Page 137 of Allegiance

What he said in his letter…

It hadn’t been a lie.

It was the truth.

He loved her.

He wanted her.

Dakota was the one.

Finally, he found the words.

“Eve,” he said. “I don’t know how to tell you…”

Only, he didn’t get to say another word.

Why?

Well, maybe because she jumped up, wrapping her legs around his hips, so she was eye to eye with him.

“Thank you for the note. That’s what made me come here. I felt your emotion in it, and if you do all of that like you promised, I’m going to take one last chance on you. I have to protect my kids,” she said. “If you stand by me, and help me do that, I’ll be more than happy to risk my heart. I love you, too, Dakota, and I want you to be part of our baby’s life. I’m trusting you to protect this child.”

Tears filled his eyes.

He held her, burying his face in her neck.

“Evie, I’m so sorry. I was a jerk. I never should have told you to have a good life. It’s been hell. I can’t have a good life without you. I’ll do more than protect the baby. I’ll protect you and Violet too. With my life.”

She let him cry.

When she heard him being honest, and his family hadn’t warned him, she knew she’d give him another chance.

Why not?

She knew how she felt about him.

“Please don’t leave me again,” he said. “I’m an idiot on a good day. I’m an asshole on a bad one, but I mean well most of the time in between.”

Zayn laughed.

“Ehhh, he’s not wrong. If you look up confused in the dictionary, the cowboy’s picture is there under the definition.”

That was okay.

She was confused too, and they’d figure this out together as they took this journey.

Instead of making it more difficult, she lifted his head and stared into his eyes. Eve needed one thing and then, she could forget the past.

“Then make a promise. I need to know you’re in for the long haul. We made a baby, Dakota. It was an accident, but still…”

He stopped her.

“No, our child isn’t an accident. It’ll be a miracle. It’s a gift, but it will never be a mistake. Ever, and I’ll kill anyone who says that.”

She smiled.

And there was the man she wanted by her side.