Page 72 of Save Me

When the door creaks open again, I tense, expecting another wave of danger to roll over me. But it’s just Cal, slipping back into the room. He pads silently across the floor and eases himself onto the bed beside me. His hands are gentle as he brushes the hair from my face.

“Can’t sleep?” he whispers.

I shake my head, the events of the day still burning bright and brutal in my mind’s eye.

“Hey,” he says softly, pulling me into his arms. “He’s fine. He’s up and downstairs barking orders like a madman.”

“He was shot. What is he doing?”

“Being a leader. A tough guy. Aaron McGowan.”

“No, the correct answer was being an ass.”

Cal chuckles. “That too.”

“I think I love him.”

He weighs that for a moment before he says, “Well, he is your father.”

“I know but I hated him before. He jumped in front of a bullet for me.”

“Have you told him that?”

“Not yet.”

“You should. He wants to hear it.”

“I will. Soon.”

“About this masked party… things have changed a bit.”

“Like what?” I ask, sitting up.

“We aren’t sure it’s necessary right now. Word has spread of what we did to the Vipers, and every fucker in Crestmont is calling at our door wanting in. We achieved what that was meant to do.”

“Okay, but what about Thayer’s heist?”

“He still needs to get the piece from the vault. But just the one now. He went earlier.”

“What?” I exclaim, mad as a snake now. “Without me?”

“He took Haz. It’s fine. We didn’t want to disturb you and the opportunity came up, so he went.”

“Well, what a fucking let-down.”

He smirks. “There will be more heists, princess. You just wait.”

I stare into his eyes and sigh. “If we got married, would I be a Countess?”

He snorts openly, his eyes wide. “You’re thinking about that are you?”

I shrug. “I think Countess Vogue McGowan of Woodhurst has a nice ring to it.”

“What makes you think I’d let you keep your name?”

“Hey, don’t look at me. That’s a beef you’ll have to take up with my dad.”

He looks mock-aghast for a second before he grins. “Countess Vogue McGowan it is.”