Page 58 of Grant’s Blaze

“I said, what the fuck was that all about?”

“And I’m saying I don’t know,” I retorted. “Just calm down, okay? We’ll figure this out.”

She threw the water bottle aside. “Gee thanks, Sherlock. I feel a hell of a lot better.”

I circled my gaze around. “What the hell is going on? Why am I on the floor? Why is all the bedding on the floor? And Jesus Christ, baby. What happened to your neck?”

I surged to my feet and rushed to her, but she skittered back until she thumped into the wall. The terrified look on her face told me everything I needed to know.

I froze right where I was but couldn’t stop my concern. “Holy fuck. Oh, baby…”

On pure instinct, I reached out to her again. With a shivering yelp, she flattened herself against the wall even more.

“Are you okay?” I whispered, finally dropping my arm. She just stared at me. “Please, Rio, just tell me if you’re okay.” I clawed the back of my neck and held on for dear life but never took my eyes off her. “Do you need medical attention? I understand why you don’t want me near you right now.”

Tears flooded my eyes, but the last thing she needed to see was me falling apart on top of everything else. I swallowed roughly and tried to get a handle on the emotional pain choking me like a vise.

Not about you right now, man. Not about you.

“I’m fine.”

The small voice that emanated from her was more terrifying than her fury. At once, I hated it. And I hated myself for being the cause of it. I hated looking at how she scooped up the water bottle from the floor and then clutched it like a damn life preserver.

Because now she needed saving. From me.

“I’m going to call Elijah to come stay with you so you feel safe. I’ll leave when he gets here.” I studied the weave of the soaked area rug beneath my feet while I spoke. I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her, but I didn’t know what else to offer her right then. The way she kept cowering… It was tearing my heart out, vein by painful vein.

“No. You’ll do no such thing.” She raised her chin in defiance, even though her voice was hoarse. I tossed all my vital organs into the shredder as soon as her desperate tears began. “Don’t you dare leave me, Grant Twombley. You said you would never leave me!”

“I’m so sorry, Blaze.” I took one step toward her but forced myself to stop. That was enough for now. “Please,” I begged. “Do you at least hear what I’m saying? You don’t have to accept my apology, but please at least hear me giving it.”

One hot tear rolled down my cheek, and I dashed it away, hoping she hadn’t seen my weakness. “Please, Rio. Know that I am so sorry. I would never willingly hurt you.” But that fucker of a tear was joined by another. And then another. I put my whole face in the cradle of my hands and then fought to wipe the damn things away. I couldn’t keep up with how fast they were falling, and I loathed the fact that she was seeing me like this.

When I finally looked up, all I could do was stare at her. I felt as terrified as she looked.

How did the best night I could remember in my whole life go so wrong?

“Can I get you some tea? It might help your throat feel better.” I made some awkward gesture toward my throat, as if she wasn’t aware where I just tried to strangle her while she slept beside me. “Please…let me do something for you.” Anything. Just some sort of penance that would start healing the gaping wound in my chest.

“Grant, stop,” she rebuked. “You don’t have to wait on me. I’m not going to be able to go into work like this unless I leave right now and go home for different clothes that will cover my neck.”

She winced after saying it, but why bother hiding the facts? We were going to have to stare at the reality of what I’d done until the marks healed anyway.

“Can’t you just take the day off?” I asked in what I thought was an innocent suggestion.

“No, I can’t just take the day off!” she barked suddenly, and I fought not to noticeably recoil.

It wasn’t that I was that sensitive. I just wasn’t used to her biting my head off. But I couldn’t say I didn’t deserve it.

Rio sighed heavily and let her shoulders drop. “It’s only my second day back. What would that look like if I was already taking the day off? Everyone already thinks I’m a flaky basket case. I don’t want to always prove them right, you know?”

I huffed. “Damn it, Rio. People don’t think—”

“Just don’t, okay? Not right now. I’m going to head out so I can go by my place and get some different clothes. I’ll check in with you later in the day.”

While I was trying to figure out the safest way to say goodbye to her, she had already turned and walked out. I heard her punch in the code to disarm the security alarm, and then she slipped out the door that led to the garage. I’d completely forgotten she’d parked her Fiat in there when she’d come over.

How had that been less than twenty-four hours ago?