Chapter 36

THIRTY-SIX

Phoenix

I tucked Laura into the bed, wrapping the duvet round her and sliding beside her. She'd barely spoken since our intense session, so I'd carried her into the cabin, cleaned us up and soothed her.

She shivered beneath the duvet, my arms covering her as I petted her hair, waiting for sleep to claim her.

I'd told her I loved her.

I tried not to let the fact she hadn't said it back grate on me. Giving into the attraction had come much later for her than I, it didn't mean she wouldn't get there. Plus, she'd been in no fit state to say anything after we'd fucked.

Silken strands of hair slipped between my fingers, her breathing settling as she warmed back up. Soon, her breathing settled into a slow, rhythmic beat, and I wallowed in my self pity for just a little longer.

I could only hope she'd get to where I was. Because I was all in for her.

Soaking up her sweet presence, I let my mind wander to the place I'd been trying so hard to distract her from.

Massimo .

Despite being as off the radar as I could, I knew his poisonous claws ran deep in Scotland. If he set his heart on it, he wouldn't settle until we were both dead.

Laura's cheeks flushed, her eyelashes fluttering against them as she sank into a deeper sleep.

Grabbing a hoodie and jogging pants, I headed for the kitchen, making myself a strong cup of coffee. Taking a sip, I screwed up my nose and promptly spat the horrible liquid into the sink.

Urgh. Why were people so obsessed with that?

I swilled my mouth out with water and topped up a glass.

With the storm picking up, we were anchored for the night, but sleep felt a million miles from my head. The intense play should have left me ready to crash alongside my girl, but all the worries I'd stolen from Laura only seemed to compound mine.

Pulling up the boat's computer, I logged into the roaming Wi-Fi. The VPN I used should dissuade anything from tracing back to me.

Using the digital access I had to my phone number, I made a brief log in to the web version of the number.

A series of messages pinged up. A few jobs. A few cancellations of the offers, either because it was too late, or more worryingly because they'd heard Massimo was looking for me and didn't want to hire a dead man walking.

There were no messages from Massimo. He wasn't the sort to rant down a text message like an angry teenager .

Logan McGowan's name popped up with a handful of unread messages.

I clicked through, wondering if he needed another job done for his family, it had been the job I'd just completed before diverting to Laura's house.

Hey, I'm not sure if anyone's reached out. Massimo is out for your blood. Something about you stealing his fiancée? He's issued a reward for you both, dead or alive. I've attached the pictures he's sent out. There are bounty hunters clamouring to be the first to cash in. Look after yourself man. If there's anything I can do, let me know.

There were attachments in a few separate messages, and I opened each one.

Laura and I in the last little village we stocked up in. Pictures of us through a shop window, my scarred beast-like face next to her sweet face. Who had taken them?

I punched the back of the built in sofa bench, cursing as pain ricocheted up my arm.

Why couldn't the universe just let me be happy? All I wanted was to start building a life that would please Laura. That would have her being by my side forever.

And now that fucker Massimo intended to at best rip us apart, at worst kill us.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, my anger roiling like the sea beneath me.

Massimo would burn. Him and everything he held dear.

If it was the last thing I did.