“I wanted you.”
“I—” The sound of the door opening cuts me off, and I see Charlotte step into the room.
I stiffen when I see she’s got black eyes and a cut on her face. “What the fuck happened?” My wide eyes go to Kash.
He turns to see her standing there and speaks, ignoring my question. “We’ll finish this conversation later,” Kash tells me and then walks over to her. Placing his hands on either side of her bruised face. “Give him hell, love.” He then releases her, reaches into his pocket, and pulls out a ring.My wedding ring.Handing it over to her, he exits, leaving us alone.
She shuts the door and leans back against it, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Doll face?” I lower my voice. “What happened to you?” Fuck, I never thought I’d see her again, and I have the urge to pinch myself to make sure I’m not hallucinating or dreaming.
Her gaze drops to her shoes while mine looks over her yoga pants and my oversized T-shirt, before her tear-filled eyes slowly look up to meet mine.
I sigh. “Charlotte?—”
“You left me naked…tied to my bed.” She pulls her bottom lip in to nibble on it nervously.
“I had no…”
“Choice?” She gives a rough laugh, looking at my ring in her hand. “You’re the one who told me we always have a choice. You justchoseto leave me!” Her voice rises.
I expected everyone to hate me. That was the point. They were supposed to despise me and move on with their lives while I rotted in there.
“I needed you, and you left me.” The sound of her voice breaking makes my chest tighten.
“I left for you.”
She sniffs, and her eyes look around the room, unable to meet mine. “I…I’m sorry for what she did to you.”
I’m not sure if she’s referring to four years ago or this past week. I’m afraid to even ask how much Kashton and Saint have told her, so I say, “Charlotte, it wasn’t your fault.”
“But that’s why you wanted me, right?” Her tear-filled eyes meet mine, and I realize she’s referring to back then. “When you found out who I really was. Because of her…because of what my mother did to you and your brothers? I was your revenge.”
“Yes,” I answer her honestly.
She nods her head, her bottom lip trembling.
“But then I fell in love with you,” I add. “And none of that mattered.”
She gives a rough laugh. “How can you say none of it mattered? She tortured you. She tortured your brothers…you should have let her take what she wanted.”
“She wanted you,” I growl. That was her endgame. She wanted my wife to take over her fucked-up operation. I was just a bonus. Bill was right; Charlotte would never be the Lady that Isabella wanted her to be. She knew she needed leverage, and I was it.
“Come here, doll face,” I order softly, but she stays leaning up against the door. Pushing up off the bed, I get to my feet, wanting to walk over to her, but I sway a little and sit back onto the bed.
She’s in front of me the next second, scolding me. “Be careful.”
I part my thighs and pull her to stand between them. Her blue eyes narrow on mine. “You tricked me.Again.”
I link my fingers behind her back, holding her in place. I’m weak right now, but I feel like I can still hold her. Now if she pulls out a knife to stab me or starts swinging, she’ll win. “I did what I thought was right. When put in any kind of situation where it’s either you or me, it’ll always be you.”I’ll always put her first.
Taking in a deep breath, she places her small hands on my face as her eyes search mine. Fuck, I never thought I’d see them again any other time than in my dreams. But that’ll never compare to the real thing. “Why do you always give yourself up for everyone else?”
Jesus!How much have they told her?
“I didn’t want you to save me.”
“That’s my job?—”
