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Jack

I had lived a privileged life.

For forty-seven years I’d been surrounded by unrelenting love and friendship.

Raised by proud, driven parents and following in the footsteps of two outspoken sisters who took no prisoners.

I’d befriended a man who’d taken me in as the brother neither of us had expected but always wanted and I’d married my first love.

Tumbling into what was promised to be a lifetime of perfect intimacy and she’d given me the perfect brown-eyed, pink-cheeked little girl.

We’d laughed, loved and travelled in our little familial bubble.

I’d created a company and pushed my passion for matching people with their forever home.

Despite the unpredictability of my mother’s Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis, the devastation of waking to find my wife had passed beside me and managing the fallout whilst raising our daughter alone, nothing could prepare me for the terror I felt watching this unfold.

With every scream and grunt escaping Willow, pain sliced through me, powerless to prevent her struggle. I frantically scrambled forward, desperately trying to push through the interwoven arms and bodies inconveniently blocking me.

My sole focus was where blood pooled around her stomach and onto the floor.

Time stood still as Cain raised the knife in both hands above his head.

Willow’s gaze turned to mine. Words were as unnecessary as they were impossible.

Her eyes confirmed everything I knew, our love was non-negotiable and everlasting.

It was the calm in every storm, and the fire that warmed us from the inside out.

She’d jump-started my heart, turning my world finally again after loss, and I knew that in losing her, it would never turn again. I’d wilt away without Willow Thornton’s sunshine.

I had led a privileged life, but this moment acted like a tsunami, washing a lifetime of joy and happiness away.

A loud crackling sliced through the night, followed by a loud pop and buzz. I jerked for the source of the noise, and when my sight landed back on Willow, I found Cain’s body jerking above her, the knife falling from his grip. Moments dragged as he jolted, then slumped over her body .

The second his body fell, a police officer was revealed, kneeling in the kitchen doorway, a taser between his hands, the probes stretched out and attached to Cain.

Nobody dared to move, like he’d surprise us all and be fine.

Seconds past before Willow released a panicked scream and frantically shifted from under Cain as he continued to writhe over her body.

Eventually, she managed to tip him off her, scrambling from underneath him, crawling to the door like her life depended on it.

Ignoring everything around me, I rushed forward.

She was the only one who mattered, the only reason my blood flowed, and heart continued to beat. I reached her just as she crossed the threshold, crashing to the floor and pulling her into my arms.

“Willow,” I sobbed. “You’re okay, sweetheart. It’s over. You’re safe.” She sobbed into my chest as I rubbed her back with one hand, the other in her hair holding her so close, we fused together.

Police officers buzzed around us, arresting Cain and taking him out the back of the house. Behind me, DS Elms and paramedics hovered, waiting for the appropriate moment to interrupt. As far as I was concerned, it would never come. I would never take Willow’s safety for granted again.

Eventually, her sobs calmed as she wiped her cheeks and nose against my jumper. She looked up at me as she pulled away, allowing me to check her over. She had an ever-growing red stain over one cheek, but it was when we both peered between us that concern grew.

Blood stained my jumper.

She peeled her black T-shirt up her stomach to reveal the TENS machine, the elastic belt covered in blood, the plastic control cracked in two.

I lifted the belt from her skin and found a superficial slice through her skin.

Though painful looking, it was far from the stab wound I was expecting.

We simultaneously puffed air, relieved she was safe and well.

Her gaze returned to mine, her eyes full to the brim of guilt and sadness.

“I’m so sorry, Jack. I’m sorry for everything I said, for taking your care for granted. I’m so sorr—”

I pushed a finger to her lips, cupping her jaw, before she could continue, shaking my head.

“You have nothing to be sorry for, sweetheart. I was a monumental arsehole, you had every right to call me out. I’m so proud of you for standing up for yourself, with me, with him,” I tipped my chin to the space behind her.

“If you’ll have me, if you can forgive me, I want nothing more than for you to put me in my place until we’re old and grey. What do you think?”

A smirk crept up her lips .

“You’re already old and grey, Lamb.” I chuckled, shaking my head at her. “I want that, I want all of it.” Finally, after a long night of holding my heart in hands, I placed it in hers. I crashed my lips to hers and we silently promised never to let go.

Pulling back, I stood and helped her up. “Let’s get you checked over.”

As we approached the open gate, Frannie bulldozed into Willow, flinging her arms around her neck causing Willow to grunt and wince.

“Thank fuck you’re okay,” she sobbed into Willow’s shoulder.

“Be careful, please? For both your sakes,” I requested, though there was no point, it only made them squeeze harder.

Willow pulled back, brushing down Frannie’s arms cautiously, her eyes glued to the cuts now covered with sterile bandages. Her expression crumpled as new tears fell.

“I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault. I should never have—”

“Baby, no—” I started, but my daughter huffed significantly louder.

“No. You don’t get to do that. You saved my life, and you saved yours. Can’t you see how far you’ve come?” She paused, briefly glancing at me before returning to Willow. “The fact you fought for yourself, for me, for my dad? That means more than you’ll ever know.”

I stroked Willow’s back as they shared another tearful hug, choking back my own tears, thankful that my small, imperfectly perfect little family was safe.

With the pressure released of Cain, we could begin our future, figure out our relationship without the confines of a stalker. I had no expectations for what the future held, but I had a sneaky suspicion that with Willow, I’d be completely obsessed with whatever we created.