Chapter Ten

Krista stood on the balcony of Devlin’s penthouse, the city lights stretched out beneath her like a net of stars. The fresh night air filled her lungs as she leaned on the railing, her thoughts racing. The events of the past few weeks had been a whirlwind: her breaking into his estate, Devlin finally dealing with Reed, and her near-death experience with Maria.

Despite the chaos, moments like these made her feel grounded. She turned back to the living room, where it was warmer. Devlin was in the kitchen, his sleeves rolled up as he prepared dinner. Krista couldn’t help but smile at the sight. She always enjoyed seeing him like that.

“ Dinner will be ready in a few minutes, ” Devlin called out.

Krista joined him in the kitchen. “Smells amazing. I always love when you cook,” she teased, moving closer to him.

He glanced over his shoulder and smirked at her. That never failed to make her heart race. Some days, she still couldn’t believe Devlin was truly hers. That despite their shared past and pain, they somehow managed to find each other again.

“ I know, ” he told her.

She laughed softly, feeling a flutter in her chest. Krista moved to set the table, her mind wandering to the future.

Devlin would always have an endless score of enemies after him, but this was their life now. Given her chosen profession, Krista wasn ’ t a stranger to danger. Standing by his side as his equal, she couldn ’ t imagine doing anything else.

As they sat down to eat, Krista couldn ’ t shake the feeling that something was different about tonight. Devlin seemed more relaxed than usual. They talked about everything and nothing, but Krista didn ’ t mind one bit.

After dinner, Devlin suggested they go for a walk. Krista agreed, intrigued by his unusual suggestion. They took the elevator down to the street and started walking toward the nearby park.

The city usually came alive at night, but there was a peacefulness in the air that Krista found calming. They strolled through the park, the path illuminated by old-fashioned lampposts. Devlin held her hand, his grip firm and reassuring. Krista leaned into him, enjoying the moment.

As they reached a secluded part of the park, Devlin suddenly stopped. Krista looked up at him, puzzled. He gazed at her with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat.

“ Krista, ” he began, his voice steady but filled with emotion. “ There ’ s something I need to tell you. ”

She felt a shiver of anticipation. “ What is it, Devlin? ”

He took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving hers. “ You ’ ve changed my life in ways I never thought possible. You ’ ve made me a better man, and I can ’ t imagine my life without you. I ’ ve faced danger and death countless times, but the thought of losing you is what truly terrifies me,” Devlin said.

Krista ’ s breath caught in her throat. She could see the vulnerability in his eyes and knew it was such a rare sight. Devlin reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. Krista widened her eyes as he dropped to one knee, his gaze unwavering.

“ Krista, will you marry me? ” Devlin asked.

Time seemed to stand still. Krista’s heart pounded in her chest as she looked at the man she had come to love more than she ever thought possible.

Tears filled her eyes as she nodded. “ Yes, Devlin. Yes, I ’ ll marry you, ” she whispered.

A cocky smile spread across his face as he stood, slipping the ring onto her finger. It was a perfect fit. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her the way she always liked—rough and without restraint. She clung to him, responding to his savage kiss, opening her lips so he could slip his tongue down her throat.

Hand in hand, they started to make their way back to the penthouse. Krista couldn’t take her eyes off the beautiful ring. It had a simple princess-cut design and Devlin must ’ ve chosen it with care. She smiled, already thinking of wedding plans.

“ Krista, ” Devlin said all of a sudden.

He gripped her arm painfully and she finally noticed a man in a hoodie, watching them from under a lamppost. Krista’s heart jumped into her throat as she saw the glint of a gun in the stranger ’ s hand.

“Devlin,” she whispered in fear.

The man aimed his at Devlin. “ Lorenzo Rosso sends his regards, ” the man said.

Devlin moved with uncanny speed. He shoved Krista behind him, drawing his own gun in a fluid motion. “Stay down!” he ordered her, his voice a low growl.

Krista ducked behind a nearby parked car, her heart pounding in her ears. She peered over the edge, her eyes widening at the sight of Devlin, his gun trained on the attacker.

Shots rang out, echoing through the empty street. Krista’s breath caught as she watched the fight. Devlin moved with a grace and ferocity that took her breath away. He fired, his aim deadly accurate, and the attacker stumbled, blood blooming on his chest.

Two more men emerged from a nearby car, guns drawn. Devlin cursed under his breath., his eyes narrowing. He fired again, taking down one of the newcomers, but the third man returned fire, forcing Devlin to dive for cover.

Where were Devlin’s men? They were supposed to always follow at a distance … unless the shooter wasn’t alone and they were dealing with more enemies. Krista’s heart sunk at that thought.

Even if Devlin’s men were on their way, they wouldn’t arrive in time. She had to do something. She reached into her purse, her fingers closing around the cold metal of her own gun. She took a deep breath. Krista wasn’t going to let these bastards do away with her fiancé.

She rose from her hiding spot, her gun steady in her hand.

“Devlin, get down!” she shouted, and as he hit the ground, she fired.

Her shot hit the third man in the leg, causing him to cry out and drop his weapon. Devlin seized the opportunity, rolling to his feet and firing a final shot that took the man down for good.

Krista’s hands were shaking as she lowered her weapon, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Devlin approached her, his body tense as he studied their surroundings.

“Are you okay?” Devlin asked her.

She nodded. “I’m fine,” she whispered. “Are you hurt anywhere?”

Krista looked him up and down. Devlin pulled her into his arms. “You were amazing, Krista,” he told her.

She clung to him, her body still trembling with adrenaline. “I was so scared,” she admitted, her voice barely a whisper.

He held her tight, his hand stroking her hair. “I know. But you were brave, and you saved us both.”

Devlin’s men arrived moments later, securing the area, and disposing of the bodies. Devlin and Krista returned to the penthouse. Devlin didn’t let her hand go until they were back in the safety of Devlin’s apartment. Their apartment, Krista silently corrected.

Devlin locked the door behind them, ensuring the security system was fully activated. Krista sank onto the couch, her mind still reeling from the attack.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” Devlin asked, concerned. He sat beside her on the couch, his arm wrapped protectively around her.

Krista nodded, taking a deep breath. “I’m okay, Devlin. Just … a little shaken,” she admitted.

He turned to face her, his eyes searching hers. “Krista,” he began, taking her hands into his. “My life— our life—will always be like this. There will always be danger and moments like tonight. I just wanted to make sure you’ll be fine with that. That you won’t have second thoughts about marrying me.”

She gazed into his eyes, seeing the vulnerability that lay beneath his hardened exterior. Her heart swelled with love for him, and she squeezed his hands gently.

“ Devlin, I ’ ve known who you are and what your life entails from the beginning. I chose to be with you despite the risks because I love you. I ’ m not going to have second thoughts, ” Krista firmly told him.

Devlin ’ s eyes softened, and he pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. “ You mean everything to me, Krista. I ’ ve never felt this way about anyone before, ” he told me. “ I ’ ll be better for you. ”

Krista nestled closer, feeling the steady beat of his heart against her cheek. “You already are a better man, Devlin. You’ve protected me, cared for me, and shown me a love that’s fierce and true. I don’t want a life without you, even if it means facing danger everyday,” she said.

He kissed the top of her head, his lips lingering in her hair. “ I promise I ’ ll do everything in my power to keep you safe. You ’ re my heart, Krista, and I ’ ll never let anything happen to you, ” he said.

She tilted her head up to look at him. “ And I ’ ll always stand by your side, Devlin. We ’ re a team, ” she said.

He cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away the tears that had spilled onto her cheeks. “ I love you, Krista. More than words can express, ” he said.

She smiled, her heart overflowing with emotion. “ I love you too, Devlin. Forever. ”

Their lips met in a tender, passionate kiss.

The End