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Tears clouded her vision. The girls... How would she protect the girls who would be left without a silent advocate in their corner?
Ziva lowered her head in defeat, and her entire body went limp. Alex, now with the gun in his hand, swooped her up against his bare chest with the free hand.
“It’s okay. I have you.” His voice was soft and consoling.
Ziva was full of anguish and pain. She didn’t want to give in. She’d worked so hard, stayed so strong. Lost so much.
Tears burst through and rolled down her cheeks. She sobbed uncontrollably, letting go of everything she’d held inside for years. The harrowing injustice she’d fought against, the hope for the future of Tabiq she’d held in her heart. When he pulled her into his chest, her arms reached up and clung to him. I don’t want this jerk to hold me, but it’s been so long since I’ve been held. So long since my father’s arms held me and soothed me. I’ve been so alone.
“Let it all out, Ziva.”
She didn’t want to enjoy being held by him. How was it possible his strength was becoming hers? This was a man she wanted to hate. He was evil, yet here she was drawn to him. What kind of person am I? Am I just as bad as he is? I know what he’s done, but I couldn’t pull the trigger. I couldn’t stop him. Whatever he does now is my fault. I’m as guilty as he is.
Even with that knowledge, she couldn’t pull away. Alex wiped the tears from her cheeks. She raised her head to look at him, another mistake. His eyes were as soft as she’d dreamed they’d be. As his head came toward hers, she closed her eyes and parted her lips in anticipation.
He didn’t claim her lips roughly, as she thought he would. Instead, he was so gentle and tender that she quivered from the touch. Ziva wanted to pull him closer. She wanted to hide in the feeling of calm and forget the emotional turmoil she always felt.
“Ziva.” His voice was husky against her lips.
Her name never sounded so sweet. She wanted to hear him call her name again and again. Ziva’s hand ran down his bare chest, and Alex covered hers with his. His tongue traced her lips before darting inside. He tasted like sugar and coffee as her tongue entwined with his.
She needed more, so much more. “Alex I... I.”
Then she pulled herself away. This may be what she wanted, but it wasn’t right. He was Alex Henderson, the man who just forced himself on a poor girl. No matter what she thought she wanted, it wasn’t this. It couldn’t be this.
Pushing herself away from him, she ran back into her room and out the door, slamming it behind her. She needed to get away from him. Not for his sake but for hers. She thought she had the strength and fortitude to finish what she’d started. She was wrong. He was a charmer. A snake and master manipulator. He’d have me in his bed, thinking he could control me too. It won’t happen. Not now, not ever.
