Page 70 of The Professor

He frowned. “How do you know about Sadie?”

“Dalton told me.” I shook my head. “I’m so sorry, that’s such a terrible thing to happen. A tragedy.”

“An unnecessary tragedy created by an asshole who is now six feet under.”

“I’m glad.”

“Me, too.”

“Was he the first you murdered?”

“Killed. I’m not a murderer, none of us are. We kill those who need to be removed from society.”

I nodded slowly and sat up a little. “So how many people have you killed?”

“Does it matter?”

“I suppose not.”

He was quiet for a moment, then, “I don’t know exactly how many have died from my bullet.” He stroked my hair. “So let’s just say there are a fair few skeletons in my closet. I’ve been running this show for a while now.”

“You’re the boss?”

“We don’t really have a boss, but I guess since I started Galahad, with first Mitch and then the twins, I get a big say in what goes down in Rose Cottage and with our hits.”

“Hits?”

He ran his hand from my throat to my right nipple, circled it. “You got a problem with this whole thing in the hard light of day?”

“No. Not at all.” My nipple tightened. “And I’m one of you now.”

“In more ways than one.” He switched his attention to my other nipple.

“What you said, last night.” I studied his face.

“About?”

“About…that…you said you loved me.”

He stilled.

“Was it just in the moment? Was it because you were about to fuck me?”

“No.” He sat and slipped his arms around me. “No, it wasn’t because I was about to fuck you. I said it because it’s true.” He paused. “For a long time it was lust, obsession, fascination, a longing that I thought would rip my soul out in the dead of the night. But now I know it’s love. The thought of not being with you, not holding you, keeping you safe, having you as mine, I can’t stand that. I don’t want it. And if that is love, then yes, I am so in love with you I feel like my heart might burst with it.”

“Andrew.” I pushed his hair back from his brow and studied his eyes. “I love you, too. I’ll never want another man, only you. Forever.”

“That was the right thing to say, babe.” He kissed me deeply, then flipped me over.

And then he was inside me, deep, and riding us both to a morning orgasm that joined us in so many ways.

An hour later we were in the kitchen eating eggs. Trixie had cooked up a big breakfast for everyone. Cillian, Phil, Dalton, and Mitch were there discussing how things had gone down the night before.

I thanked my lucky stars these guys knew what they were doing. I’d shot a man, and they’d covered my tracks.

And Mitch, he might be a cop, but he’d looked deep into my eyes and told me I’d done the right thing and I must never have a moment of guilt about it.

“Smells good.” Bridget walked in wearing pajamas covered in teddy bears. “Any going spare?”