The expression ‘he was my everything’ was not usually so literal.
“The contents of this box is our future, little girl.”He spun on his heel, and for the first time, I could see the relief etched into his handsome features, the brow that had once been furrowed finally permitted to relax.
“Yourfuture,” I corrected, still perturbed by the realization that I had nothing.
How could I have been so naïve?
Yes, I’d been desperate to get out of Britain, and I’d needed Harper’s help to accomplish that, but how had I thought I’d survive once we’d crossed the border?I couldn’t just expect the man who used to reign over my misery to be my savior forever.I wasn’t living in a fairy tale.Christ, hadn’t Fortorus well and truly taught me that lesson?
Staring at the black deposit box, it was all so clear.The lust Harper and I shared had been my ticket out of hell, but I’d been an idiot to expect it to mean more.
“I mean, nothing in there is mine.”My voice sounded distant, as though it was coming from somewhere else in the room.
“Where’s this coming from?”He frowned, and leaving the box, he wandered toward me.“You know I’ll take care of you, Caroline.”
He was right by my chair then, towering over me in that way he’d done so many times before, but in the haze of my new awareness, I couldn’t find the will to lift my chin and meet his demanding gaze.
“I know you love me now, Sir.”Tears burned in my eyes, but I blinked them away angrily.Crying wasn’t going to fucking help me.“And I love you, too, but I can’t expect you to just pay for everything from now on.That’s not how this works.”
He lowered to crouch in front of me, reaching for my trembling hand.“Hey.”
I tried to swallow back my rising emotion, but the abrupt recognition of my plight had washed over me like a tsunami.I’d swapped servitude for destitution, and the weight of my predicament seemed impossible to hold back.
“I’m just saying, it’s not your responsibility.”I choked out the words, my voice breaking over the final syllables.
“Caroline.”His tone was harder, much more like the man in uniform I remembered, and instinctively, I glanced up, my body straightening as if standing to attention.“I’m taking care of youbecauseI love you.”His tone was softer then, and slower too, as though he wanted to make sure I heard and understood every word.“But if you want to talk about responsibility, I’m sure as hell culpable.”
“No.”I sniffed back my tears.“You got me out of there.I can’t ask for anymore.”
“Then don’t ask.”He edged closer, pushing between the leggings he’d managed to find for me from somewhere in the camp.I dreaded to think where the clothing had come from, but I was still grateful for the clean change of attire.In that moment, it was all I had.“Just be willing to receive.”
Looking into his big, blue eyes, I couldn’t believe he meant what he said.Couldn’t he see that his proposal was impossible?Even before I’d spent the last year being told I was worthless, I’d have never felt comfortable with the type of wealth he clearly had.I hadn’t done anything to deserve it, and it sure as hell wasn’t mine.
“I can’t take all of this.”My focus flitted around the fancy vault.“It’s not who I am, Sir.”
Or who I was.
“You’ll do as you’re told.”He smirked at me, the order I’d heard so many times before easing some of the tension that had built up in my throat.
“Sir.”My voice was croaky.“You don’t understand.”
“I know I was instrumental in the propagated bullshit that helped you to believe you don’t deserve a decent future, and I’m going to regret that for the rest of my life, little girl.”He pulled in a sharp breath.“Please, let me at least take care of you until you’re on your feet.I’m sure you can go back to writing and earning your own money in the future if you choose to.”
Back to writing?
I blinked at him as though he was insane.The last time I’d written anything, it had been more of the populist bullshit he was referring to, at his orders, no less.I couldn’t imagine ever going back to penning fiction again.The version of me who’d enjoyed that seemed like she was from another time, and I supposed she was—the world before Fortorus.
“I know this is a lot.”His almost flawless brow creased again.“And I know I’m the cause.”
“Not you,” I breathed.“All of it.”
While I appreciated his apologies, carrying the cross of his contrition around with us wasn’t going to help.I needed him to be the same strong protector who’d pulled me out of the mire, while still permitting me to be myself.He’d have to deal with his conscience another time.
“I take responsibility for my part.”His insistent stare told me he was deadly serious.“And Iwilltake care of you.”
“Okay.”
I wasn’t especially reassured, but I accepted that there would be no arguing with him.Perhaps that was part of the strong, protector role I lusted after so much.A man who wouldn’t take no for an answer.
