The Hero She Deserves - Page 89

She gripped his wrist. “Sawyer, I can’t lose you.”

“Not going to happen.” He pulled her closer and pressed his forehead to hers. “I’m not going anywhere.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

He barely paid any attention to Vander and his team corralling Reuben and his goons.

Sawyer was focused solely on Hollis.

Worry lined her face, and she kept touching him, her hands shaking. Her gaze was locked on his bloody shoulder and the knife still piercing his skin.

“I’m really going to be okay,” he told her.

“You got stabbed, and it’s all my fault.”

“Don’t say that,” he growled. “It’s Reuben’s fault. And I’d take a hundred knives to protect you.”

Her teeth sank into her bottom lip.

“I’m not leaving you,” he murmured. “If you give me the chance, I’ll never leave you.”

Her beautiful blue eyes widened, and her lips parted.

This felt like the biggest risk he’d ever taken. He’d leaped from planes, been in too many firefights to count, gone on the most dangerous missions, but this moment felt the scariest.

“You…live in Maui,” she said. “I live in LA.”

“Hollis, I don’t care about geography.” He dragged in a deep breath. “I love you.”

The air shuddered out of her. “You do?”

In those quiet words, he heard the little girl who’d just wanted to be loved. Who’d been let down by so many people.

“I do. I don’t care about your movies or Oscars, I loveyou.”

“Really?” she whispered.

“You ever known me to lie?”

“Never. You’re the best, most honest man I’ve ever met.” She dragged in a deep breath. “I love you too, Sawyer. So much it terrifies me.”

She loved him. Hell. He felt lightheaded. He pulled her closer. “You don’t need to be afraid. I’ll always protect you, care for you, and love and adore you.”

“Sawyer…”

He kissed her, and he tasted salt. He realized tears were streaming down her face.

Suddenly, she jerked back. “Oh God, your injury.”

“Don’t worry. I’m sure Vander’s got a good first aid kit at the office.”

“What?” Her eyes went wide. “No way, Sawyer Lane. You’re going to the hospital. What if you have internal bleeding? What if you’ve cut a tendon or something? I amnotlosing you. We’re going to the hospital.”

“Ambulance is on the way,” Vander said from nearby.

“Aw, hell,” Sawyer complained. But he wanted to put Hollis at ease. If going to the hospital did that, he’d go.

“If you love me, you’ll do this,” she said. “Please.”