27

Christina

Two months later…

I drove down the highway in my black sports car. Will had offered to buy me a new one, but there was no way I was replacing my black beauty. I'd worked so hard for her.

Will had left early this morning, but not before making love to me slowly. He always took his time. He didn't care if the world was falling around us, he always made me feel like nothing else was more important than us.

It was such a strange feeling and one I was not only getting used to but thriving under. I'd never felt weak before, but now I felt even stronger for having him in my life.

"Hey, Nikole," I said, walking by her office.

"Hey, Christina. Are you excited about tomorrow?"

Will was flying us to Greece tomorrow on his private jet. I'd only learned recently just how rich Will was and things like vacations to Greece weren't just something rich people did but now something I did. I shook my head just thinking about it.

"Yes. I have to help my sister settle in, and then I'll start packing."

"Is your sister moving into the new place tonight?"

"Yes."

"Oh, she's going to love living in our building. And it will be good to have her close by."

I smiled. I hadn't lived under the same roof as my sister in nearly fifteen years. "Yeah. It will be nice to see her more often."

Will offered my sister Faye's apartment after Faye moved into a larger one in our building this month. She had a full-time job and could afford daycare for her children. We were planning to have Faye and the kids over for dinner when we got back from Greece. Will and I had gotten close to those kids over the last few months. The little one always wanted to play soldiers with Will.

When it was time to break for lunch, Nikole and I sat in the staff room together and planned what I would bring to Greece.

"You don't need much. Just don't forget your sunscreen and put it on when you're naked. If you don't, you'll always burn in the most awkward spots."

"If I put my sunscreen on naked, Will would never let me leave the room."

Nikole sighed. "I know. Isn't it great?"

We both chuckled.

"It's crazy to think how much my life has changed in less than six months," I said, opening my lunch container.

We sat down at the same table as Alicia and her friends. I could easily hear their conversation with Alicia's high-pitched voice.

"Then I told her if she couldn't file my nails exactly the way I showed her in the picture, I wasn't paying for the service."

"You are so good at compromising," said one of her friends.

"I know, right?"

I rolled my eyes.

"Hey, Alicia," I called out.

She turned, shocked that I had addressed her as I'd hardly ever spoken to her.

"Maybe instead of putting your foot in your mouth, you should shove that file up your ass next time."

"What?!" she shrieked.

Nikole shook her head. "I guess not everything about you has changed," she said.

"Nope. Not everything," I said and took a bite of my pasta carbonara that Will had made last night.

After I sat back at my desk, my phone rang. It was my friend Gabby. "Hey, Chrissy, are you busy?"

I looked at my schedule. "I don't have anything pressing for today. Do you need something?"

"Yeah. There's this woman… Can you come to my office?"

"Sure. I'll be there soon."

Without wasting any time, I got my car and drove over to Gabby's office.

Not wanting to wait for the elevator, I took the stairs and arrived, nearly panting at her door.

"Hey," I said. "What's the emergency?"

Just then, the elevator doors opened and Will walked out. He ran his hand through his hair as he strode toward us.

"You called Will?" I asked, surprised. I hadn't heard from him since I left his apartment.

"Yes. I called him, too. The woman asked for both of you."

"She did?"

Will reached us and I noticed his brow creased. "What's going on?" He leaned down and kissed me. "Are you all right?"

I placed my hand on his chest, and it beat like a drum against my palm.

"Yes, I'm fine. Gabby called me down here."

Gabby grabbed a yellow sticky note. "A woman called today and said she knew the both of you. After speaking with her, I think it's best if you both go and get her."

"What's her name?"

Gabby squinted at the sticky note. "Tina Scarpetti."

"Tina?" Will whispered.

"Is that Tina from the bar?"

Will nodded as Gabby continued.

"She got into an altercation with her boyfriend and needs a good lawyer."

"What did the bastard do to her?" sneered Will, checking his gun holster.

Gabby smiled. "Well, it's sort of the other way around. Tina hit him with a frying pan over the head and he called the cops."

"Good for her. I hope it was cast iron," I said. A smile played on my lips as I imagined Tina whacking her boyfriend. Then, turning to Will, I asked, "You driving?"

"Definitely."

As soon as we entered the elevator, Will turned to me. His eyes shone, but his face was serene.

"I think this may be it," he said.

"What is?"

"Her last stance. I think she'll leave him now." Then, grabbing my chin, he smiled. "You did it."

"Me?"

"Yes. I've been trying for nearly a year now. But I bet seeing you and your friends that day made her realize she doesn't have to do it alone."

And she didn't. Tina had me and Will. We would protect her both in the courtroom and outside of it. I grabbed his hand and squeezed it. Will had been the one to save those women when they needed someone's protection. Gabby was right. I may not have needed Will to protect me from Simon, but he surely saved me from myself.

Will opened the passenger door for me and I climbed into his car. As he sped down the highway, he reached for my hand and kissed it.

I smiled, anticipating the rush of getting another asshole off the streets. "Let's do this."

"Yes, ma'am," said Will. "And when we get back from Greece, I'm going to marry you."

My hand flew to my mouth, and I nearly jumped out of my seat. What?!

After catching my breath, I asked, "Is that your idea of a proposal?"

He grinned and snuck a glance at me while keeping an eye on the road. "Nope. That's just a warning. You'll know when I propose."

I squeezed his hand and leaned my head back with a smile, imagining the day I would marry William Nash.

The day I would marry my best friend, my protector, my Black Knight in shining armor.

***