The Broken One (Falcon Falls Security, #2)

by Brittney Sahin

“I was waiting to be perfect for you, but I realize now perfection’s not achievable. For anyone, really. And if these last few days have taught me anything, it’s that feeling whole is my kind of perfect, and that’s how I feel when I’m with you.”

“I love you too. So much. And I’m so damn proud of you for working on yourself. For not quitting on yourself, on us,” she cried out softly. “Because I don’t want to live without you either.” Pressing up on her toes, she set her lips to his.

But as much as it pained Jesse, in order to keep Ella safe . . . he had to do the last thing in the world he wanted—place her in danger.

She and Jesse had finally taken a step forward in their relationship, and she prayed to God that Yuri’s surprise assault hadn’t taken them back three.

“But he deserves to be forgiven. He’s not the enemy, and your brother will see that.”

“I got you,” he mouthed, and she hoped that meant forever-forever. No steps backward, no matter what.

“You don’t have a choice. I can’t let anyone die because of me.” Her nerves came at her full swing again. Harder punches than before.

“The only thing keeping me sane is that I’ll be with you. And I know you’ll never let anything happen to me. Or to you. Because you know I wouldn’t survive losing you either.”

“You’re not just anything, damn it. You’re my whole fucking world. I’m not losing you.” Jesse’s raspy words were coated in something more. Absolute terror.

She’d just as willingly sacrifice herself for a village of strangers as she would for her niece, McKenna. In her mind, there was no choice.

“Stop apologizing. That’s not what I need from you.” She pulled back to find his eyes. “I didn’t just get you only to lose you. Or for you to lose me.”

“But if anything happens tonight,” he slowly began, “I need you to remember how much I love you. So fucking much.” He swallowed. “But don’t remarry some banker boy like Brian. I—I couldn’t handle that, even in death.” His one hand on her hip squeezed a bit tighter. “You’ll always be mine.

You’re my forever-forever. In life and in,” she said around a thick swallow, “death.”

“No, he’s a killer. You’re a hero. There’s a big difference.” She stabbed his chest while sniffling. “And tonight, you’re saving lives.”

“If you don’t want her to die, think about Ella as motivation, not as a distraction.”

“You made a promise, remember?” Thatcher reminded him of his own words. “Now it’s time to fucking keep it.”

Ella needed to serve as his motivation, not as a distraction.

“I’m never leaving your side. You’ve got me for life, you hear me?” she whispered, and he closed his eyes at her words and nearly fell back to the ground.

And moving forward, he promised he’d be a better man and teammate. And the man Ella deserved.

“Some people don’t deserve forgiveness. I’m sorry, but I won’t ever forgive him for what he did.”

“You don’t always need to forgive someone in order to move on, you just need to forgive yourself for whatever feelings or behaviors they may have inspired.”

“You’re my best friend, brother. Always will be. I just wish I could have helped.”