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“Absolutely nothing,” I said, sharper now. “You seem to keep forgetting, I’m not your little puppy. I’m doing all this because Iwantto.”
Theo rounded on me. “How could you want something like that? Or choose to return to a situation where your attempted killer is known to hang out?”
“You mean, what the fuck is wrong withme?” I stepped so close, my toes hit the tips of his shoes. “Why don’t you just ask what you wanna ask, Sax. Like, how am I so screwed up that I’m right back in the situation that nearly killed me? Or, why is it I’m so mental that you were forced to reveal yourself at the sake of getting arrested? Of contacting an FBI agent in order to trap me? Of doing all the things that expose you, because your ex-girlfriend can’t seem to get her act together—”
“Those are your issues, not mine,” he snarled. “I’m only here to get my brother back to my father, as requested.”
I reeled, anger popping like a soap bubble. I was nothing but a task at hand. I needed to remember that. “How can you be so…?”
“Cruel? Because telling me you got that bullet wound willingly is like me saying I gotthis”—he indicated the scar on his face—“because I volunteered for it.”
“How did you get it?”
Theo balked, as if he were readying for my retort but received honest concern instead. I was surprised at myself, since I’d much rather spar with an opponent than try to understand them. But this was Theo.Myformer Theo. And he was hurt, when I wasn’t there and stopped looking for him, when I’d given up. Somehow, that added a layer of guilt to my anger, in the way that during these years, I assumed I was the only one who suffered, and how utterly wrong that was.
You still love him because he’s broken.
Brows pulled in, I dismissed the thought.
“I…” His lips pressed together, jaw hard.
“Was it Trace? Did he do that to you?”
Theo remained silent, but I caught the almost imperceptible movement of his chin to the side.
“It was your father,” I said.
“It’s nothing for you to be concerned over,” he said, and it shouldn’t have, but the dismissal hurt.
“Why? What happened?”
“I told you. Don’t worry about it.”
“Talk to me, Sax.”
“Scarlet,” he warned.
“Do you think I’d consider you weak if you told me?”
Theo had been staring at something behind me, refusing any sort of contact. But, the instant I asked the question, his eyesclinkedagainst mine.
I should have heeded his warning.
He strode forward and tangled his fingers with mine, still gripping the towel.
“My scar is apparent every time you look at me,” he said. “Yours isn’t. You can’t know what that’s like.”
Unblinking, I pushed his hands away. And dropped the towel.
He hissed in a breath.
“I changed my mind,” I said, watching how he roamed, a panther stalking its territory. “Stare all you want.”
“This is how I want you,” he said, though it was gravelly. Not his natural voice at all. “Naked and standing.”
Somehow, I felt strengthened, despite being in my birthday suit while he was fully clothed. Standing straighter, my quickened breaths heaving my breasts, I was empowered in front of him. Not on the floor, not folded up into a protective ball. Standing, as me. A natural brunette.
A scarred woman.
