He visibly winced. “I was so focused on stopping Garret that I convinced myself it was the only option. That keeping you safe meant keeping you away from me. But the whole time I was gone, the only thing I could think about was you. Every day. Every hour.” He stepped closer. “Olivia, please. I’ll do whatever it takes. Tell me what you need.”
She looked at him, really looked at him. The man underneath all of it was the same one who’d put extra fries on his plate for her without being asked. Who’d carried her dying body out of a diner with his hands shaking. Who’d made her laugh, who’d made love to her for hours. Who told her she was the most beautiful girl in the world and for the first time in her life, made her truly believe it.
She wanted to forgive him. Her wolf was screaming at her, to accept his apology, to make it all okay. But it wasn’t. Not after the last three months.
“I’ll think about it,” she said.
Hope flared in his face and she held up a hand before it could take root.
“I said I’ll think about it. That’s not a yes. I don’t know if I can trust you, Eli. You’ve broken that so many times I’ve lost count.”
“No more secrets,” he said. “I’ll tell you everything. Anything you want to know, any question you have. I’m done hiding.”
“You’ve said that before.”
“And this time I’ll prove it.” He held her gaze. “Not with words. I know words aren’t enough anymore. I’ll show you.”
She studied his face for a long time. He didn’t flinch, didn’t look away.
“I don’t know,” she said. “That’s the most honest thing I can give you right now.”
“Then I’ll take it.”
Footsteps on the dock behind them. Sloane appeared around the side of the shipping container.
“Cross is here,” she said. “He’s taking the prisoners to the High Council holding facility. O’Grady, the hired men, and …” She glanced at Eli. “Garret. They’re ready to go. Olivia, you should go back to the van.”
Olivia nodded. She gave Eli once last glance. He hadn’t moved, not an inch, and the same expression remained, that hope she had tried to tamp down, but now it was mixed with raw need. She tucked it away, then turned and walked back to the van.
Chapter 17
On the way to New York, Eli made a plan. It wasn’t complicated. That’s what had gotten him here in the first place. He’d spent three months overcomplicating everything and convincing himself that the only way to protect Olivia was to leave her, that hunting Garret alone was somehow noble instead of selfish, that she and the baby were better off without him dragging his damage through their lives.
This time, he would show her. Every day, as many days as it took, he would be there. Not with speeches or grand promises. She didn’t trust his words anymore, so he’d have to do it through his actions and his presence.
Unfortunately, it seemed she was not going to make it easy.
“Go away,” Olivia said, her violet eyes flashing as soon she as spotted him outside of her condo building.
“Olivia, please,” he began. “Just give me?—”
“I said I’d think about it,” she reminded him. “Thinking requires space.”
“I know. I’m just here.”
She walked past him without slowing down and didn’t look back, and even though his wolf urged him, he didn’t follow.
The next morning, he was outside again, holding two coffees. “I heard you have a doctor’s appointment today at the Medical Wing. I could drive you.”
She stopped on the sidewalk. “How do you know about my appointment?”
“Your mom mentioned it.”
“My mother. I can’t believe this.” Olivia pinched the bridge of her nose. “Betrayed by my own mother.”
“She just wants?—”
“I know what she wants.” She eyed the coffee in his left hand. “Is that decaf?”
