Page 192 of Trust No One

“I can’t leave you here by yourself. God, Raine, you’re out here in the middle of nowhere.”

“I said I’m fine.”

As if I hadn’t spoken, he said, “We were a good team.”

“A long time ago.”

“We could be again. I like Molly. I’m very open to raising her as our own.”

He’d wanted children. But whenever he’d mentioned it, I’d shift to another topic. When he’d suggested I have my IUD pulled, I’d agreed. But I’d never followed through.

“Get out of my house, Ken.”

“Haven’t I proven myself to you? Can you at least hear me out?”

“I’ve heard you.” My cell was in my pocket. The gun against my back. Even if I could pull the weapon . . . could I pull the trigger?

His mild expression hardened with annoyance. “Is this about Judson? He your white knight again?”

“I can take care of myself.”

In a blink, he closed the distance between us and grabbed my arm. “We—you and I—are going to talk. Like adults,” he said, teeth clenched.

My arm throbbed. The once-kind face had turned menacing. “I have nothing to say. I’m out of words.”

“You’ve created a lot of problems for me.” He pushed me down hard into a chair. Gripping my chin, he tipped my face up. “We’re going to sort this out. Don’t move.”

“What are you going to do?”

“First, I’m getting you ice for that cheek. We don’t want it to swell. Then I’m making us coffee. Or would you like wine? I know how you like your white wine.”

My cheek throbbed. “Get out of my house.” My teeth clenched so tight my jaw ached.

He removed ice from the freezer and dumped the cubes into a red-and-white-checkered towel. Kneeling in front of me, he pressed it to my red, swelling face. The ice burned. Hissing, I jerked back. He held me in place.

“I know I screwed up last year, but I thought you’d come back to me after Pete’s attack. I was nice to you. I took care of you. I proved that I loved you. But instead, you packed up and came to this relic.”

He’d arrived so quickly at the hospital. My head had been pounding and the pain meds had kicked in. He’d talked to doctors and nurses, taking charge.

“What are you saying?”

His grip tightened. His face hovered inches from mine. “I saved you. That must count for something.”

From a man he’d sent to me. Ken had never done anything for no reason, and most favors involved money. “How much do you owe in gambling debts?” I asked wearily.

Eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

“How much do you owe? I know about some of it, but there must be more.”

A smile softened his face. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

“I don’t believe you.”

His grip slackened.

I pulled my head back and met his gaze. “You put Pete up to both attacks. The guy had a history of hurting women. Wouldn’t have taken much to sic him on me.”

His eyes chilled. “Why would I do that?”