“No.” I brushed my lips along hers. “I’m not going to compromise your safety or allow anyone to use you to get to me.Protecting you is non-negotiable. I fucked up when I left you vulnerable.”
“I don’t blame you for Bello.”
“I won’t do that ever again.”
As I leaned in to kiss her, a knock on the door interrupted me. Maybe that was for the best considering she was about two seconds away from betraying my heart when she chose the option that wouldn’t include me.
“I’ll get it,” I said. “Finish gathering your things. You’re not staying here.”
I caressed her cheek, resisting the impulse to declare those three words that I desperately wanted to say, but I wouldn’t sway her decision. If she wanted to stay with me, it would have to be because that was what she desired. I couldn’t influence her choice. Not while we were in the middle of a territory dispute with Medina and the other east coast families.
When the person in the hallway knocked again, I left the bedroom and answered the door.
“Ax,” I said. “Is there a problem?”
“Sorry to interrupt, but your dad wants you back at the dealership,” he said. “He’s been calling you but…” He glanced at my phone that must have fallen out of my jacket pocket when I tossed it on the floor. “You didn’t answer.”
“Come in.” I widened the door before retrieving my jacket and phone. “Shit.”
Three texts and four missed calls from my dad.Not good, Milo. Not good at all.
“What do you need me to do?” Ax asked as Sable came into the room with her backpack slung over her shoulder.
“Hi,” she said.
“Sable.” Ax took in the damage to her face before returning his attention to me with fury in his contorted expression.
“She’s stronger than she looks, but she needs some fresh ice.” I reached for her hand. “We should have taken care of that sooner.”
“I’m on it.” Ax went to the kitchenette and made Sable an ice pack. The snarl on his face assured me that when I left Sable with him she would be well-protected.
“You don’t have to fuss over me.” Sable tightened her grip around my hand. “I’m fine.”
“Stop saying that,” I said. “It’s okay if you’re not fine.”
Her irrational attitude over what she had gone through pissed me off. A man, my enemy, put his hands on her. I didn’t need her to be brave. I needed her to trust that I would never let something like this happen again. If she couldn’t accept what I had to do to make sure no one hurt her again, then so be it. I had a responsibility to protect what was mine.
She is definitely mine. I just have to give her the space to arrive at that conclusion.
“I need you to take Sable to the…” I had to let her decide where she went. “Where will Ax be taking you?”
“I don’t…” She pressed the ice to her lip. “What are my choices?”
“The safe house or the main estate.” I tucked her hair behind her ear. “It’s your choice.”
“What happens at a safe house?” she asked.
“You’ll stay there with Ax.” I didn’t like having to explain it because that meant she was considering it. “He'll make sure no one gets near you.”
“You’ll be safe there with me,” Ax said. “I promise.”
“How long would I stay there?”
“I don’t have that answer, but I heard what you said earlier about the way I live my life.” The fucked up, brutal, and violent life I wanted to spend with her. Except it wasn’t her job to fix the world I was born in to. I was the heir to a very dangerous family,and with that title came huge expectations. “I’m not going to put you in a position you don’t want to be in.”
Ax’s phone rang and he grabbed it from his pocket and looked down at the screen. “It’s your dad,” he said. “Do you want to take it?”
“Tell him I’m on my way.” I spoke to him but I didn’t take my attention away from Sable.
