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“Yes.” As soon as the words left my lips yesterday I wanted to take them back, and then she walked past me. It took every ounce of willpower I have not to reach out to her and beg for forgiveness. I don’t deserve it though. Something I keep telling myself over and over. Lake is the only one who knows the guilt I’m struggling with right now.
“You need to open up to her. Take her to dinner or one of your clubs tonight. I’ve had eyes all over Manhattan the past couple weeks, and there’s been no sign of Tripp. With you and the plainclothes security detail, it should be okay.”
“If she agrees to spend time with me. She was pissed yesterday.”
“Rightfully so.” He cocks an eyebrow at me. “But she misses you. She smiles when she looks at photos of you. She looks for your face in the room whether you’re there or not.”
“Morning.” Sawyer walks in already dressed for the day in a navy suit. “I have the chopper coming in an hour and a half.”
“Okay, I’ll go get ready, then.”
“Wake Liv up on your way. In case she wants to shower before we leave. She doesn’t need to pack, I had more clothes delivered to our apartments. She’s got clothes in all four now.”
“Did you even ask her first? It’s a bit presumptive.”
“No. I’m not planning on letting her leave again.”
“Same,” Nolan says as he walks in. “So you better fix what you fucked up yesterday,” he says pointing at me. “Because where Livvy goes, I go.”
Liv is getting up when I walk into the living room. I watch her stretch, the tank top she slept in shows an expanse of skin that is finally free of bruising. I do note how she winces as she rubs her ribs though.
She turns and looks at me with her golden brown eyes. There’s a hollow emptiness there today, all the spark that was there last night is gone. My chest aches thinking about the range of emotions she’s gone through in the past few weeks. At least last night she had spark and fire back in those beautiful eyes.
“The helicopter is coming to get us in a little over an hour if you want to shower.” My tone is harsh, and her gaze hardens in response. I barely hold back a smirk, at least I got a little life back in her this morning. She’s already pissed at me, a little more prodding can’t hurt. “We can’t get behind schedule so try to be on time.”
“I’ll do my best,” she sasses as I walk away.
I take a shower and dress in a pair of jeans and a Henley. I stay in my room until I hear the helicopter land. Liv’s holding Sawyer’s hand as they board, so I guess he’s not in the doghouse like Nolan and I seem to be.
I give both Lake and Nolan a one-arm hug and remind them to be careful and have each other’s backs. Sharpe is short for sharpshooter, the alias that he goes by in our circle. He’s one of highest paid assassins in North America and not someone to mess with. I’ll be concerned until they get back from this side mission.
“Look who’s holding us up,” Liv says as I climb in beside her.
The flight goes by about the same. Liv either ignoring me or getting sassy and me pushing her buttons. No regrets though, it’s actually kind of fun to antagonize her.
When we touch down on the roof of our building, I get out first and offer my hand to Liv. She grabs the handle instead and gets out with no help. We both look at Sawyer, waiting for him to get out, but he stays seated.
“I have to fly to Philadelphia for a meeting with clients. I won’t be back until tomorrow evening.” He leans out of the chopper and pulls Liv in for a long and thorough kiss. When they break apart, he whispers something in her ear, and she blushes.
When I hold my arm out for her, she brushes past me and heads for the steel door to the stairs. When I look back at Sawyer, he mouths “fix it” before sliding back into the seat. I jog over to where she’s waiting by the door and punch in the code, so she knows it.
“You can just let me into Sawyer’s apartment. I’ll be fine there until tomorrow.”
“No can do, Princess. You’re going to have to stay with me tonight.” I lead her over to my door.
“I don’t need you to babysit me. I won’t leave, I don’t even have anywhere to go.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” I push my door open for her. “You’re coming with me to one of my clubs tonight.”
She blinks a few times. “You’re taking me out? Is it safe?”
“Liv.” I back her up against the door, caging her between my arms, “I would never put you in harm's way. Ever.” My eyes bounce back and forth between hers, imploring her to believe me. “I know things have been tense, but I need you to know that you are safe with me, always.”
She tilts her head back a little and nods. The movement brings our lips within a breath of each other. My control is slipping, all it would take for me to give in and feast on her mouth is a brush of her hand on me. She keeps the distance though, so I back up marginally.
The space between us reminds me of why I can’t have her. Why I don’t deserve her. I push off the wall and stalk over the sofa table, grabbing the tablet that controls everything in my apartment.
“You can control everything in the apartment from this.” I turn to hand it to her and see her standing with her jaw dropped.
