Page 57 of Freeing Denver

“Angelina Luxe,” Denver whispers, her eyes saucer wide as she looks at me. “That’s Ranger’s first wife.”

“You’re incredibly brave,coming back to this house,” Ranger says, his voice low as he considers his ex-wife with a level beyond disdain.

People left soon after Angelina’s arrival. Denver and I are still sitting on the couch, and she remains close to me, her grip on my hand tightening with every second.

Everyone thought Angelina Luxe was dead. She left in the middle of the night with her bodyguard who was also her lover, and no one saw her again. It seemed fairly obvious that Ranger followed them, killed them, and didn’t bother to come up with a cover story because he’d never see jail time for it, anyway.

But she’s here, in the flesh, looking beyond rageful.

She paces the room frantically, and the man who came with her, Dawson, never lets her out of his sight. He’s tall, with curly blond hair, and his face is set into stone when he answers Ranger. “You didn’t exactly give us a choice. You didn’t even tell us Axel had died.”

“I’m not in the habit of keeping in touch with the man who fucked my wife and took her in the middle of the night,” Ranger bites back.

Angelina skids to a halt. “Took me? I escaped this fucking hellhole.” She looks at Denver. “I can’t believe you married Nico’s daughter.”

Denver tilts her head. “I have a name.” It’s the most Denver-like thing she’s said in days, and I bask in the strength she’s regaining, regardless of the reason why.

“Yes, you do,” Angelina says, her tone sickly sweet. “Mrs. Ranger Luxe. Except she’s not, is she, Ranger?”

Denver looks at him. “What does she mean?”

Ranger says nothing, and Angelina steps forward. “We’re still legally married.”

Holy fucking shit.

Denver sits up. “But … you were gone for years before I even met Ranger. Doesn’t a marriage just … dissolve?”

“If you file a missing person’s report,” Angelina says. “But why would Ranger do that when he knew exactly where I was?”

“And where have you been?” Danielle asks. She isn’t by Ranger’s side, but she isn’t far, as if defending him earlier has pulled forth some sibling need to protect him. It doesn’t sit right with me, but I say nothing.

Angelina lifts her chin. “Protecting myself from being married to a monster.”

“And leaving your son behind,” Danielle bites back.

Angelina lifts her chin. “You have no idea what it was like being married to him. You have no clue what my life was.”

Denver shakes her head and looks at me. “Can we go home?”

I nod, returning my weapon to its holster. She takes my hand, and we walk by Angelina. Danielle follows us.

“Denver,” Ranger calls out, and she stops. Her grip on my hand doesn’t change when he looks at her the way he does—with desperation. “Don’t go.”

Angelina looks shell-shocked, as if she’s seeing a side of Ranger she thought could never exist. I know the feeling. Ranger’s reputation is one of callousness, brutality, a ruthless rise to power in a world filled with people who wanted to take him down. He’s survived everything, but all that falls to pieces when it comes to Denver. It’s almost admirable how he’s willing to give it all up for her, how he adores her beyond reason. I understand it. I live it.

But I also know she deserves more than he could ever give her.

“There’s nothing left for me here,” Denver says. “There hasn’t been for a long time.”

Chapter 16

Colt

Ikiss Denver’s knuckles, and her smile is small, but it’s there. Before we left San Francisco, we made a quick stop in the city, but now we’re almost home.

Danielle decided to stay behind, so I called Cain before we left and made sure two of his men could stay with her. She said she needed space from the city. It’s understandable, but I still wish she was close enough for me to keep an eye on her.

As the plane lands, Denver noticeably relaxes. I’m glad New York feels more like home to her. It was never going to be easy moving here, not when her entire life and memories with Axel and her parents are so far away.