The man who’d taken her had been anxiously staring at the computer for the last few minutes. Hearing the sound, he looked at her from over his shoulder and smiled. “Showtime.” He turned back to the computer, hit a couple keys, then said, “Nice of you to finally join us.”
Lexi’s heart physically ached when she heard Trevor’s voice for the first time since she’d left for work that morning.
“Let me talk to Lexi.”
Fresh tears fell, despite the effort she’d put forth to hold them back.
“You’re not the one giving orders here, Soldier Boy. I am.”
There was a slight pause and then, “May I talk to Lexi...please.”
“That’s more like it.”
The man moved to the side, and there he was. “Trevor,” she whispered, trying valiantly to keep it together as she saw his face on the screen.
He was home. She recognized the picture on the wall in the background as the one hanging in his living room. God, she wished she were there with him.
“Hey, angel.” he smiled back at her. It was hard to tell, but he looked as though he was on the verge of crying himself. “I’m so sorry, Lex.”
She shook her head against the hard wood, the back of her hair pulling when it got caught in the groove. “It’s not your fault, Trevor. I know he says it is, but I know the truth about what happened that day. You told me the story, remember? I don’t blame you, Trevor. This isn’t your fault. It’s his.” Lexi glared at the man standing to the side, anger sparking in his eyes from her words.
“Mine?” he yelled at her. “This is not my fault, it’shis.” The guy’s arm flew out to his side as he pointed to the computer screen. “He’sthe one who gave the order for her to go into that building.He’sthe one who knew Omar Hadim was a traitor.He—”
“Told her he didn’t trust Hadim, but LISA wouldn’t listen!” Lexi yelled back. Her own words took her by surprise, but damn it...she’d had enough of this shit.
“Baby, no.” She heard Trevor’s voice warning her, but it was too late. The man was already stomping over toward her, hatred and determination filling his entire being. He grabbed the hand towel from the floor near the bucket of water.
“She doesn’t know what she’s saying, Young,” Trevor yelled through the computer. At least she had a last name, now. “She wasn’t there.Iwas. And you’re right. This is all on me.”
“You’re damn right it’s on you,” the man—whose last name was apparently Young—said. He then started to bring the towel down toward her face.
“No!” Trevor’s loud voice came through the computer’s speakers. “Don’t do this, Anthony. Lisa wouldn’t have wanted this. She wouldn’t have wanted any of this.”
The man froze, then. Slowly, he turned from her and looked back at Trevor. “You don’t get to talk about what Lisa would have wanted. You didn’t know her like I did, so stop pretending you gave a damn about her.”
“Lexi, look at me,” Trevor’s order rushed out quickly. Of course, Lexi looked him right in the eyes. Sad, tortured eyes that conveyed so much pain and anguish it broke her heart in two. “Ah, God, baby. I’m so sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.”
“I love you.”
Crap.That was not the way she wanted to say it for the first time. But she had no idea what this man was about to do to her, and if this was the last time she got to speak to Trevor, she had to say it now, while she had the chance.
“I know it’s early, but I needed you to know in case—”
The towel was placed over her face, stealing her precious view. However, she could still hear his voice.
“Young! Look at me. Don’t do this to her, man. She’s not a part of this.”
“You love her. Just like I loved Lisa. This is the only way you’ll truly understand the pain you’ve caused.”
“I...I don’t love her. We just started dating. I know what you’re trying to do, but hurting her is not going to cause me the pain you think it will.”
Lexi lay there, listening as her heart shattered for a completely different reason than before. Almost instantly, her entire body went numb.How could I have been so wrong?
Thankfully, the towel hid her tears as a sense of utter mortification began to sink in. She’d just professed her love for a man who, though he seemed genuinely upset by her being held against her will and hurt, apparently had no true feelings for her whatsoever.
But why look so torn up when she first saw him?Of course. I’m such an idiot.The man blamed himself for what happened to Lisa. Something similar is now happening to her.
History was repeating itself, and all those memories were coming back to him. His being upset had nothing to do with the fact that he loved her. Trevor was a protector. It was his job, and right now, he was thinking this was the second time he’d failed.
