Sable is best for me, but her brother is a detriment to my family.
Angela tapped on the door before opening it. When she stepped out of the way, I lost my breath at the sight of Sable. Her cheeks were rosy from the February chill in the air and her silky, mahogany, windblown locks framed her face.
“Come in, Ms. Flynn,” my father said.
Sable took her time as she looked around the office before entering. Her body was clothed in items that I didn’t buy for her. She wore a black hoodie, because she didn’t have a fucking coat, and faded jeans that should have seen the trashcan two years ago. Her black combat boots were scuffed and worn down.
The designer princess I’d created had disappeared in a matter of days. We might not be together, but I would not allow her to go without.
“I’m sorry if I’m interrupting.” She looked at my father. “But I need a few minutes with Milo if that’s okay.”
“Take all the minutes you need.” My father nodded at me. “Remember what I said.” He turned and exited the office, closing the door behind him.
Resolution. How could I forget?
Now that I stared into Sable’s eyes, the resolution I wanted was to kiss the shit out of her and make her forget what I did to her in that cabin.
“Your head.” She delicately ran her fingers over the lump on my forehead. “I’m sorry that happened to you while you were searching for me.”
Another one of her brother’s stupid choices. He brought Sable into enemy territory during a storm, leaving her vulnerable and in harm’s way.
“Just a mild concussion.” I backed away from her because I couldn’t accept her kindness. Not after I had left her behind. “I’m fine.”
She dropped her hand by her side and stepped back. Wounding her made me feel like a pile of shit.
“Don’t look like that,” I said.
“Like what?”
“Defeated and hurt.”
“I’m not hurt,” she said, raising her voice. “I’m pissed.”
“Why?” If she didn’t constantly defend her fuck up of a brother, we wouldn’t be in this position.
“You paid my rent.” She glared at me. “And somehow you managed to deposit money into my empty bank account.”
“So?” I leaned against my desk, trying to figure out what I had done wrong. “I’m going to continue to take care of you even if we’re not together.”
“Except I don’t want anything from you.”
I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to grab her and make her understand that I could do whatever I wanted. She had already shredded my heart, doing more damage than any of myenemies could. Hell, a bullet to the head would have been easier to endure. The pain she inflicted was foreign to me. She had left my heart exposed when she ripped opened my chest and tortured my soul.
After everything we went through, she had the audacity to tell me she didn’t want my help?She doesn’t get to tell me what to do!If I wanted to support her, then that was what I would do.
“I don’t want your money, and I don’t need you to pay my rent.” She reached for the clasp on her bracelet. “And I’m not keeping this.”
“Don’t you dare.” Blind rage devoured me over the thought of losing my only link to her. The one way I could keep her safe. I lunged toward her and grabbed her wrist. “I told you never to take that off.”
“You don’t get to tell me what to do anymore.” She struggled against my firm hold. “You lost that right when you walked out on me.”
“That’s not how this works.” I yanked her toward me, and with my grip still firm on her wrist, I leaned into her face.
“Stop acting like you own me,” she said.
“What makes you think you’re the one calling the shots?”
TWO
