Page 79 of Shadow Redemption
“We’ll eliminate those threats as they appear. Right now, Davidson is at the front of the line. We’re already making a splash in the media. Davidson will send his people to kill you or take me. Let’s set a trap and end this threat.” Ruth wanted Ben safe. He wouldn’t be with Davidson’s contract on his head. As long as the reward for killing Ben was on the table, assassins would keep coming until one of them succeeded.
“What if Davidson doesn’t want to kidnap you?” Ben’s voice grew rough.
She blinked. “Why wouldn’t he?”
“With Shadow guarding you, he’ll have a hard time getting to you. If he wants me to suffer, all he has to do is kill you.”
Tears stung her eyes.
“Don’t ask me to do this. I can’t lose you, Ruth. I wouldn’t survive.”
What did that mean? Although her heart longed to believe he loved her, she didn’t dare assume anything, not with a man so good at concealing his thoughts.
He cupped her cheek with his rough palm. “I love you. I know it’s too soon to tell you, but you have to understand what you’re asking of me with this plan. Losing you would shatter me into a million pieces and complete the work that Davidson and his son started.”
Ruth wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him to her for a long, tender kiss, conveying without words how much he meant to her. Equal parts joy and trepidation filled her at the knowledge that Ben Martin, her own personal guardian, loved her.
When she broke the kiss, she held his gaze with her own. “I love you, Ben. I started falling in love with you the moment you grabbed my hand, snapped out a grumpy order, and dragged me out of the stairwell in Hugo’s compound.”
He closed his eyes a moment, relief on his face. “Thank God. I was sure I’d have to beg you to let me stay in your life after this mission was finished.”
“Why would you think that?”
“Once we uncover the stalker, you won’t need me anymore.”
“I’ll always need you. Never doubt that.” Her smile faded. “I still have issues to work through.”
“No pressure. We have a lifetime to look forward to.”
“I don’t know of another man who would give me the room I need to be ready to heal without pressing for more.”
“Good thing you won’t have the chance to find out. I’m smart enough not to let you go.” Ben glanced into the suite. “We should go in.” But he watched her a moment. “You’re going through with this plan, aren’t you?”
“We’ve been on borrowed time. We won’t be reckless or foolish, but we aren’t running. We have a future to plan. Although I’ll take whatever precautions you want and follow your instructions, now is the time to end Davidson’s ugly enterprise. Instead of chasing him, we’re going to lead him into a trap and take him down for good.”
The corners of Ben’s mouth tipped up. “Listen to you, tough girl.”
Ruth grinned. “I learned from the best. Come on. I’m starving.”
When they entered the suite, Ben said, “Before we go out for dinner, we should call Bridget. We have news she’ll want to hear.”
Trace’s eyebrows winged upward. He pulled out his phone and hit speed dial. A moment later, Bridget said, “Hello, handsome.”
“Hi, beautiful. You’re on speaker with the rest of Shadow and Ruth.”
“Hi, guys. How are you, Ruth?”
“Fantastic. I have something to tell you.”
A pause, then, “Let’s hear it.”
“Ben and I are an official couple, and we love each other.”
“Good job,” Joe said to Ben. “She’s the best thing that ever happened to you, buddy.”
“Congratulations,” Nico murmured.
“Wait a minute,” Bridget said, voice sharp. “You just left Nashville with a pretend relationship for cover. You don’t really know him.”