She stared at him a moment as his words sunk in. “You want me to go to Cañon City?”
Wade wanted to close his eyes. To shake his head and tell her to pretend he’d never said a word. To take her hand, pull her toward him, and—
No. Thinking like that would do neither of them any good.
“I want you to go home. To Boston.”
His words hung in the air like an icicle, ready to drop and inflict pain on the most unsuspecting person.
“Boston,” she repeated, as if she’d never heard the word before. Then, carefully, in a measured tone, she said, “There is nothing for me in Boston. My life is here, with you.”
“It isn’t safe here. And I won’t be responsible if what’s happening hurts you in any way. I’ve already made up my mind. You’re going home.”
Her eyes filled with water, and she looked away as she pressed a hand to her stomach. Then she looked back at him, the unshed tears replaced with a fire he recognized all too well. “I’m going nowhere. Like it or not, you’re my husband, which means my place is here with you.”
Why did she have to make this more difficult than it already was? He swallowed and tried backing down some. “Please, Hazel. I’m afraid I can’t keep you safe here. I’ll sleep better knowing you’re back East.”
“Will you?” she asked softly as her eyes continued to blaze.
He wouldn’t. Not at all. But that would pass with time.
“Go upstairs and pack,” he said again.
She answered by crossing her arms.
Please don’t make me hurt her. He sent up the prayer and waited, but all Hazel did was lift her chin.
Fine. It was better to break her heart than to risk her life. He only hoped it wouldn’t break him too.
“I’ll file for the annulment the next time I’m in Cañon City. You’ll be free to marry again, if you choose.” The words sounded foreign as he spoke them, as if someone were speaking for him.
Her eyes widened some and her hands tightened around her body. “You wish to end our marriage?”
Her voice was higher-pitched, more strained than usual, and it ripped into Wade’s heart like an axe into wood. “Yes,” he forced himself to say.
“I don’t understand.” Her mouth pinched together. “If you’re so fearful for my life, why don’t I simply spend a few days in Crest Stone? Then I could return.”
It wasn’t far enough away. Trenton—or whoever was behind all of this—could find her there easily. And even if it ended peacefully, what was to keep it from happening again? He couldn’t be responsible for her life.
Because if he failed, he would never be the same.
She deserved better than that.
“You’re going to Boston. I’ll have the annulment papers sent to you there. Now get packing or I’ll do it for you.” He waited, the outside of him harder than any stone, but the inside crumbling like ground under a plow.
She shifted. He was getting to her.Please go on up the stairs.
She stayed put.
He took a deep breath, despising every inch of himself. “I don’t love you. I don’t wish to be married to you any longer. Now go pack your things.” He forced himself to look her in the eyes.
The fire in them blazed and sputtered, strength drowned with tears. She turned and ran up the stairs.
Wade gripped the banister. He’d ensured he’d never become his father.
And he’d ensured he’d be alone, forever.
