Ava grimaced. “We never had one so I don’t know.”
“Okay.” He stood. For once he was wearing jeans and a t-shirt rather than one of his well-tailored suits. He looked good in both. “I’m going to call the doorman and ask him to let your mom in and to warn her. Then I’m going to call my sister, Gwen, and ask her to take care of Ranger for a night or two. When they let you out of here and we’re both there, he won’t be a problem.”
Ava watched him make the call. When he was finished, she said, “I’m glad you’re getting on better with your family.”
“Nothing like nearly dying or losing the woman you love to focus the mind on the important things. I’m tired of being alone, Ava. I never expected to meet you or fall for you, but now, even the thought of being without you for a day or a week, let alone a lifetime is unfathomable.”
“I need to let you in on a little secret,” she whispered.
He leaned closer. “What?”
“I get really turned on when you use long words.”
“Do you now?” His eyes gleamed.
She winced and lifted the covers to check out her wound on the side of her hip. Ouch. “So, no long words until I’m able to take full advantage of you.”
“I’ll do my best.” He bent down and kissed her mouth. A curl of want wound its way from her lips through her ribs to her heart.
The feeling was unfathomable. It felt a lot like love.
Epilogue
Seven days later.
The fine wool of Dominic’s black jacket was too heavy for the hot, sticky humidity of Virginia in late August. His shirt clung to his back with sweat, making his skin prickle.
Ava reached for his hand even though they had an audience. She wore a plain, black sheath that hung a little loose on her too-thin frame. Flat shoes and bare legs. The glass bead bracelet she favored was wrapped around her wrist.
She’d lost weight in the days since she’d been shot and was struggling to find an appetite despite her mother cooking all her favorite Greek dishes. Dominic, however, was gonna get fat if Vera stayed much longer.
The woman obviously adored her daughter. She was standing on Ava’s other side, paying her own tribute to a man who’d helped out her family so many times in the past.
Ava had insisted on attending. He could hardly say no, even though he was worried about her. She was healing well according to her doctors, but she looked pale…
Van’s daughters stood beside him. Heads held high even though they must be feeling the terror left over from the last time they’d stood in this same spot. The FBI had stationed sniper teams in all the high locations in the surrounding area. No one was taking any chances this time.
The priest was preaching a lot more fervently than last time. No more hastily arranged words. No speeding to get the man in consecrated ground before anyone discovered he wasn’t really allowed to be there.
The crowd of mourners was in the hundreds today. Agents from far and wide had come to honor their fallen colleague with all the reverence and pageantry that Van Stamos deserved. The FBI Director and Assistant Attorney General were both in attendance although doing their level best not to look at him or Ava. Frazer, Rooney, and Parker were here. Fernando Chavez had traveled in from Reno. The Gabanys, Van’s neighbors.
All thanks to the woman who now held his hand like he was the pin in her grenade.
He allowed a single tear to fall this time. Van had meant the world to Dominic and he’d been ruthlessly murdered as had so many others. Dominic would always blame himself for not seeing through Suzanna Bernier’s facade to her true nature. He’d never be able to make it up to the man, except by taking care of Ava.
Not that that was the reason behind his actions. Loving Ava was a compulsion and one he had no intention of resisting. Free will was an illusion. He was Ava’s now. Always.
After the ceremony, Ava and her mother waited for the family to pay their respects before placing flowers on the grave in an old Greek tradition. He watched Ava remove the glass bead bracelet from her wrist and lay it gently amidst the flowers.
Soon, Dominic found himself standing near a familiar, gnarled oak tree trying to keep Ava in the shade while Vera chatted to Van’s family.
He looked at her. Taking in her pale skin, bloodless lips. He cupped her face in his hands. “You okay?”
She pushed the dark sunglasses she wore to the top of her head. Shadows underscored her hazel eyes. “Tired,” she admitted.
“Feel up to going to the wake?” he asked.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
He wanted to put his hand around her shoulder or hug her waist, but the healing gunshot wounds made it impossible. He settled for squeezing her fingers.
“What I really want,” she leaned closer, looking at his mouth. “Is for my mother to go home so we can have some privacy.”
His lips twitched. “Privacy huh? I didn’t think you were up for that yet.”
He was kidding, but her pupils flared.
“We’re clever enough to figure something out.” Her smile was positively sinful.
He pulled her closer and rested his lips against her brow. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Dominic spotted Mallory waving to them, and they headed across the grass to meet her and Parker, who looked ready to head back to their newborn. Ava’s mom steamed ahead like the force of nature she was.
The smell of crushed grass rose up and teased old memories. For once the scent didn’t evoke grief and suffering. It reminded him of the power of love and also of how much love needed to be tended and nurtured.
“I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Ava Kanas.”
She stopped and blinked at him with a shocked expression on her face. “Are you proposing to me in a graveyard, Dominic Sheridan?”
“I’m not proposing in a graveyard.” He turned towards her with a grin. “I’m telling you that I am going to propose to you, and you need to prepare yourself.”
“Prepare myself?” she quizzed.