you not only approved but you wanted me to be with Vanessa?”

He shrugs. “I’m not going to live forever.

Hell, I’m probably already too old for spy games now, but the idea of teaching recruits gives me hives and I’m not quite ready to quit doing what I love.

Besides, it’s possible younger and stronger will get the jump on me first. I’ll go out in a blaze of glory, in service to my country and all that good stuff.

But, either way, I wanted to make sure Vanessa was in good hands first.”

“Daddy…” I rush to his side and hug him. He’s never been a physically affectionate person, but I know he loves me. And I don’t want to think of life without him.

He kisses the top of my head, then I turn to see my father and my boyfriend share a glance. They understand each other.

“You have my consent and my blessing,” Daddy says. “But if she could be pregnant, make it fast.”

Rush approaches and pulls me into his embrace before he escorts me into the living room, where Kitty Pie pokes her head out from under the sofa with wide, startled eyes and a hiss before disappearing again.

Poor baby. I’ll soothe her with milk and treats later.

Then I’m only thinking about Rush. He sits me on the sofa and kneels in front of me, taking my hands. I sense Daddy hovering at the edge of the room. I can’t see him exactly, but I know he’s there.

Isn’t that a metaphor for most of my life?

Rush swallows. “This isn’t how I wanted to ask you, little girl. I wanted to feed you an amazing dinner and take you someplace romantic, maybe the beach, and find the right words to?—”

“Yes.” Tears fill my eyes. “If you’re asking me to marry you, the answer is yes.”

“Really?”

I nod. “I’d love nothing more. How soon can we get married?”

My heart is still racing from the attack, my bedroom wall is splattered with blood, and I’m getting engaged in my bathrobe. None of this is how I imagined this moment would be. But somehow, it’s perfect because it’s us. Real and messy and dangerous and absolutely right.

My father is already on his phone. “There’s a flight to Vegas this evening. I’ve got a clean-up crew coming. They’ll haul Dunne’s body away and put Russell in custody. Then you can pack a quick bag and be married by tonight.”

I don’t have a dress or a venue. I haven’t selected flowers, music, or cake. I haven’t told any of my friends. I don’t even have a ring. But does any of that matter more than having my father walk me down the aisle to marry the love of my life? “I like it.”

“I love it.” Rush lifts my hands to his mouth, kissing my fingers before he brushes his lips across mine. “I have to call my family, but I’m sure they’ll come.”

I feel the restraint in his touch. He wants to devour me, but he’s aware of my father standing and watchful nearby.

Daddy taps his screen a few more times, then smiles. “Booked. We need to be at the airport in six hours.”

“I’ll pack your things for you so you don’t have to go into your bedroom. We’ll move you out when we get back and—” Rush sighs. “I’m not thinking straight. You need a ring. Now. I want to put one on your finger this morning.”

The look on his face tells me he wants to make love to me, too. I tingle in anticipation just thinking about it. But my father is mere feet away…

When I look up to offer some feeble excuse about why Rush and I need to be alone before the wedding, Daddy is already gone. And my fiancé is already pressing his lips to mine hungrily, as if he’ll never get enough. I sigh into his kiss, feeling so glad because I never will, either.

Want another Forbidden Confession ? See the oldest Garrison brother claim his barely legal obsession…