He’d given me a few updates on Holloway before understanding that I didn’t want to know, but every now and then he continued to update me on how Teagan was doing . . . wherever they had her hidden. He’d let slip that Mickey’s charges had been dropped but hadn’t brought it up again when he’d seen the fear and worry that had nearly consumed me, knowing that Mickey might come looking for me to lock me up in that prison again.
Not once had Beck mentioned Kieran, and I wasn’t sure if I was thankful for that or not. For the most part we just sat there, and I tried to ignore the deep sadness and betrayal that lingered in his eyes when he looked at me.
Not that it stopped him from coming.
Dare pressed another scrap of paper into my palm, forcing me to bite my lip in an attempt to contain my smile. “Another one?”
His teeth flashed with his brief smile before he went back to tracing patterns on my stomach, and when I opened the piece of paper, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
The note was in my handwriting, and was from the morning I’d slipped out of the house, sure I would never see him again.
“You kept this?”
He dipped his head in a nod, the corner of his mouth twitching into a brief grin. “When I found it, I remember thinking I’d gladly love you forever. A few days later I was packing up everything to move back here and saw it, and I realized what you’d really been asking when you left me this. At that point, I’d already spent nearly every waking moment trying to figure out how to move on from you.” He glanced up at me and said, “Took another couple days not only to understand I couldn’t, but I didn’t want to.”
“I know the feeling,” I whispered. “It’s terrifying realizing you’re lying in your greatest enemy’s arms. Even more so when you realize you never want to leave because you’ve never felt safer, and he has the ability to touch your soul.”
His eyes darkened with some emotion I couldn’t place as he dropped his head to press a tender kiss on my stomach. Reaching up, he pushed another piece of paper in my palm.
A laugh tumbled from my lips, excitement thrumming in my veins at what would be next. But as soon as I opened the paper, my breath caught. After a painful pause my heart started up again and began racing as I read the paper over and over again.
“Dare,” I whispered, lowering the paper to look at him. Tears pricked my eyes and my mouth fell open when I saw a large diamond ring resting on my belly.
“The baby and I want to know if you’ll spend the rest of your life with me.”
Tears slipped down my cheeks as I nodded. “Of course I will.”
A wide smile burst across his face as he grabbed my hand and slid the ring onto my finger, that same unknown emotion swirling in his eyes. Some mix of pride and excitement and desire . . .
“Don’t ever leave,” he begged, his voice soft as he lifted himself higher so he was hovering over me, his lips a breath away from my own.
“Anywhere I go, I’ll be waiting for you to find me lighting up the dark.”
The corner of his mouth tipped up in a quick, perfectly crooked smirk. “Goddamn firefly.”
Watch for more Redemption novels, coming soon from Molly McAdams
Nightshade
Coming soon from New York Times bestselling author, Molly McAdams . . .
The hardened assassin who lost everything, and the girl who sweeps into his life like a chaotic storm of heartache, seduction, and intrigue. She’s everything he hates, but with one look, he can’t stay away . . . with one touch, she ignites a craving unlike anything he’s ever known. Now he’ll do whatever it takes to protect her from the heartless man he’s spent a lifetime obeying.
Click here for your NIGHTSHADE sneak peek!
Other Redemption novels
Blackbird
Cory – I can’t thank you enough for how much you helped me with this story. I know I was a lot to handle, and I can’t imagine what it was like for you having to listen to me while I endlessly changed this story. Thank you for always being there. Thank you for all your help. Thank you for being the best husband ever.
Molly Lee and AL Jackson – The other half of my #MollySquared and my BB! Honestly couldn’t have finished this story without the two of you. Thank you for everything. All the plotting. All the encouragement. Just being there. So thankful to have y’all in my life. I love you both so much.
Rachel “Cruz” Elliott – Thank you, thank you, thank you for being the best seestor. You’ve helped with this entire series so much that I’ll never be able to thank you enough.
Sarah Cook – You are seriously one of the strongest women I know. I’m so in awe of you, and have been so moved by you during this time. As you already know, this story is for you. Your light is coming. I know it is. But I love more than anything that you hold fast to the knowledge that Aaron got to spend the rest of his wonderful life loving you.
Jill Sava – What would I do without you? You’ve helped me so much in the last year, that there are just no words. You’re incredible. You’re a genius. You’re the best at everything you do, and you always go above and beyond. I know, I know. I’ll stop crying. Sheesh.
Letitia, Malia, Marion, Karen, and Julie – Thank you for being the amazing women who help me make this series come to life. From the cover to the illustrations to the editing to the formatting. You’re all so amazing and I’m beyond grateful for all the hard work you do.
Molly grew up in California but now lives in the oh-so-amazing state of Texas with her husband, daughter, and fur babies. When she's not diving into the world of her characters, some of her hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, traveling, and long walks on the beach … which roughly translates to being a homebody with her hubby and dishing out movie quotes. She has a weakness for crude-humored movies and fried pickles, and loves curling up in a fluffy comforter during a thunderstorm . . . or under one in a bathtub if there are tornadoes. That way she can pretend they aren't really happening.
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