Mia spoke up. “Why would she be involved with the DA’s office? It makes no sense.”
Her voice was the only thing keeping Damien from pulling the trigger. All he saw was blood and death and his sister’s killer.
The ADA was a second away from his last breath. Damien would avenge Melanie’s killing. He would set everything right.
“Didn’t he tell you? That little whore thought she could rat us all out to the fucking FBI. She was all set to take down Marcelo and your dear old dad. He asked me to make sure she couldn’t.”
“You’re lying.”
The ADA motioned at Damien. “Ask your boyfriend. That locket he wears around his neck? She had it on the night she died. Said it was the only thing her mother ever gave her. You know, she was so far gone, she even tried to give it to me for a hit.” Willows shrugged. “I told her she could pay me back in other ways.”
Damien couldn’t listen to another word. He stepped forward and pushed the gun harder into the man’s head. “On your knees.”
The ADA slid to the floor.
“Don’t. Damien, don’t kill him. Please. Think about the future, not the past.”
“He doesn’t deserve to live.”
“No, he doesn’t. But your baby deserves a father.”
His finger jumped on the trigger. Melanie deserved vengeance. All the years he had lived with the guilt of her death. No matter how many days went by, the pain never eased. He’d driven her to overdose. He’d been the chain around her neck.
He fingered the locket hanging against his chest as he thought over all the crimes he’d committed. All the things he’d done for Marcelo because his big sister was gone.
Someone needed to suffer. It should be the man who killed Melanie.
“I love you, Damien. Please. Don’t let your baby grow up without you.”
Mia’s words cut deep. He’d known somewhere deep inside that she loved him. But to hear her say it in the same breath as she spoke about their unborn child?
Damien closed his eyes for a second and saw the future Mia talked about. The one where they were together and free from the cartel and the District Attorney’s office. If there was even a chance that it could happen…
Didn’t he have to try? This was his shot to prove he was a good man. To show her he could swim in the light and not just tread water in the dark.
He whipped the gun around. “Guess it’s your lucky day, Mr. ADA.” He slammed the butt of the pistol into the side of his head and the ADA crumpled to the floor.
Mia almost tackled him in a hug. “Thank you, Damien. Thank you.”
He flicked the safety on the gun and shoved it in his waistband. “Don’t thank me yet. We’ve still got to figure a way out of this mess.”
With Mia holding tight to his side, they hustled out of the warehouse. The bright sun shone down on their heads and Damien couldn’t believe his luck. Mia was safe, he was alive, and they had a chance to breathe.
Damien pulled her into his car and started the engine. It wasn’t long before they were miles away from the ADA and his dirty henchmen. He parked in an empty lot and turned to Mia.
There were so many things he wanted to say. So many questions to ask. But all he could see was the light in her eyes. Hope lingered just below the dark surface, swirling like melted chocolate.
He had to ask. “You’re really pregnant? You weren’t just saying that to…I mean it wasn’t just to get me to…”
Mia leaned across the console and planted a kiss on his lips to shut him up. “Yes. I’m really pregnant.”
Christ. Damien didn’t know what to do, where to look, or what to say. He rubbed the back of his neck. “Are you happy about it?”
She slid back onto her side of the car. “Are you?”
He thought about what a child would mean. Late nights and early mornings. Diapers and bottles and the kind of life he’d only dreamed of. Damien reached out and grabbed her hand.
The smile that spread across his face echoed his words. “I’m thrilled…Terrified, too.”
Mia laughed. “What, a bad man like you, scared of a baby?”
He knew she was trying to be funny, but the words rang true in his mind. Damien squeezed her hand. “That’s just it, Mia. I am a bad man. I shouldn’t be a father.”
“Stop it.”
“I’ve killed people.”
“For a reason.” She reached up and cupped the side of his face. “Everything you did was for a reason. You told me yourself, every hit took out someone worthy. They weren’t good people.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It does to me.” She stroked the edge of his jaw and Damien wanted to believe her.