“I did lie to you,” I say firmly. She looks shocked by that. “I will not deny it. I lied. But I didn’t lie about what you think. I didn’t cheat on you. I would never, and I meannever, do that to you.” I step closer to her, putting my hands on her cheeks. “I love you, Angel, and I would never hurt you like that. You’re the only woman for me. I mean that.”
Her bottom lip trembles and her eyes fill with tears.
“I don’t believe you.”
Those words hurt, but not nearly as much as she’s hurting right now, I bet.
“Let me tell you the truth,” I plead.
“I don’t—”
“If you still don’t want me here after I tell you the truth, I’ll go. At least let me tell you.”
She steps back out of my grip. “Fine.”
I sigh, sitting on the bed and running a hand through my hair.
“I… had Gunner locked up in a cabin.”
Her eyes go wide. “You what?” she hisses, moving further back, her grip tightening on the baby.
“I know you told me to let it go, but I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t sleep knowing he was out there, and then he—”
“This is your fault,” she whispers.
“What?” I say.
“You’re the reason he showed up here! He was angry because of what you did!”
“No, let me finish.”
“Get out, Grizz,” she says through gritted teeth. “Get out and don’t ever come back. I never want to see you again.”
“Angel—”
“Get out!” she screams, causing Dorothea to start crying.
It breaks my fucking heart, but I do as she says. Each footstep is harder than the last but staying is only going to hurt her more—and stress out the baby.
Anastacia doesn’t want me here, so I’ll go. I only wish she’d let me finish telling her the truth first, because she didn’t get the entire story.
The hallway is empty when I leave the room. I make my way down stairs with my tail between my legs. The mess is cleaned up, as good as it’ll be for now. At least the body is gone, but the floor is still stained.
“Everything okay?” Snapper asks.
“Nah. Not even close.”
“Did you tell her the truth?” he asks.
“As much as I could, but she wouldn’t let me finish. She blames this on me, which I guess is my fault.”
“No, it’s not,” Tommy says. “He was showing up at our house first.”
“I know that, but she’s not ready to hear the truth yet. She’s upset. She needs time.”
“You’re a good man, Grizz,” Tommy says, giving me a hug.
“Thanks,” I say, emotion clogging my throat. “Not only for that, but for ending that fucker.”
