Running on Empty (40 page)
Authors: Christy Reece
Tags: #Mystery; Thriller & Suspense, #Thrillers & Suspense, #Spies & Politics, #Espionage, #Romance, #Military, #Romantic Suspense, #Thrillers, #Mystery & Suspense, #Suspense
Could they have a normal marriage? Admittedly, most married couples didn’t have people constantly trying to kill them, arrange assassinations of evil dictators, or willingly go into the most dangerous places in the world. But lots of people put their lives on the line on a daily basis. A lot of them were married and some happily. Why couldn’t she and Declan do it, too?
As she waited, hoping against hope that he would appear, she thought about everything they’d been through and what he meant to her. No matter the outcome of this meeting, she owed Declan a wealth of gratitude. He’d given her so much. Love, acceptance, understanding. He was the only man to teach her that sex could be pleasurable. That physical desire was normal and healthy. That she could have that kind of relationship after what she had been through was a testament not only to his patience but to his love for her.
“I can’t decide if I should spank you for leaving the hospital too soon, traveling thousands of miles when you should still be in bed, or kiss you because you are undoubtedly the most beautiful creature on the planet.”
At the first sound of that gravelly, rich voice, she turned. He looked wonderful. Even though he had an air of sadness about him, she saw the glint of peace in his eyes.
He moved toward her, and she scooted over to make room on the bench. He sat beside her, lifted her uninjured hand, and carried it to his mouth. “How are you feeling?”
“Not all that bad. Stitches itch a little. My ribs only ache when I take too deep a breath. My wrist really doesn’t hurt.”
He gently touched her nose with his fingertip. “And this?”
She winced slightly. “Still a little sore.”
“And the rest of you?”
Out of all the injuries she had sustained, she knew the beatings had probably hurt Declan the most. In her time at the Agency, she’d sustained broken bones and bullet wounds. And having endured torture training, she had known what to expect. But for Declan, there had been no training on how to handle his wife being tortured. Maybe that was something EDJE should add to their training schedule.
“Still have some colorful bruises, but they don’t really hurt anymore.”
“I wish I could have stayed with you.”
“You had to do what you did. Is it over?”
“Yes.”
“Jackson?”
“He’s dead.”
She had figured that would be the outcome. Even though Jackson had been cowardly in many ways, she had figured he’d rather die than be taken. Government agencies, secret or not, didn’t deal kindly with those who betrayed them.
“I’m sorry it had to be that way.”
“He made his choice.”
“Are you okay?”
“I will be.”
“And the moneyman? You got his name?”
“Yeah. Darius Ronan, like we thought.”
“Are you going after him?”
“The search is already on. His father evaded us for years before I caught up with him. Doubt his son will make himself any easier to find.”
“Did you get other names?”
“Not yet. The two men who accompanied Jackson on my fake rescue, Erickson and Ames, are in custody. With their assistance, along with Jason Starling’s internal investigation, I’m optimistic we can get the names we need.”
His gaze moved to the peaceful scenery of the church gardens. “McCall offered me a job.”
She had known he would. The last conversation she’d had with Noah, he’d asked her what she thought of Declan working for LCR. She loved the idea, but she knew her husband well.
He turned back to look at her. “You know I can’t take it, don’t you, Sabrina?”
“Yes, I know. I told him you probably wouldn’t.”
“I greatly admire him and LCR’s cause. I’m glad you’ve found a place there, but it’s not for me.”
“I know that, Declan. What you do is just as important.”
He grinned, and for the first time in way too long, she saw the Declan she adored. “I talked to Albert. He was understandably pissed at me. I apologized and suggested he come back to EDJE as a consultant. He got as excited as a schoolboy at Christmas.”
Her heart lifted. She knew that their distrust of the man who’d meant so much to them had hurt him. “I’m glad.”
She straightened her spine. They’d been talking around it too long, and she could no longer wait. “So where does that leave us?”
Instead of giving her a direct answer, he said, “Before we go any further, I need to tell you how sorry I am for what happened.”
His fingers pressed against her mouth, stopping her protest. “Let me finish. I thought by not telling you things I was protecting you. I was wrong. Not telling you put you in serious jeopardy, almost got you killed, and very nearly destroyed us both.
“I put the job before you, Sabrina. Something I never believed I would be stupid enough to do. And my need for vengeance came first, too. I was so damned wrong. Nothing and no one is more important than you. You are my everything, Little Fox, and I swear on my life I will never put anything before you again.”
He shifted from the bench and knelt before her. Still holding her hand, he said quietly, “Three years ago I promised to love and cherish you. Even when I thought I hated you, I never stopped loving you. But I never cherished you as I should have. If you’ll agree to be my wife again, I’ll spend the rest of my life making that up to you.”
“I never stopped being your wife, Declan. Even when I thought you were dead.”
He turned her hand and placed something in it. Sabrina looked down to see his wedding band. “If you would,
A ghrá geal
?”
Beloved.
Her heart so full she felt it might burst, Sabrina slid the ring onto Declan’s finger, then looked into his wonderful face. The adoration shining in his beautiful eyes was a reflection of her own love. This time nothing would tear them apart.
Cupping her face in his hands, he pulled her forward, kissed her tenderly. “Like you said, our forever after got interrupted. I don’t intend for anything to ever interfere with that again.”
Sabrina whispered softly, “Forever is a good start.”
Thank you for reading
Running On Empty, An LCR Elite Novel
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Other Books by Christy Reece
Rescue Me
, A Last Chance Rescue Novel
Return To Me
, A Last Chance Rescue Novel
Run To Me
, A Last Chance Rescue Novel
No Chance
, A Last Chance Rescue Novel
Second Chance
, A Last Chance Rescue Novel
Last Chance
, A Last Chance Rescue Novel
Sweet Justice
, A Last Chance Rescue Novel
Sweet Revenge
, A Last Chance Rescue Novel
Sweet Reward
, A Last Chance Rescue Novel
Chances Are
, A Last Chance Rescue Novel
Nothing To Lose
, A Grey Justice Novel
Writing as Ella Grace
Midnight Secrets
, A Wildefire Novel
Midnight Lies
, A Wildefire Novel
Acknowledgements:
Special thanks to the following people for helping make this book possible:
My husband for his loving support and numerous moments of comic relief.
My mom who housed me during the hair-pulling parts of writing this story. And to Billie and Marlin for once again opening their home on the river for me to finish the book.
Joyce Lamb for her copyediting, great advice and input.
Marie Force’s
eBook Formatting Fairies
, who answered my endless questions with endless patience.
Marie Campbell for her medical advice. Any mistakes are entirely my own.
Tricia Schmitt (Pickyme) for her beautiful cover art.
Reece’s Readers, my incredibly supportive and fun loving street team.
My beta readers for reading so many versions of this book, even I lost count.
And a very special thank you to all my readers. Without you, this book and all the others, past and future, would not be possible. You make my dreams come true!
Christy Reece is the award winning and New York Times Bestselling author of dark and sexy romantic suspense. She lives in Alabama with her husband, three precocious canines, an incredibly curious cat, two very shy turtles, and a super cute flying squirrel named Elliott.
Christy also writes steamy, southern suspense under the pen name Ella Grace.
You can contact her at
[email protected]
Praise for Christy Reece novels:
“The type of book you will pick up and NEVER want to put down again.”
Coffee Time Romance and More
“Romantic suspense has a major new star!”
Romantic Times Magazine
“Sizzling romance and fraught suspense fill the pages as the novel races toward its intensely riveting conclusion.”
Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“Flat-out scary, and I loved every minute of it!”
The Romance Reader's Connection
“A brilliantly plotted book. Her main characters are vulnerable yet strong, and even the villains are written with skillful and delicate brush strokes haunting your mind long after the book is done.”
Fresh Fiction
“A passionate and vivacious thrill-ride! … I feel like I’ve been on an epic journey after finishing it.... Exquisite.”
Joyfully Reviewed
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