Runaway Hearts: Seduced by Danger

38. Segundo Opportunidad

I pack our suitcases with a sweet smile.

Our hotel room is a cocoon, a haven from the outside world, with soft lighting and plush furnishings that invited me to curl up and forget about the world’s chaos outside.

Our souls were reborn in this room, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, shedding all the weight and worries of the past and emerging anew, ready to face the world with renewed love and strength.

The intensity of my emotions overwhelms me. I’m about to set sail with the craziest man from any of my past stories.

I’ve killed so many people.

Still, not a shadow of remorse. I did what I needed to survive.

As I check Kai’s wounds from our recent actions, I frown. His thigh is swollen, but considering what we just did... maybe I should have been gentler.

But Kai interrupts my thoughts by tilting his head and lifting my chin to meet his gaze. “Don’t you dare feel guilty about that. I’m yours.”

I apply an antibiotic cream with shaking hands, trying to stave off the emotions that grip me.

“I’m yours.”

We make our way to the car.

“I’ll take the first shift,” Kai offers, putting our stuff in the trunk.

I nod, grateful for his steadying presence. As he starts the engine, I try to distract myself with music, but it’s no use.

For once, I have no idea what the next twenty-four hours hold and I don’t give a damn. I’m sick and tired of living in constant fear, always expecting the worst to happen.

Well, the worst happened. And I fucking survived it.

I loved it.

I never would’ve thought I had it in me to do what I’ve done these past weeks. Dealing with an ultrasexygerous man who requires incredible maintenance is no small feat. But I did it.

Four weeks ago, I was Marianne Milosh-Ramirez. No confidence in myself, depressed and lonely.

But now, I’m Anna Salvador.

I’ve killed to ensure our safety, and I’ve stitched my boyfriend up too many times for it to be normal.

If I buy myself a dog, I’ll name it Igor. Kai will be my Frankenstein. I’m the crazy doctor. It’s perfect.

Nay is a distant, blurry memory like it happened in another dimension. It’s only been a few days, but it’s been a lifetime ago. And the best part? I regret nothing. I’ve never felt more alive than I do with him, taking risks and living on the edge.

Together, we can face whatever comes our way.

After hours of driving, we switch places, and I see how exhausted Kai is. But we keep going, only two more hours until we reach the boat and start over. Memories flood my mind as we drive along the 101, with the vast ocean to our right. We divert inland but always come back to its stillness. It’s something I’ve been chasing for days: a moment of peace in chaos.

Kai’s face is relaxed in sleep.

We’ll make it work.

“Eureka!” I scream loud enough to burst my lungs when I see the sign.

Kai jerks awake, his hand instinctively reaching for his gun.

“We did it!” I exclaim with so much joy that my face begins to hurt. We have arrived in Eureka, alive and well. The chorus of “We are the Champions” plays in my mind, sweeping away any negative thoughts or doubts. Tears of happiness fill my eyes as I breathe in the salty, humid air.

Never again will I doubt my ability to do something.

Everything bad is behind me at last. Kai takes my hand and kisses it softly.

He directs me to the marina, where we will find safety and refuge.

I pull into the parking lot of the public marina, and “The Final Countdown” plays on the radio. I turn off the engine and sit still for a few moments, taking in the sight before me. The elegant building is lit up, cars are parked in orderly rows, and boats gently bob up and down in the water.

It’s a different world.

A world of possibilities.

A grin spreads across my face. “We made it, baby.”

He smiles back at me. “We did.”

Cozy warmth spreads through my chest. I step out of the car, taking a deep breath of the warm ocean air. The sun is just setting, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange. It’s a fabulous sight.

“Let’s make sure everything’s in order,” Kai says with a smirk.

“No departure before five a.m., please,” I read the sign aloud.

I follow Kai through the docks and freeze at the sight of “the boat.”

It’s a yacht. A freaking yacht.

As I step onto the deck of the small yacht, the salty sea air fills my lungs, and the gentle breeze tugs at my hair. The boat rocks slightly beneath my feet, as if it’s eager to set sail and explore the unknown waters.

The white, gray, and black exterior of my new home somehow sets it apart from the others. It looks like a sleek and powerful vessel fit for a secret mission.

My gaze drifts to the stairs leading down to the cabin, and a shiver of excitement runs through me. Kai looks over our surroundings, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger. I’m confident he’s got my back.

I’m sure we’ll be safe on this boat.

As Kai pulls out the keys and approaches the door, anticipation builds inside me. This small yacht may be old, but it has style, and I know it will take us on an adventure we’ll never forget.

Kai sticks himself behind me, his hand on my hips, looking like a kid on Christmas Eve. “Okay, let’s go,” he whispers.

We turn the key in the lock, and with a satisfying click, we step into our home.

The boat has a small kitchen, a living room, and plenty of cabinets. There’s also a bedroom and a bathroom. I didn’t expect it to be like an apartment, with a washer and dryer and a queen bed in the master bedroom. There’s even a smaller room with a double bed. It’s bigger and more luxurious than my apartment in Palco. The musty smell hints at its lack of recent use, but the sea air refreshes us as we open the windows. Kai drops our luggage behind the stairs and sighs.

“What?” I ask Kai, who scans our new living space with an intense gaze.

He releases a deep exhale. “This is home, now.” He beams. “With you.”

I feel like I belong here, too, as if I were coming home after a long vacation. “I love it,” I say in awe.

I crash onto the bed, making a pout because it’s hard and uncomfortable.

“We must go shopping before everything closes. I want to set sail first thing in the morning,” I wail in despair.

“Right.” Kai pouts.

He takes a quick peek into the bedroom, his gaze closed.

“Let’s go,” he commands. “We need ice cream.”

“And an espresso machine.” I smile widely, forgetting I’ve been on the run for days.

“Anything you want, love.”

We spend the next hours running errands—tedious yet essential for leaving with all the necessary supplies.

Once we’ve gathered everything, we return home and settle in.

I crash onto the new mattress we’ve purchased, the happy scent of clean linen weaving its way into my mind.

I’m safe now.

The sound of the water clapping on the boat hull is comforting.

“I’m yours.”

“We’ll make this work, right?” I ask Kai, uncertainty dripping from my lips.

Kai emerges from the bathroom, removes his shirt, and a grin spreads across my face.

He groans. “Oh, we’ll make it shine.”

He steps closer to the bed and leans in, his body moving over me. The heat radiating off his skin makes my heart race.

Without a word, I move into his embrace, my body pressing against his as our lips meet in a sweet kiss. Our tongues dance together as the passion between us ignites.

Kai presses me down on the new mattress with a hunger in his eyes that makes me weak.

“I promise one day, all of your doubts will shatter,” he whispers, his lips trailing down my body. “And that day, you’ll be mine, too.”

Yes!

We’re alive, on the boat. Safe.

Kai’s powerful frame protects my whole body.

As I release a long breath, contentment envelops me. We have found safety in each other’s embrace, and my sexy criminal stares at me with eyes that shine like the sun.

As he holds me in his strong, protective arms, I’m transported to another realm, a distant galaxy where only he and I exist. His presence fills me with warmth and security I’ve never known before.

And I know this is just the beginning.

In his embrace, I find my true home, where I don’t need to escape from my own skin. It’s now the most cherished place for me to be in the entire universe.

THE END.