Page 24 of Sworn to Defend
He leaned back, kissing her temple. “You should know I’m not going to be the only one at your back,” he murmured.
Her hands dropped to the front of his shirt, and she nudged her palms against his chest. “What do you mean?” she said, eyes wary.
“Silver and a veteran buddy of ours, Iron, are coming.”
“Why?” Her nose wrinkled in confusion. Adorable.
“Because you and Collin are part of the fold, and we take care of our own. Because my team saw the change in me the night we met. If the unexpected happens or it’s all too much, I feel a hell of a lot better having three other adults who can help you get Collin somewhere safe. Plus, we still don’t know about your little sister. How far will your parents go to ensure this union happens?”
“All the way down the aisle.” Hannah’s hand left his shirt, and she pinched the bridge of her nose. “They can be very influential when they want to be. Fortunately, Vivi has been privy to that her entire life.”
All the pent-up tension in his shoulders and back deflated. She wouldn’t shut him out. She’d trust him to have her back and that was everything. “Let’s go get Collin. Then we’ve got a flight to catch.”
Chapter Thirteen
Hannah had serious doubts about how they’d make it to the airport. They’d done it, though—although even she couldn’t be sure what was packed in her suitcase. She’d thrown essentials into a bag along with Collin’s things, which she’d packed at the beginning of the week. Now, that suitcase was rolling down the conveyer belt behind the airport’s check-in counter. “Okay?” Hunter squeezed her shoulder, and she nodded. She was not okay and they both knew it. Her head was still spinning with the range of emotions she’d experienced in the last fifteen hours. Devastation hit hard and fast when she was told her crash-scene patient hadn’t survived. She hadn’t experienced that level of despair on the job in a while, and when she left the hospital, it felt as though the life was drained out of her. It had been a physically and emotionally draining shift, and she just had nothing left when she slumped against the wall.
Then Hunter was there, right when she needed him, lifting her off the ground. The emotional support he’d quietly given was utterly selfless. A safe space to grieve without questions or demands. He’d brought her home, helped her shower and change, then let her sleep. The chemistry between them was explosive and she loved that he didn’t play games. Was transparent with his feelings for her and Collin. She’d lied and told him she was falling. But she was already there. Hunter had the power to shatter her heart, but he wouldn’t. That trust was freeing. What allowed her to fully open up to him.
Warmth blanketed her when Hunter paused and began pointing out the security checkpoint. “The next step is waiting in the security line. It’s a long one, but that’s okay. We can brainstorm new pizza ideas.”
“What happens after?” Collin’s gaze was fixated on the line, and he snapped his fingers at his sides.
“First we get through the line, then we’ll get something to eat on the way to our terminal.”
“The gate terminal is where the plane parks to pick up passengers.”
“That’s exactly right.” She placed a reassuring hand on her son’s back. This was his first time flying. She’d always opted to drive out of concern that the airport would be a sensory nightmare for him, but with Hunter there, too, the experience felt more manageable. They’d spent the past few nights reading a social story about the airport and what to expect from air travel. They stepped into one of the queued lines and prepared to wait. The line didn’t disappoint, holding them back for a good half an hour. Collin had done great, though, talking pizza with Hunter. By the time they reached the security agents with their latex blue gloves, Collin’s stimming had increased, which wasn’t surprising in the least. The place was bustling with the shuffling of feet, final boarding calls over the intercom, and dozens of pieces of luggage clattering over the tile floor. It was a lot for her to take in, never mind someone with sensitivity to sensory input. The security agent called them forward.
“License,” the woman grunted. After combing through the information, they moved to the next set of employees.
“Collin, you’re going to have to take off your shoes and put them with mine in this bucket.”
“Take off my shoes,” he repeated, angling his body to slip them off one at a time. He clutched her shoulder to stabilize himself.
“Keep the line moving,” a security agent yelled in their direction. Her head snapped up, and her scalp began to tingle with pinpricks of anxiety. She didn’t tolerate people being rude to Collin. She’d rather get kicked off of the flight than have him be made uncomfortable.
“Keep the line moving. Keep the line moving,” Collin whispered under his breath.
He didn’t care for the feel of noise-canceling headphones, but she was sure wishing she’d brought some regardless. “Take your time, bud,” she reassured him even as her chest tightened. Collin might love to dart around, moving as quickly as he could, but tasks that required more coordination, like standing on one foot to take off his shoe, took a bit more time.
“Come on. Let’s go! Shoes in the bucket.”
She glared at the security agent and opened her mouth that they needed a minute and he could damn well wait, but Hunter’s large hand landed on her back.
“Wait here.” His voice was soft, his expression blank, but she noticed the tick in his jaw as he clenched his teeth. Hunter was a beautiful man, but he never looked so downright perfect as he did approaching the metal detector, beckoning the security agent to come closer. They were too far away to make out what he was saying, which she was grateful for. Right now, Collin was so focused on putting his shoes in the bin, he wasn’t aware of what was happening around him. As Hunter spoke, the security officer held up both hands, palms facing out, then put one to his chest, as though apologizing. Hunter turned toward them and held one arm out signaling they could join him.
You’re mine. Collin is mine. I’m not prepared to think about losing you, but you have to know I will take care of him.
Hunter’s words from earlier replayed in her head. Fear and stubbornness almost kept her from giving him a chance, and wouldn’t that have been the biggest mistake of her life? In him, she’d found a confidant she could trust with anything. Someone strong enough to carry some of life’s pressing weight. A man who loved her so thoroughly she saw literal stars when she closed her eyes and regained her breath. Before she was worried that he’d meet her family and decide she wasn’t worth the trouble. Now, she just wanted this wedding to be over so she could go home with the two most important men in her life.
“Can I go through?” Collin clapped his hands as he looked at her and Hunter, then back at the arched metal detector.
“Of course. Please step forward,” the security agent said to Collin and took a step back.
Collin walked through the metal detector and laughed when he got to the other side. “Can I have my shoes back?”
“Your shoes go through that box right there. Have you ever been for an X-ray before?” the man asked.