Chapter Twenty

Mia downed several large gulps of the Coke that Angel had just bought her from the hospital vending machine.

“The occasion probably calls for something harder, like tequila,” she muttered, “but this would have to do.”

Angel made a sound of agreement and drank some of his own Coke. They stood there, leaning against the wall of the vending room. Trying to process everything that’d just happened.

“Dwight’s scam nearly got us killed,” Mia spelled out.

Another sound of agreement before he turned to her. Cursed. Then, he pulled her into his arms. She could feel so much emotion in that embrace. The anger mixed with the relief.

Yes, Dwight’s attempt to extort money from Birdie had led to the attacks, but they were alive. And mostly unharmed. Mostly. Mia wanted to cling to that.

And to Angel.

“I’m guessing Dwight photoshopped the pictures he showed Birdie,” Mia added. “I doubt he’ll confess to that though. To any of it.”

“Walker’s good,” Angel assured her, easing back to meet her gaze. “He’ll figure out a way to make Dwight pay. In fact, he could threaten Dwight with a charge of accessory to murder after the fact since Birdie will confirm the photos existed and that Dwight destroyed them.”

That brightened her mood, and she liked the idea of Dwight spending some time behind bars. She got another mood lifter when Angel leaned in and kissed her.

Yes, definitely a way to improve things.

Even though it was probably meant to be simply a kiss of comfort, the heat was there. Mercy, was it, sliding through her and warming all the places that Angel was a pro at warming.

When he pulled back from her, Mia’s mind was on more kisses. More sex, too.

And one big question.

What was next for them?

Secrets around Kenton’s death had driven them apart, but then those secrets had brought them back together. They’d come full circle, and she didn’t want this to be an ending for them. She needed this to be a beginning.

She didn’t get a chance to broach the subject though because of the sound of approaching footsteps. Her short-lived good mood nearly went south when she saw it was RJ. She thought he might be there to deliver bad news, but then Mia saw his smile and the glimmer in his eyes.

Hope.

That was a good glimmer to have.

“Melanie’s stable,” RJ blurted. “Her surgeon believes she’s going to make it.”

He went to them, dragging them both into a hug while he cried what she was certain were happy tears. There were some in Mia’s eyes, too, along with a whole mountain of relief.

“You can’t see her today,” RJ went on, but the doctors said people should be able to visit her tomorrow. She’ll need counseling, of course, since she tried to end her own life, but Melanie’s going to be all right,” he repeated. “And I just saw Detective Walker in the hall, and he said there’d be no charges brought against her.”

That brought on another group hug, and Mia held on tight. Soon, they’d need to tell him about Birdie and Dwight, but that would keep. No need to spoil this moment, especially not after the hell RJ had been through.

RJ was smiling through the tears when he looked at them. “So, you two are back together. That’s good to see. Sort of icing on top of the happy cake I have right now.” He gave Angel a pat on the back. “Do right by her, son,” RJ added before he doled out yet another hug and hurried out. No doubt to go back to his wife.

The silence came. Not awkward exactly. But it was there, and she figured Angel was doing the same thing she was—figuring out what the heck to say.

Mia just went for it.

“I’m in love with you,” she spelled out. “And I want to be in your life in whatever way you want me to be.”

She held her breath, waiting, but she didn’t have to wait long. Angel hauled her into his arms and kissed her. Really kissed her. Full on French and loaded with Angel-style scorching heat. It robbed her of what little breath she had, made her lightheaded.

And the happiness floated through her.

“I’m in love with you,” he said when he finally pulled back.

She smiled and had to stop herself from doing a happy dance. “I guess that means you want me in your life.”

“I want you in my life. My bed. Everywhere,” Angel said, and she knew he meant it.

Angel still had his arm around her waist and he gave her a nudge forward. Putting them body to body. Center to center.

And heart to heart.

She could feel his beating. Hard and strong like the man himself. The man she loved.

“I’ll do right by you,” he assured her, repeating RJ’s words. Along with blowing her mind with another of those kisses. “And you?” he drawled.

“The same,” she promised. “Absolutely the same.”

And Mia sealed the deal by doling out one of those mind-blowing kisses of her own.