Page 52 of April’s Fool

Didn’t I?

I try to snatch my hand away, to get away from his touch, but it feels like a lead weight. He doesn’t let me go either.

“Open your eyes, April. I need to see those beautiful eyes of yours,” he says softly.

I shake my head, my breathing coming faster, the beeping growing in speed.

“April, baby, you need to calm down. You’re understandably upset and have every right to be, but you gotta get your breathing under control,” he says, letting go of my hand, only to cup the side of my face.

The warmth of his hand eases me. The feeling of safety comes with it.

Slowly, I open my eyes and meet his emerald gaze. I suck in a breath, then another, before croaking out a whisper, “Why?”

He seems to know exactly what I’m asking about as he sits on the edge of my bed. “Baby, there’s a lot you don’t know, and I’ll tell you. If you don’t believe me, Kayla can tell you, she was there. Hell, she beat the fuck out of Venus for her part in it all.”

Suddenly, everything comes rushing back to me, and I realize I blocked it out. Samuel showing up at my hotel room. Him hitting me. His hand at my throat, squeezing the life out of me. Him saying he’d gotten to . . .

I try to catch my breath, but it hurts. My heart feels like it’s about to shatter even more than before. How could I be such a foolish idiot?

“Shh, sweets, it’s okay. You’re safe. I’m here.”

When he touches me, I want to believe him. Every time he touches me, I feel that way. But now I’m wondering if it’s a feeling I can trust.

Venus was right about one thing. I’ll never be enough for him. How could I be? I’m . . . I’m me. Bland. Shy. Meek.

Sure, I have no trouble speaking my mind, but I have to feel safe before I do.

I struggle to meet Fool’s gaze and speak three words that rip the rest of my heart out, “You should go.”

Fool’s eyes flash with pain before he masks it and shakes his head. He firms his grip on either side of my face without hurting me. “I’m not leaving you, April. We’re gonna talk about this. First, though, I need to know. Are you in pain? They haven’t been able to give you anything yet because they’re waiting for toxicology to come back with the blood work.”

Other than my heart breaking?

Humiliation?

Yes, I’m hurting in more ways than one, but I don’t tell him.

“I’m fine.” It’s a total lie. My throat hurts. My face hurts.

Fool narrows his gaze and strokes my cheeks with his thumbs. “You’re a shitty liar,” he whispers.

I look away and try to relax. He pulls away and takes my hand in his.

“I know what you think I did, but I wasn’t with one of the clubwhores in our room.” He gets right to the point. “After I got back and saw your car was gone, but Torpedo and Kayla were both at the clubhouse, I went up to Rimfire’s room when you didn’t answer your phone. As I was leaving his room, I noticed the door to mine was partially open. One of the clubwhores took a prospect in there. I saw them stepping out of there in the hallway camera footage.”

Wait, there are cameras in the clubhouse?

I didn’t see any.

“No one knows about the cameras except members. Not even prospects know about them until they patch in. It’s a safety feature. You wouldn’t see them. They’re concealed from anyone who might be looking.” He pauses and lets out a heavy breath. “I lost my mind when I realized what the hell happened and that they drove you away. But April, you gotta know I’m in this with you. Always. I’d never fuck you over. I meant it when I married you. No one,” he leans in, forehead pressing against mine, “no one could ever take my attention from you. You’re all I want and need.”

I suck in a breath, tears pricking my eyes, and slide down my cheeks. “You mean that?” I croak in a husky whisper.

“Damn right I mean it.” He draws back, eyes locking with mine as he reaches up to brush away my tears. “You gotta know you fuckin’ own me, woman. Have since the moment I set eyes on you.”

“You own me too,” I admit.

“We’re going to get you through this, and we’ll figure out the rest.”