Page 202 of 912321

“I showed up because you’re hurt.”

Her eyes narrow slightly, like she regrets giving me the opening. I feel something tighten in my chest, but I don’t move. Because if I move, I’ll close the distance again. And I don’t trust what happens if I do. “You’ve been going out every night,” I say instead.

“So that’s what this is…”

“No.” But it doesn’t sound convincing even to me.

She stands again, slower this time, testing her balance as if she’s trying to prove she can leave without assistance, and she almost makes it. Almost. Then her weight shifts wrong for a second too long and I move without thinking, catching her before she fully compensates.

She stiffens instantly in my grip. “Don’t,” she says.

I let go immediately but I didn't step back. Because she’s still not fully stable, and she knows it too even if she refuses to admit it.

“I’m leaving,” she says again.

“No,” I answer.

“I don’t take orders from you.”

“I’m not giving you a choice,” I say. “You’re not walking out like this.”

She looks at me for a long second, then she exhales sharply and looks away like she’s done fighting that specific part of the argument. “This is your place,” she says.

“Yes.”

“Great,” she mutters. “Then, I’ll go.”

“You’re staying.”

That makes her look back again. And now there’s something else under the anger, something she’s been holding back for longer than this conversation.

“You don’t actually want me to go…”

“I never wanted you far from me, Mireya,” I replied before looking down at her. “Sit down.”

“I told you, I’m fine.”

“You’re not.”

“I fucking am, Mister Caldwell.”

Not my name…

“I don’t like that, don’t call me that.”

“Is fucking liar Caldwell better?”

I looked at her one last time before grabbing my keys and my phone, “You stay here and rest, I’m a text away if you need anything.”

I don’t leave right away. I’m still in the room and I’m down in front of her the next second. My knees hit the floor and I don’t think about it twice. She doesn’t move, not away, not toward me. My hand goes to her cheek before I can talk myself out of it.

Then I feel it when my fingers slide lower to her neck. The marks there are faint but enough to make me feel an anger I've never felt before. Something tightens in my chest so hard it almost pulls the air out of me. It’s been so long since I felt so disappointed to not be able to protect someone like that. So long since I felt a madness as strong as the one I’m feeling right now. I want to kill that person. I really do.

I don’t say anything for a second because if I do, it’s going to come out wrong. Instead I let my head drop onto her thigh.

I breathe out against her like I’ve been underwater for so long.

“Fuck,” I say quietly. “I was worried.”