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“I am calm,” she told him.

“Sure, don’t make me spank you for lying. You are already in big trouble for running towards a gunfight and taking a bullet intended for me,” he said.
 
Ava looked up at Zane with big eyes.

“But…,“ she started.

“No but. You need to stop doing things that put you in danger, angel. But we will save the punishment for later. Now relax,” he told her, and he savoured the feeling as she made herself comfortable in his arms. Having her back where she belonged felt amazing, like the world suddenly made sense again. Her body felt too angular and thin, and her hair had lost its shine. But he didn’t care. She was back in his arms, in his bed, and he had told her he loved her. Zane still had a hard time believing she loved him back, and she forgave him. He didn’t forgive himself and would spend the rest of his life making it up to her if she would let him. A cold hand clutched his stomach as he remembered he didn’t know what they had done to her. He knew she had been beaten from the pictures. Linda had told him she had seen all the signs of starvation and dehydration. But other than that, Zane had had plenty of time to think about what else they could have done to her. He felt her jab her finger into his ribs.

“Are you going to tell me?” she asked. He looked down at her.

“Tell you what?”

“What has happened while I been away? Don’t try to confuse me, so you will get out of it,” she told him. Zane had to smile, she hadn’t lost her stubbornness.

“Fine,” he conceded and kissed her lips gently, despite wanting to crush them with all the passion he felt for her. “What do you want to know?” he asked. Ava was quiet for a moment, thinking about what she wanted to know first.

“Is my uncle dead?” she asked.

“No. But I’m sure he wishes he was after a month with me. Spenser caught up with him and your aunt an hour after I had given him the task. Of course, I was about three days too late,” Zane said. He felt the self-loathing rise again.

“Don’t,” Ava said, and placed a kiss on his cheek. “Not your fault, remember?”

“Right,” he said, not convinced. “Your uncle spilled everything as soon as I opened the door to the interrogation room. Since then, he has been staying with us. He helped me vent some of my frustration when needed.” Zane didn’t know how much Ava could stand to hear, he was acutely aware she had been in a similar room not long ago.

“And my aunt?”

“She is down there too, untouched. But she’s a bit hysterical most of the time,” he admitted.

“I didn’t think you would keep them alive if you found them,” Ava said. She was playing with his fingers on the hand that was holding hers.

“I didn’t want to take the decision of what will happen to them away from you.” She looked up at him.

“And if I tell you to let them go?”

“Then my men will drive them to the other side of the country, they will be told that if they so much as think of you ever again my mercy will end, and then they will be set free,” he said, even though he hated the idea. He met her eyes and saw her frowning. “What?” he asked.

“I don’t like that idea,” she said.

“Then we won’t do it like that. There is no rush. We know where they are. You can take your time deciding. I will even make an exception for you aunt if you don’t want her to live,” Zane reassured her.

“Johnson?” she asked, as if she needed to change the subject.

“He’s alive, recovering from his gunshot together with his son. I swear I have never met such a weak man in my life,” Zane told her as he let the hand of the arm she was resting her head on play with her hair.

“I don’t want them to live,” Ava said. Her voice was quiet, but there was strength in it.

“They are as good as dead. Do you want to be a part of it?” he asked. It surprised him when she took her time to think it through. He had expected a no.

“Will I look weak if I say no?” she asked.

“No, angel. No one will ever think you are weak after surviving what they put you through.” He paused for a moment. “Do you think you can tell me about it?” he asked. She sighed and shuffled a little closer to him, then she nodded and started telling her story. She kept her voice low and soft, but Zane could hear the pain and fear. He listened and forced himself to stay relaxed and calm. His angel needed him. If he let his temper get the best of him, he would head straight to the warehouse where Johnson and his men were held and kill them all. He comforted himself with the knowledge his time would come. Ava wanted them dead, and he would make sure her wish came true. Her story ended with her running down the stairs.

“I am so grateful that you came for me,” she said.

“Always, angel. I will always come for you,” he repeated the promise he made her that day. “I’m just sorry it took me so long to get there and for not making you believe I would.”

“We haven’t been honest with each other. We both have to work on that,” she told him.

“We do. I will do my best to make sure you know how much you mean to me each and every day,” he promised her.

“Thank you. And I will do the same. I don’t want to have any regrets,” she said. He put a finger under her chin to tilt her head up to kiss her. As he kissed her, Zane let his hand slip into the pocket of his sweatpants and get the item that had been on his person since the day he found it on the bed.

“Angel, I love you and all I want is to make you happy. There will never again be a contract between the two of us, but will you still do me the honour of wearing this?” he asked, holding up her collar. Ava looked between him and the necklace, her eyes tearing up, and Zane thought for a second that he had made a terrible mistake.

“I would love to. I have missed wearing it,” she told him. Zane let out a puff of air in relief as he helped her put it on. It looked perfect around her neck. “Much better,” she said as her fingers moved over the pendant.

“Perfect,” he told her, and took her in his arms again.

“What happens now?” she asked.

“With us or with everything else?”

“Both.”

“You, my angel, will take it easy. You need to heal and gain some weight. I’m guessing you will have frequent visits from Gabriel. I would appreciate if you could make him give Ryder another chance. Ryder fucked up, I know that, as did we all, but he has been moping around like a lost puppy the last month and he is going to be useless as a bodyguard if this continues,” Zane told her.

“Why does it make him useless?” Ava asked.
“Have you ever seen a bodyguard that looks like a puppy that has had his favourite toy taken away? No, because it doesn’t make him look scary, it makes him look weak and soft. That won’t deter anything,” Zane huffed. Ava giggled, and Zane loved the sound.

“I’ll talk to Gabriel, but only because I think he will regret it if he walks away now,” she told him.

“Thank you, angel. I’m sure Ryder will suffer through any punishment to get back on Gabriel’s good side,” Zane told her. “For the rest. We will take over Johnson’s organisation. There will be some changes made. Those of his men who are willing to make the transfer, and were not a part of your kidnapping, will be welcomed. I heard you and Gabriel had a plan as well,” Zane continued.

“Yeah, I was going to work for him,” Ava said.

“That’s not the version I have heard. When he tells it, you were to be partners.”

“It’s his business. I can’t just take part of it and call myself his partner,” Ava objected.

“If you still want to sell your house, why don’t you use the profit and invest in his company? That would make you a true partner,” Zane told her. Ava was about to sit up to look at him before Zane had a chance to keep her down. “Careful!” he exclaimed.

“You think I could do that?” she asked, ignoring his concerns.

“I know you had planned to buy your own apartment with the money, but I think I have to insist you live here. Our bedroom feels miserable when you aren’t here,” he told her.

“Our bedroom?” she asked.

“It stopped being my bedroom the first night you slept in my bed. I might be stubborn and a professional in fooling myself, but I know this is where you belong. If you want to redecorate, that’s fine.”

“And you wouldn’t mind me working with Gabriel? I have to go into the office and meet with clients and won’t be able to stay by your side whenever you want me to,” she asked.

“I’m not saying it will be easy. But maybe you could work from home some days. But not until you are fully healed and have your strength back. Until then, you are mine to spoil,” he said.

“I like that plan,” she agreed.

“Good. Do you have any more questions?” he asked.

“No.”

“Then be a good angel and go to sleep. I will be here when you sleep and when you wake up. Just relax and drift off,” he told her. Ava nodded and made herself comfortable. It didn’t take long before Zane could feel her breath become deep and steady. He admitted he was a lucky man, more so than he had any business being. Zane may not deserve to be this happy, but he would fight with every means possible to keep it. He would like to see the bastard who would take away what was his. And his angel was his.