Prisoner (All of You Book 1) (19 page)

She props her weight up on my right shoulder, and smiles up at me.  I am in heaven.  I was killed during my match with the Angel of Death, and I am in heaven.  There’s no other explanation for why this gorgeous woman would love me, and want me.  There’s no reason for what’s happening.  It’s like God sent her to save me; to love me.  It’s like she’s my angel. 

“Lani, don’t ever leave me like that again.  Don’t get mad at me and storm out, without even giving me your phone number.  You have to talk to me, Lani.”

“Okay.”  She nods, and places a kiss on my smooth cheek.  “You look so good, I don’t know which I like better, with the beard or without.”

“I know how I like you: brunette.  When are you going to dye it back?”

She shrugs, but doesn’t answer me.  “Doctor Dad said I need to help you bathe.  Killian said I could bring you some real clothes.  Do you like jeans, or cargo pants?”  She rolls off the bed, and grabs my right hand for me to follow her.

“You don’t have to buy me clothes, Lani.  You don’t have to buy me anything.”  For ten years, I didn’t think I’d be out of prison.  I never thought I’d be sitting in a nice hotel, with a beautiful woman.  I never thought I’d be able to speak to my kids.  And she did it all.  “I can’t ever repay you for what you’ve already done for me.  I can’t give you anything.”

“You have something to give me.”  She sighs a little, and I see her pretty bottom lip jut out.  God, her fucking mouth does something to me each and every time.

I stare at her, blankly, and finally shrug my shoulders.  “What?”

“You.  You give me what no one else ever has.”  I still have no idea what she’s talking about.  “You give me you.  You hold nothing back, Antony.  You give me everything, you give me all of you.  And it’s all I’ll ever want from you.”

My emotions are already high.  I’ve already cried on the phone with my kids.  So when she says those words, it touches something deep inside me.  I feel the tears coming, and I squeeze my eyelids shut tightly.  But it doesn’t stop them.  My shoulders shudder, and a sob escapes from deep in my chest. 

She crawls back onto me, and shushes me.  “It’s okay, Tony.  Everything’s going to be okay.  I promise.  I’m never going to let you down, and I’m never going to let anything happen to you.  You’re mine, and I’m going to take care of you.”  She covers my cheeks with kisses, until I’ve calmed down.  Then she states firmly, “Which includes bathing you, and dressing you.  Come on, darling, let me take care of you.”

I let her wipe my tears, and kiss my lips gently.  I let her crawl off the bed, and I let her pull me off of it.  She fills the tub, while I remove the sling and the shirt, and push my pants to the floor.  She looks over my body, probably the first time she’s seen me nude and not hard.  Her eyes still grow wide at the sight. 

“I swear Tony, I’ve never seen anything like you before.”

“I know the feeling,” I reply, as I climb into the tub.  “I’ll let you buy me some clothes, but nothing expensive, if Burke will let you.”

She washes me carefully, and I watch her.  “Tony, can I ask you a question?”  I nod.  I feel like my life is finally here, where I’m supposed to be. “Will you marry me?”

And I know for sure, my life is complete.  Everything is going to be okay, as long as I have this woman in my life.  As long as she’s with me, nothing will defeat me.  Us, I think, as she waits for my answer.  “Yes, I’ll marry you, baby.”  She smiles up at me.  I know this is why I lived through hell, to get to heaven.

I don’t know how long I will be free, or if I will have to go back to prison.  I don’t know what tomorrow holds for me.  But what I do know, is that as long as Lani loves me, everything will be okay.

Thanks again for reading!  I hope you enjoyed Tony and Lani’s story, and I hope you look forward to more of them in book 2!