“For revenge,” I say.
“For control,” he corrects.
My throat tightens.
“You, Paige and Mallorie stay here,” he says. “Arrow won’t leave the perimeter. No one comes in or out without my approval. Your mother is on her way. And I’ll be back. Hopefully before nightfall.”
I step forward before I can think better of it and press my forehead against his chest. His arms come around me instantly, strong and certain and devastatingly careful.
“This scares me,” I admit. “Youscare me.”
His chin rests briefly on the top of my head.
“You terrify me,” he murmurs.
I pull back, blinking up at him.
His eyes darken. “You make me want to survive this. My life has never been a priority for me before now. But you’ve given me something I never had before. Someone to live for.”
My heart stumbles over itself.
“Be safe,” I whisper.
He presses a kiss to my forehead then turns away to speak with Arrow. They both head outside to discuss the next move, leaving behind a silence louder than the gunshots.
Paige sits on the edge of the bed, her knees drawn up to her chin, fingers twisting the hem of her sleeve.
“Mom?” she asks quietly.
I sit beside her, taking her hands in mine. “Yes, sweetheart?”
“Did you… really not know about Dad?”
The question makes me feel like an idiot—like I’ve failed my own daughter, even though I know that’s not her intention.
“No,” I say honestly. “I didn’t.”
She frowns. “But he worked in exports. And risk. And all that stuff.”
“Yes,” I agree. “And he was very good at making everything look legitimate.”
I pause, still figuring out how to put all this into words.
“He shut me out, Paige. It happened gradually over the years. First it was the promotions, then the work trips, then the long hours. And before I knew it, he’d be gone for weeks at a time and I stopped questioning it.”
“Why?”
“Because I found all the love I needed right here,” I say, brushing her hair back gently. “With you.”
Her bottom lip trembles.
I take a deep breath. “And toward the end, he wasn’t just distant. He was cruel. I didn’t move us across the country on a whim, love. I did it to keep you safe.”
Her brows knit, not following.
“He hit me, Paige. Badly. There was no way I was going to let him do the same to you.”
My daughter’s eyes widen in horror.
