The night air was crisp, but Ryan barely noticed. His focus was entirely on Mia, who felt impossibly light in his arms yet heavy with all the emotions she carried—the fear, the hurt, the lingering traces of alcohol and exhaustion. Every step toward his car felt agonizingly slow, his mind replaying the image of Daniel hovering over her, and the fury and guilt twisted in his chest.
"I've got you, Mia," he whispered softly, his voice rough with emotion. "You're safe now."
She murmured something incoherent, her eyelids fluttering, her small hands curling into his shirt. "I… sad… you…" she breathed, the words thick and slurred.
Ryan's chest tightened painfully. "I know," he said, brushing her damp hair from her forehead. "I should've been there. I should've protected you sooner. I'm so sorry, Mia. You didn't deserve any of that."
Her body relaxed slightly against him, trusting, vulnerable. Ryan's heart ached with longing. He could feel the warmth of her skin through his shirt, the rhythm of her breathing slowing as sleep tugged at her consciousness. Carefully, he lifted her into the car, her head resting against his chest, and he drove through the dimly lit streets, eyes flicking constantly to ensure no one followed.
Once home, he didn't bother turning on the lights, knowing the darkness would give her comfort. He laid her gently on his bed, tucking the blanket around her small frame. For a long moment, he simply stood there, staring, memorizing the curve of her face, the gentle rise and fall of her chest, and the way her eyelashes fanned against her cheeks.
"I'll never let anything happen to you again," he whispered, kneeling to press a soft kiss to her forehead. His fingers lingered against her hair, stroking it back as if he could somehow erase every trace of pain she'd endured.
Mia stirred, letting out a small, sleepy sigh. "Ryan…" she murmured, a trace of her confusion and lingering sadness in her tone. "Why… why didn't you come sooner?"
Ryan's jaw tightened. "I wanted to," he admitted, voice low and raw. "But I… I had things I couldn't leave, obligations, threats. But none of that matters compared to you. I should've put you first."
Her small hand reached out, brushing his wrist weakly. "It hurt," she whispered, tears welling despite the alcohol. "I felt… so alone."
Ryan felt a sharp pang of guilt, his chest constricting. "You were never alone," he said, his voice catching. "I failed you, Mia. But I'll make it right. Starting now."
She blinked up at him, the vulnerability and trust in her gaze breaking something inside him. Slowly, he moved closer, lowering himself to sit beside her on the bed. Carefully, he lifted her hand, pressing it to his chest over his heart. "Do you feel that? That's where you've always been, Mia… right here, in my heart. Every day. Every night. Even when I wasn't with you, I was thinking about you, worrying about you, hoping you'd be okay."
Mia's lips trembled, and she tucked her other hand into his, holding it against her cheek. "I… I didn't know…" she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. "I wasn't sure if… if I could trust myself… with how I felt."
Ryan's gaze softened, a faint, relieved smile tugging at his lips. "You can trust yourself," he murmured. "And you can trust me. I've never cared for anyone like I care for you. Not like this. Not ever."
Her eyes glistened with tears, and without thinking, she leaned into him, her forehead resting against his shoulder. "I… I think I love you," she confessed, her voice barely audible. "I just didn't realize it until… everything happened."
Ryan's chest swelled with relief, a warmth spreading from his heart down to his fingertips. He pulled her closer, letting her weight rest against him as he whispered, "I love you too, Mia. I've loved you for so long, even when I was too afraid to say it. But now… now I can't hide it anymore. I can't let another second go by without you knowing. You're mine, Mia. You've always been mine."
She pressed her hand to his cheek, her thumb brushing over his jaw as tears spilled freely down her face. "I'm… I'm yours," she murmured. "I've always been yours."
Ryan leaned down, brushing his lips softly over hers, a kiss filled with tenderness, apology, and longing. She responded, her arms wrapping around his neck, pulling him close. They stayed like that for what felt like hours, holding each other in the quiet intimacy of the early morning, letting the world outside cease to exist.
Finally, they broke apart slightly, foreheads pressed together, breathing in sync. "From now on," Ryan whispered, voice low but firm, "we face everything together. No more lies, no more secrets. Just you and me."
Mia nodded, a shaky smile forming on her lips. "Just us," she agreed, leaning into him once more, feeling the safety and warmth she had longed for.
Ryan held her close, stroking her hair and whispering little reassurances as she drifted into a peaceful sleep beside him. And as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains, he silently promised himself that he would never let her feel alone again. Not for a moment. Not ever.