"You could lose millions."
"I have millions."
She stared at me for a long moment. Then, very quietly, she whispered, "I’m scared."
The admission hit me harder than anger had. Anna almost never admitted fear out loud.
I shifted closer instinctively.
"You don’t have to do this alone anymore," I murmured.
Her eyes closed briefly. When they opened again, they were wet.
"I spent so long trying to convince myself it wasn’t that bad," she whispered. "That maybe I was overreacting. Maybe I was too sensitive. Maybe if I’d just stayed quieter or calmer or easier to deal with?—"
"Stop."
She blinked at me.
"His behavior is not your responsibility," I said carefully.
Her lips trembled. A tear slid down her cheek.
I wanted Tobias back in front of me, wanted another chance at him.
I lifted my hand carefully and wiped her tears away with my thumb.
"He doesn’t get to touch you again," I assured.
She looked at me like she wanted to believe that more than anything.
"I mean it."
"I know."
I studied her face for another second before pulling her gently toward me. This time she came willingly. Her forehead pressed against my chest while my arms wrapped around her carefully, like I was holding something fragile and furious at the world for making her feel breakable in the first place.
"He won’t come near you again."
"How’s that going to happen?" she asked.
"We will fight together. Do you trust me?"
Her eyes searched mine. "Yes. I trust you, Jace."
Those words knotted something deep inside me. I pulled her close again, her head resting on my chest.
Hearing her say she trusted me, straight from her own mouth, was the best feeling I’d had all day. It was enough to make the storm inside me go quiet.
No matter what happened, I wouldn’t let Tobias lay another finger on her again. As long as I was alive, he wouldn’t touch her life anymore.
CHAPTER 22
Anna
I expected a restaurant when Jace said he was taking us somewhere. Maybe a drive along the coast. Or one of those overpriced Miami brunch places where the mimosas came in glasses bigger than my head and the avocado toast cost more than a tank of gas.
What I got was a private plane.
