Page 68 of Risking it All

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“I came to apologize to you.”

I shook my head. “You don’t have to do that.”

“Yes, I do. I’m so sorry for any pain my rejection might have caused you. I wasn’t rejecting you. I was rejecting the system. I was rejecting my family. You know I’ve always cared about you, but I fell in love.”

“You cared so much, but you threw me aside and never looked back.”

“You’re right. It was selfish of me to cancel our arrangement without considering what would happen to you. I should have at least made sure you were good.”

“Thank you for saying that, but that’s neither here nor there now, is it? I’m on the run.”

“What you running from, mama?” Sawyer asked, stepping out of the back door.

I didn’t realize that I was moving until I jumped in his arms and wrapped my legs around his waist.

“I thought I lost you, Sawyer.” I cried, burying my face in his neck.

“I had to come back to you, Z. Our story isn’t over yet. It’s just getting started.”

I lifted my head, attacking his lips with mine as he carried me back through the house.

“Fuck, I missed you, mama. Which way is your room, baby?”

“All the way down the hall.”

It only took a few long strides for us to make it to the room. Sawyer clawed at his belt as soon as he stepped inside. He bumped the door closed with his hip before moving closer to the bed.

“I don’t know how much longer everybody else will be gone, Saw. We have to be quiet.”

“I paid five million dollars for this pussy. I’ma be as loud as I want to,” he said, laying me on the bed and hovering over me.

My eyes stretched at his revelation. “They accepted your payment?” I asked.

“Yep.”

I grabbed his face, almost smothering him with kisses. When I pulled back, I noticed him wince before he could catch himself.

“What is it, baby?”

He shook his head. “Nothing.”

“Sawyer, what’s wrong?”

“Just a little flesh wound. I’m perfectly fine.”

“What do you mean a flesh wound, Sawyer? What’s a flesh wound?” I probed.

Backing up, he stood beside the bed and continued to unbutton his pants. “I got hit in the shoulder, but it’s nothing major. I was able to secure you and the twins’ freedom. I paid the board five million dollars each for you and the twins.”

“What about Zara, baby? Were you able to find her?”

“I’m sorry, mama. It was too late for her. Apparently, Zahad had already married her off to buy himself time until you turned up. They were going to kill him because they felt like he was hiding you two and playing games after making so many promises to different families. My dad and his people were able to track her down. From what I could find out, she’s good.”

“So, I’m free?” I asked, taking a shuddered breath as the gravity of his words weighed on me.

“You’re free, mama.”