Amelia returns my gaze defiantly, but my question makes her pale.
“I… damn. I didn’t want you to know this already,” she mutters quietly, more to herself, but doesn’t avoid my eyes.
“Why?”
That’s the only question I ask because I have to keep the growing disappointment in check. It’s incredibly frustrating that she doesn’t communicate openly with me, though I can understand it.
“Because I can’t prove it,” she answers simply. “When we had that press conference and I saw Richardson laughing, everything came back. He followed us with a colleague. Well, I assume it was a colleague, because he was in the passenger seat. On the day of the accident, he followed us for quite some time. Phil was upset, angry, and hurt because…” She suddenly breaks off. Herhands nervously fiddle with the blanket. She avoids my gaze, that’s clear. And even though I’d like to shake her until she tells me why Phil was so stressed, that’s not the point right now.
I nod encouragingly, and she continues hesitantly.
“Well, anyway, Richardson followed us from the castle. We were supposed to meet at theDiners Club to officially announce the engagement. He had been on our tail from the start, but suddenly he pulled alongside us. I yelled at Phil to watch out because the car was way too close, but that asshole just smiled maliciously and took pictures. With flash. That blinded Phil, and he swerved too sharply, causing us to skid. Richardson just kept driving. That bastard saw us go off the road and just drove away. I—I must have fainted briefly because when I opened my eyes we were already against the tree. He just left us there to die, Nicolas. And I can’t prove he was even there.” Her voice now trembles, and I see tears drip onto her hands.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Hate races like fire, like molten lava, through every pore of my body. I don’t doubt her words for a second, and I’d love to wipe that bastard off the face of the earth immediately. But she’s right. As long as we can’t prove anything, my hands are tied.
Imagining how my brother and she fought for their lives while that selfish bastard just took off turns my stomach.
“Hey Goldilocks, look at me.” I gently tap her under her chin, and she reluctantly lifts her head.
By God, I swear if I get my hands on that bastard, I’ll kill him with my own hands.
Her eyes shimmer moist with tears, but it’s the expression in them that gets to me, almost bringing me to my knees.
Amelia is suffering. She’s suffering, and the hopelessness in her eyes breaks me.
I don’t think, I just act, sitting down fully beside her on the bed and pulling her onto my lap, wrapping my arms aroundher delicate body and holding her tight. At first, she stiffens completely, and I expect her to free herself any second, but then she claws into my shirt and her body starts trembling uncontrollably. Her sobbing digs deep into my heart, and I feel her pain intensely.
Phil was my brother. Is my brother. But he was supposed to become her husband.
Losing a boyfriend, being forced into marriage, and made a scapegoat by the press, plus a future husband who constantly messes up. The pressure weighing on her delicate shoulders is so immense she can’t bear it. It’s impossible.
An uncomfortable tightness wraps around my chest because I’m not innocent in her situation. On the contrary, I’ve made it worse.
“Shhh, everything will be alright, Lia. I promise you that. No one will hurt you anymore, okay? You’re safe here,” I murmur into her hair, and her body trembles slightly.
“Even from you?” she murmurs, half sobbing, and I laugh bitterly because she’s not wrong.
“Even from me, if that’s what you want. Besides, you’ve got the perfect watchdog. My sister would throw me to the wolves if I gave you any crap,” I remark dryly, and now she laughs quietly.
The sound runs through me, giving me goosebumps. And when she pulls away a little and looks up at me with those blue eyes that dig into the farthest corners of my soul, I know I’m screwed. Completely under her spell.
That little hopeful sparkle in them, the hesitant smile on her lips. Fuck, I have a huge problem because I know I will do anything to protect this woman on my lap. Even if it’s against myself.
“She really would. That’s why I love her. But…” She grows nervous again, and I stroke encouragingly over her waist, soshe’ll keep talking. “…You believe me?” So cautious, so fragile. If I say the wrong thing now, she’ll shatter before my eyes.
“Yes, I do. And we’ll get the proof. I’ll have some men dig and drag everything into the light about that asshole. Including evidence that he caused the accident and wanted you to die there.”
I look at her seriously, and she nervously bites her lip. Damn, that’s innocent and sexy, and I have to be careful not to do the wrong thing.
“Okay. That’s… that’s good, I guess. I… I’m sorry for dumping all this on you.” Uncertainty and shame return, and she awkwardly crawls off my lap. I immediately miss her warmth, but I don’t want to intimidate her, so I let her go.
“You don’t have to be sorry. In two days, you’ll be my wife. You can always use me as an oversized tissue, Goldilocks,” I tease her and get a laugh in return. A real heartfelt laugh.
I stare at her, mesmerized, because I’ve only seen her face light up like this once before, and that was in The Purge. But this time it’s for me.
It hits me unprepared again, and my heart skips a beat.
