“You’ll be traveling with a third. She’s not exactly a criminal, but she’s had some experience living among them. I guess you could call her Batgirl.”
Sera watched as Bowen went so still, he didn’t even appear to be breathing.
That was her cue to go in, but she couldn’t judge his expression and it made her nervous. What if he couldn’t forgive her? What if he didn’t want her in Chicago? With a deep breath for courage, she left the observation area and joined the three men in the room.
Bowen locked eyes on her the second she walked through the door, intense as always, but unreadable.
Troy and Connor stood abruptly, both appearing all too eager to flee the awkward situation. On the way out, Connor laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. It caused Bowen to tense, his fingers to curl against his thighs. That telltale sign he still felt possessive toward her boosted her confidence in a much-needed way.
When the door closed behind Troy and Connor, she didn’t bother sitting.
This was her chance to explain everything and she wouldn’t waste a moment, wouldn’t risk him tuning her out again. “I asked my uncle to pick you up to keep you safe. That night in Marco’s, I overheard a discussion about everything changing on the ninth. That you wouldn’t be around for much longer after the score.” She wet her lips. “That’s why I went outside…to call him. I didn’t know any other way that wouldn’t blow my cover. And I’m only sorry because my uncle turned out to be someone untrustworthy. Not that I did it, though. I would have done anything to keep you from being hurt.”
His face remained impassive.
“I should have told you everything.
About what my brother did, how my uncle hid it. Everything that happened while I was undercover. I’m sorry I didn’t. It put us both in danger and I’ll never forgive myself.” She swallowed hard. “I don’t have an excuse, except I’ve never had anyone to confide in before. It felt like a failure and I didn’t want to face it. Didn’t want you to know I’d failed.”
“It wouldn’t have made a damn difference.”
Bowen’s rusty voice made her insides jump. Wouldn’t have. Past tense? “You told me once that you started falling for me before we met. From just a photograph.” Her voice dropped to a near-whisper. “It happened that way for me, too, in a way. Before I found out your
name,
you
were
already
overwhelming me. I saw you. It was already too late for me when I realized who you were.”
Still he said nothing, the picture of stillness in his metal chair, watching her.
“And you are not your name. You’re more. So much more. To me, you’re everything.” She drew in a deep breath.
“I need the mural artist, the fighter, the man who might have lost his way for a while, but still remained good where it counted. I want the man who loves one minute and rages the next. The man who suffers through church and makes me egg sandwiches. The man who touches me so perfectly.” His lack of response made her want to scream and cry. “I’m coming to Chicago. If you don’t want me there, too bad. I’m going to be right there, every day, standing beside you, because standing anywhere else doesn’t feel right anymore. I love you. No, I’ve loved you.
And I’m not saying take it or leave it.
I’m saying take it.” Tears blurred her vision. “Please, take it?” she finished shakily.
Every second that passed where he didn’t move or speak felt like broken glass raking over her heart, her exposed skin. He didn’t want her. Okay, okay…
she would just have to work harder.
She’d earn his trust back in Chicago and eventually he’d come around. What they had didn’t just go away overnight. Did it?
She swiped a hand over her damp eyes and turned for the door, everything moving in slow motion around her. As soon as her hand touched the knob, she heard the metal chair scrape against the floor and go flying, colliding with the opposite wall. Bowen’s body heat suddenly surrounded her, wrenching a sob from her throat. His arms banded around her from behind, molding her to his chest, warm, rapid breaths in her ear.
“Jesus Christ, Sera,” he rasped. “You just handed me everything I’ve ever wanted in this world. I needed a minute to believe it was real.” The tension in her body evaporated with his words, but Bowen simply held her tighter so she wouldn’t fall into a heap. “I love you. So fucking much I’m not sure I have room for it all.”
She let her head fall back against his shoulder, incredible relief making her movements languid. “Make room. I’m not going anywhere.”
He pointed a shaking finger at the doorknob. “That’s the last time you make me watch you walk away. Never again.
I’m keeping you, dammit.”