Christian pushed himself up, pulling Melody up alongside with him, holding her body close against his. As always when they were together, the rest of the world disappeared. Craig, Hub, and Bones were dealing with Enrique. The man was pleading, crying like a baby now that his own life and wellbeing were being threatened, but Christian let the sounds wash over him and drift away.
Nothing could touch him here, in this sacred space where only he and Melody existed. Nothing could reach him.
“I was so scared I was going to lose you,” Christian whispered fiercely.
He was holding her too tight. He knew that. And there wasn’t a damned thing he could do about it.
“You were scared?” Melody said with a scoff, pulling back just enough to look up into his battered face.
Gently, she swept a finger down the side of his jaw, careful not to touch anywhere that was injured. Which was impressive, since his entire face felt like a crisscrossing network of bruises and cuts.
“When he was hitting you, all I could think about was our baby…” Melody’s voice hitched on a sob. “That our baby was going to have to grow up without a father.”
“Hush,” he tried to comfort her, pulling her close once more. “It’s not going to happen. I’m fine. See? Just fine.”
“You don’t look fine, son,” Hub’s gruff voice suddenly interrupted, and Christian reluctantly turned to look at his father.
He still hadn’t let go of Melody. He wasn’t sure he could.
Hub’s eyes widened as they took in the state of him.
“In fact, you don’t look fine at all. What did the guy do, throw you through a woodchipper?”
“More like used him for a punching bag,” Melody said softly, sweeping his blood matted hair back from his forehead.
“I always said he’s got a hard head,” Hub shook his head. “Now I know he does.”
“Hard enough to keep Enrique busy until the cavalry showed up. Although I have a feeling the next couple of days are going to be rough,” Christian said with a soft smile as he gave his dad a pat on the shoulder. “Thank you, by the way. If you hadn’t showed up when you did…”
Christian trailed off, unable to finish the words. He couldn’t even bear the thought of what might have happened.
“Oh, well, you know I wasn’t about to let anything happen to my grandbaby,” Hub said roughly, and then pulled Melody in for an unexpected hug. “You took ten years off my life, girl.”
Christian was just as surprised when his father gave him a hug next, pulling back with a stern look.
“You keep her out of trouble now.”
“I’ll try. But I’m not making any promises,” Christian said with a rueful shake of his head. “She never does what I expect her to do.”
“Hub, what about… what about Enrique?” Melody asked, her voice quiet.
But there was a strength there, underneath the worry. Pride filled Christian, and he held her close as Hub answered.
“Don’t you worry about him,” Hub said and then spat on the ground at his feet, “That man won’t be bothering you, or anyone else, ever again. Bones made sure of that.”
Hub grinned then, and the sight was enough to make even Christian nervous. Later, he would find out the details, but he was sure that it wasn’t something Melody needed to know. At least, not now.
Christian gave his father a long look before turning back to Melody. She was biting her lower lip, a worried look in her dark eyes.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. The Devil’s aren’t going to let him hurt you or our baby ever again,” Christian promised her.
She looked up at him, her gaze gleaming with hope so sharp it was nearly painful.
“It’s over? It’s really over?” she whispered, her voice just as soft, just as fragile.
Christian swallowed hard, kissing her despite the pain that ratchetted through him. It was worth it.
“It’s really over.”
He stared down at her, all the love that he felt, all the emotions that he couldn’t put into words, shining in the depths of his bright blue eyes. Christian smiled as a lightness stole over him.
“And now our story can finally begin.”