Page 51 of Savage Salvation

But that’s all I’m aware of around me when I see Isaac’s contact on my phone. Quickly rejecting the call, I silence the ringer and move to pull on a pair of joggers and a tank.

“Let’s go. But please, take it easy.”

He smiles, wrapping an arm around my lower back and hauling me against him. “Yes, ma’am.”

We head to the gym but don’t get much accomplished because he has the attention span of a toddler when it involves focusing on a task other than having his hands on me.

“I need to get changed for work.” The statement doesn’t make him happy, but it’s something he’ll have to get used to.

“Kinsley, you don’t have to go in. You don’t have to work. Let me take care of you.”

I step in front of him, lifting on my tippy toes, and place a kiss on his lips. “You do that by letting me take care of myself. I’ll sleep here. I’ll stay with you. But I need to work there. Even if some controlling jackass owns the building.”

He doesn’t argue and instead says, “Then let me buy you breakfast. We can stop at RD’s, and you can get an omelet with bell peppers and bacon.”

“Your minions even told you what I like to eat?” I shake my head, moving to walk away as he holds me to him.

“I asked Isaac to watch you. I was friends with Ryan so I could watch him and be closer to you. But I kept my eyes on you. Just because I kept a distance, doesn’t mean I wasn’t paying attention.”

What the hell am I gonna do with him? “That’s called stalking.”

“Sue me.” He smirks, kissing me as I head upstairs and change. He’s already showered and waiting on me when I get back downstairs, so we head out.

When we step out of the door, Gage is attempting to convince me to allow him to shuttle me to and from work when I hear my name bellowed from behind the entrance gate. When I look over, I see Isaac. Waving like a madman, attempting to get my attention. Which he has. But he’s also got Gage’s as well.

“Kins, please. I need to talk to you. Just a minute.”

Gage shouts some graphic threats and profanity as he heads in Isaac’s direction.

I quickly move in front of him, my back to Isaac as I plead with Gage to stop. Surprisingly he does, but when we step in the opposite direction of Isaac, heading back up the driveway, Isaac yells, “Tell her.”

Those words send a shiver down my spine because it’s what Gage said to Isaac when I found out he’d only been my friend because of Gage.

Gage’s face remains steadfast, the muscle in his jaw flexes as his teeth clench.

“What now?” I ask to no response. Turning to look at Isaac, I move to walk in his direction when Gage’s hand clasps mine, his fingers intertwining, but I shake him off.

“What is it?” I ask Isaac as Gage steps behind me.

Isaac’s eyes look over my shoulder where Gage is standing.

It’s Gage who breaks the silence as he moves beside me. “It was a lie. The letter.”

No. Out of everything I expected to come out of his mouth, that was the last thing I’d ever feared. “No. You’re lying. This is a trick.”

“I wish it were. But I know the sadistic bastard was telling the truth. I’m so sorry.”

“Sorry?” The word leaves my mouth in a screech as I turn to Gage who’s watching yet another part of my life unravel. “You knew. And you didn’t tell me.”

“You would’ve left. The letter was the only thing keeping you here. I sure as fuck wasn’t.”

“This is why. You knew how important getting that letter was and you still didn’t tell me the truth.”

“That’s why I didn’t. I knew it would break you. I knew it would crush you, take away what little hope you had. And yeah, I’m a selfish fucking bastard when it comes to you because I don’t want to lose you.”

“It was only about you. It always is.”

“I won’t apologize, Kinsley. I won’t be sorry for wanting to hold onto you so tight that I’m willing to break my own fucking neck to keep you. You are my letter. You are my last straw. And I can’t lose you.”