I snuggle against Laz’s chest as I lie in his bed as the sun peeks up outside the windows. “Can’t you stay a little bit longer?”

A deep chuckle rumbles in his chest. “There’s no other place in the world I would rather be than in this bed with you for the rest of my life, but keeping my therapy sessions is imperative to maintaining my sobriety.”

I've come to find Cam was right about Laz’s routine. Laz does like to get up and start his day early, but it’s not because of working out all the time as Cam had claimed. Yes, he does work out a lot—how else would he keep those delicious muscles of his—but the days he doesn't work out, he goes to AA meetings. It's been a part of his recovery process, and something he keeps private. Cam knows this. Cam is his best friend, and he protects Laz any way he can.

I turn and rest my chin on the top of my hands so I can make eye contact with him. “You amaze me. Not many people come out of the darkness and manage to stay out of it.”

“I have a lot more to lose these days if I don’t stay on the right path.” His blue eyes soften as he reaches up and runs his thumb along my bottom lip. “Being with you gives me one more reason to focus on staying clean. I don’t want to forget one moment with you.”

His words cause my heart to melt. “I love you, Laz.”

“And I love you.” He leans in and presses his lips to mine. “You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

A warm sensation envelops every inch of me after hearing those sweet words flow from his lips. Laz makes me feel loved, desired, and safe all at the same time.

After he gets up and showers, he dresses in front of me in the bedroom. He turns to find me watching him, and smiles before he walks over to the bed.

“Go back to sleep. I won’t be long.” He bends down and presses one last quick kiss to my lips.

For the first time in my life, I’m truly happy. Good things rarely come my way, so I’m thankful to have this beautiful man in my life.

* * *

I roll over and glance at the clock to see it's nearly eight thirty. Laz will be back soon. He told me his group meetings lasts until seven thirty most mornings, and he would be back shortly after it’s over.

I stretch my hands above my arms, trying to wake myself up. And just as I snuggle back down into the fluffy comforter on Lazarus's king-size bed, the sound of breaking glass causes me to sit straight up stiff as a board. Instantly, I hop out of bed and to my feet, dragging the comforter along with me. In pure panic mode, I scramble around the room, looking for anything to grab as a weapon.

“Who's there? I've got a gun.” It's a total bluff, but one I'm willing to do in order to try to protect myself.

When no one answers, I wrapped the comforter tighter around my naked body. I'm tempted to run, but I know the sound came from the front entrance of the pool house, which means if I run out of this room, either way, the intruder is going to be able to see me. The only way to escape is through one of these windows in this room. Going outside the door makes me an open target for whoever just broke into here.

Before I have any time to open the window, there's a hard knock on the bedroom door. “Drea. I know you're in there. Don't you think it's time to start playing with me and not this rich asshole you've been fucking?”

My blood runs cold when I hear that voice—the one voice I hate to hear these days—the one voice that gives me nightmares.

I draw the comforter tighter around me. “What the hell are you doing here? You need to leave!” I shout at Carlos from the other side of the door while I scramble to throw one of Laz’s T-shirts over my head.

I manage to get the shirt over my head just before the bedroom door bursts open as Carlos kicks through it. I race around the bed, scrambling to get to the closest window, but I don’t make it. He grabs me from behind and throws me down onto the bed and jumps on top of me.

“Come on, baby. Don’t be like that,” he snarls. “Be nice to me like you used to be.”

“Fuck you!” I spat.

He grabs my face and forces me to look at him. “Don’t be a bitch, Drea. You don’t want to piss me off.” He leans down like he’s going to kiss me, and instantly, I panic as flashbacks of when he raped me pops into my mind.

I pound my fists into his chest and kick my feet, attempting to buck him off me.

He struggles to grab my arms, but I keep flailing, fighting him off with every ounce of strength I have.

He snatches my wrists and pins them on either side of my head. “Hold still, you fucking bitch.”

“No!” I scream before I turn and bite his arm.

“Bitch!” He growls, releases one of my wrists and then draws his arm back so quickly I don’t see the smack coming until pain sears my cheek.

I moan, reeling from the blow and before I can even fathom breaking free, he re-pins my arms.

“You're going to give me another baby, bitch. You owe me. And eye for an eye and all that fucking bullshit. You know how it goes. Don't pretend like you don't.” His head dips, and he traces my lips with his tongue.

“No,” I whimper as I strain to pull my wrists from his grasp. “Please.”

He laughs darkly. “I like it when you beg.” He pushes his knee between my legs, and instantly, I kick my feet, but this doesn’t deter him. “I like it when you pretend to not want it too.” He kisses my neck, and my skin crawls. “Gets me hard when you fight it.”

“Get off me, you sick bastard!” I scream.

His eyes narrow. “Not until I get what I want from you.” He shoves his other knee between my legs and then shoves both of my arms over my head, attempting to pin me down with just one hand.

When he does that, I make my move, scratching his face with my free hand and then throwing as many punches as I can in an attempt to free myself.

“Goddamn it!” Carlos growls, and the look in his eyes turns murderous.

I’ve only pissed him off further. This time when he draws his hand back, it’s with a fist. I squeeze my eyes, anticipating the blow heading right toward my face. Only the pain never comes.

“Get the fuck off her!” Laz’s voice booms around the room, and my eyes snap open in time to see Laz barreling toward us.

Everything happens so fast. Carlos flies off me when Laz grabs his shoulders and tosses him to the ground.

Carlos’s nostrils flare as he stares up at Laz from the floor. “I’m getting real sick of you getting in my business.”

“She is my business, motherfucker,” Laz growls as he flexes his fingers at his side while he shields me with his body.

It’s not hard to tell Laz is itching to lay into Carlos, but instead, he stands in front of me, putting a wall of muscle between me and Carlos.

Carlos shoves himself up to his feet, keeping his eyes locked on Laz. He adjusts the white shirt he’s wearing and nods in my direction. “She’s my girl and will be until I say otherwise.”

“Go to hell,” I yell from behind Laz.

The muscles in Laz’s back tense beneath the fitted gray T-shirt he’s wearing. “Drea, call the cops. We need to get this piece of shit out of here.”

That strikes a chord with Carlos because without warning he lunges at Laz, but Laz is so fast he catches Carlos with a hard blow to the face. Carlos falls to the floor, and Laz jumps on top of him.

I seize the opportunity and grab my phone off the nightstand next to the bed. My fingers fly over the key pad, and I call 911.

The moment the operator comes on the line, I rapidly explain the situation. The voice on the line reminds me to stay calm, but it’s difficult to do considering Laz and Carlos are rolling around on the ground.

Carlos flips Laz onto his back with a hard thud and somehow manages to wrap his hands around Laz’s throat. I drop the phone, and my instincts take over. I jump onto Carlos’s back, and I attempt to pull him off Laz. The momentary distraction allows Laz to roll and slam his arm down on Carlos’ forearms, freeing himself from his grip.

Laz jumps up and again tugs me behind me. “You okay?” he questions over his shoulder.

“Yeah, I’m okay.”

Carlos hops to his feet and reaches under the bottom of his pant leg in one swift movement and pulls a knife from a sheath strapped to his leg.

I gasp and twist my hands into the fabric of his shirt and pull Laz with me as I take a step back. “Oh, my God.”

A cruel smile spreads across Carlos’s face. Clearly, he takes delight in other’s fear. He glances down at the knife in his hand and then back at Laz. “Is she worth dying for?”

“Yes,” Laz answers clearly and without hesitation.

Carlos lifts his chin and runs his hands across the top of his buzz scalp. “I’m glad you feel that way because I’m willing to kill to have her.”

My heart races one hundred miles an hour, and my legs urge me to run and drag Laz along with me.

“Get your ass over here, Drea, and I’ll let your boyfriend go,” Carlos orders.

I stand there motionless. For a moment, I’m tempted to go to Carlos and sacrifice myself in order to save Laz, but I know that’s only asking for more trouble because Laz won’t allow Carlos to walk out of here scot-free with me.

“Drea!” Carlos roars. “Don’t make me tell you again.”

I flinch, and I’m reminded of how tumultuous our relationship was when we were together. I did everything Carlos said, and when I didn’t, he got violent, much like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum. I was on the receiving end of his rage too many times to count. Finally, when I’d had enough, I broke things off with him. Thank God he’s been in jail since that night. Who knows what kind of hell he would’ve put me through had he not been caught for robbery.

“Drea!” Carlos attempts to look around Laz to make eye contact with me, but Laz shifts and blocks his view.

“You don’t get to look at her, you piece of shit,” Laz growls. “When it comes to Drea, she’s off-limits to you.”

“Says who?” Carlos points the knife at Laz. “You?”

Laz rolls his shoulders back. “That’s right. The only way to her is through me.”

He shrugs, and his face morphs into an expression of pure darkness. “Okay.”

A blood-curdling roar comes from Carlos as he rushes directly at Laz. Laz shoves me to the side and effectively out of the way. I stumble, tripping over my own two feet and falling to the ground, while I watch in horror as Carlos tackles Laz to the bed. The two men wrestle around. Light ricochets off the steel blade of the knife, causing me to panic. My first instinct is to jump on Carlos again, but the way they’re rolling around, I’m not sure it wouldn’t do more harm than good.

Red and blue flashing lights bounce around the room, so I hop to my feet and sprint out of the bedroom to flag the police down for help.

I throw my hands wildly in the air once I’m outside. “Help! He’s in there!”

Two cops shove open their car doors and rush past me into the pool house.

I turn to follow them back inside, desperate to get back to Laz, but two strong arms wrap around my waist. “No, Drea. Whatever’s going on in there, you don’t need to go back in there.”

Cam and Candace are at my side in the driveway, both of them doing their best to keep me from rushing back into the pool house.

I struggle against Cam’s hold. “I have to get in there. I have to know he’s okay.”

Candace grabs each side of my face in attempt to calm me down. “What happened?”

Tears pour from my eyes. “Carlos…he broke in and attacked me. If it weren’t Laz…”

Shock flashes over Candace’s face. “When did he get out?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know. I had a run-in with him a couple weeks ago when I went to Dad’s apartment.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

I shrug. “I didn’t want you to worry. I didn’t figure he’d be able to find me here.”

The thought of how bad things could’ve been if it weren’t for Laz saving me hits me hard, but also knowing Laz could be hurt because of me hurts even more. “I have to get in there, Candace. Carlos had a knife. I have to know Laz is okay.”

I try to move out of Cam’s hold, but he tightens his grip. “Let the cops handle it,” he orders as two more police officers rush past us and into the house.

A cop rushes back outside and yells at the EMTs who are just getting out of the ambulance. “Move your asses. We have a victim with a stab wound!”

“No!” My entire body begins to shake. “Please,” I beg as sobs rip from my throat.

I fall to the ground hard against the asphalt, and my sister wraps her arms around my shoulders and pulls me tight against her. The medics rush past me and tears fall from my eyes as I wail.

God, please let Laz be all right.

Moments later, the medical team comes back out, pushing a stretcher with someone lying on it.

“Laz!” I scream his name and shove myself up from the ground to get to Laz’s side.

An oxygen mask covers his mouth and nose, and the side of his shirt is soaked with blood. Panic floods me.

I run beside the gurney as the EMTs push forward toward the back of the ambulance. “I’m so sorry, Laz.”

His brow furrows, and he reaches up and pulls off the mask. “You have nothing to apologize for. I’ll always protect you with my life.” He reaches up and touches my cheek. “I love you.”

I wrap my fingers around his and hold it against my face. “I love you, too.”

“Ma’am, we’re going to need you to step back,” the shorter of the two medics orders.

“I’m coming with him,” I say.

The man shakes his head. “With all due respect, Miss, we need you to be fully dressed and remain here to speak with police. His wounds appear superficial, so he should be just fine. Meet us at the hospital.”

Relief floods me, and I take a step back. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

Laz nods. “Okay. Make sure they arrest his ass.”

I wrap my arms around myself as I stand there barefoot and wearing nothing but Laz’s T-shirt. The medics hoist Laz into the back of the ambulance and then shut him inside.

“Fuck you, cop. I’m not going back to prison.” Carlos’s threats grab my attention. I turn to see two police officers walking him out in handcuffs.

“That’s exactly where you’re heading—this time for a long time,” the tall, beefy cop retorts as opens the door and orders Carlos to take a seat in the back of the patrol car.

“Excuse me, Miss.” A different cop approaches me. “I need to take a statement from you and get some photos for evidence. Can you tell me what happened here?”

I nod and then launch into the play-by-play of everything that’s happened.

* * *

After Candace had helped me get dressed, Cam drove the three of us over to the hospital. We make it to the ER, but the staff refuses to allow all three of us back at once.

“You go first,” Cam says to me. “I know he’ll want to see your face instead of my ugly mug.”

Candace turns to him. “Why would you call yourself ugly?”

He shrugs. “Are you arguing that I’m not?”

She rolls her eyes. “You know you’re not.”

Cam’s grin widens. “I knew you secretly had the hots for me.”

My sister does her best to fight the smile that’s threatening to fill her face, but finally, she gives in and shrugs. “I’m a sucker for persistence and determination.”

Without an invitation, Cam wraps his arms around her waist and plants his lips on hers. The moment Candace giggles, I smile and decide to give them their space and go check on Laz.

Once the receptionist buzzes me in, I make my way down the sterile-looking hallway and into the hopping ER. I walk past a few curtains before I spot Laz, lying in a hospital bed with IVs hooked to him. He’s shirtless with a blanket draped over his chest.

His eyes brighten a bit when he spots me, and when he tries to sit up, he grimaces.

I rush to him and grab his hand. “Are you okay?”

He laces his fingers through mine. “I’ll be fine. The knife grazed my side—nothing twenty-eight stitches won’t heal.”

“Does it hurt?” I ask.

“Like a son of a bitch,” he replies honestly.

A nurse wearing navy scrubs with her brown hair pulled into a high ponytail walks over to the opposite side of Laz’s bed and checks the little machines attached to the IV poles. “You sure you don’t want something for pain? Part of that cut was pretty deep.”

Laz shakes his head. “No pain medication for me.”

The nurse shrugs. “Okay, then. I’ll let the doctor know. As soon as these IV bags empty, we’ll work on getting you discharged.”

The moment we’re alone again, I ask, “You don’t want medications? If you’re hurting—”

“It’s not worth the risk. I won’t jeopardize my recovery in any way.” He lifts our intertwined fingers to his lips and kisses the tips of my fingers. “I have far too much to lose if I fall off the wagon now.”

I stare into his blue eyes, and I pray he knows I feel the same way about him. “I love you … so much.”

He touches the side of my face with the hand that has the IV in it. “I would do anything for you, Drea. I will always protect you.”

“I know you will,” I declare.

“From now on, no more secrets. I have to confess one more thing to you.”

“Okay…” I try to prepare myself for anything.

“After we had that first run-in with Carlos at your dad’s place, I asked my private investigator to check him out. When he was doing his surveillance two days ago, he caught Carlos on video robbing a gas station, and he turned that evidence into the authorities. They’ve been looking for Carlos to question him about the robbery since then. That coupled with the fact he just tried to rape you and kill me, I don’t think he’ll see the light of day for a long time considering his past rap sheet.”

I stare at him in disbelief, which causes him to frown. “How pissed at me are you because I didn’t tell you before now?”

“I’m not,” I admit. “In fact, I’m shocked at just how damn smart you are. I could kiss you right now for getting him out of my life again and for helping me protect my son.”

Laz smiles. “I’ll never turn down a kiss, just saying.”

I lean in and plant a careful kiss on his lips. This man is full of surprises. Every time I think I couldn’t fit more love for him inside my heart, he finds a way to expand the space and plant more roots. I’m madly in love with this perfect, beautiful man.