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“Angel,” I whispered, lightly touching her hair with my fingertips.
She jolted, eyes flashing open, and flew off the bed to the opposite side of me. She shook her head rapidly as her swollen, red eyes went wide.
“Get out!” she screamed. “Get. Out!”
“Baby, you have it wrong.” I raised my hands in surrender, to assure her she was safe.
“No! I was there.” Her body shook. Rage flashed in her baby blues. “I saw Carla and the bed…” She gripped her stomach, bending at the waist. “You… you ma… make… me s… sick…”
It killed me to see her shaking and stuttering.Christ, I’m a bastard for letting this happen.
“I want… t… to go… home.” She wiped her face, keeping her eyes downcast, wincing in pain. Her voice was hoarse. She lookedandsounded broken.
“You are home, Angel.”
“Don’t! Call me that!” she yelled at the top of her lungs, grabbing a water bottle off the nightstand. She lobbed it at my face. I ducked just in the nick of time and it hit the door.
I exhaled a frustrated breath. “Angel…”
“You sonofabitch! Don’t… don’t… call me that…” Tears streamed down her face. She pointed a trembling finger. “Are you… so… so fucking… heart,” she paused, putting her hand on her chest, gasping for air, “heartless. Don’t you... c, care... an ounce about me? Tormenting me after you betrayed me with… with her!” It tore me up to see her turn into the wall and choke back her emotions. Like the strong woman I knew her to be, she fought her tears with all her might. She hated appearing weak, but a sob ripped from her lungs despite her efforts.
Her agonizing wails gutted me. Never had I heard anything so painful and heart-wrenching. I couldn’t let her go on believing I fucked Carla, but she was so damn stubborn and unwilling to hear me out.
Only one thing left to do:make her listen.
I caged her in, placing my arms on either side. Pressing my lips to her temple, I pushed her head against the cement wall. My body surrounded her, not giving her an inch to move or fight.
“My stubborn Angel. You will fuckin’ hear me out. Right this fuckin’ second.” My words came out in an angry, unyielding voice. Couldn’t help it. I was beyond frustrated, not with her but with the situation. “I amneverletting you go. Do you hear me? Never.” I leaned into her body, inhaling her unique scent. “You’re mine, mine since you were a little girl. You’ll forever be mine. Just like I’m yours,Maddy. I. Am. Yours.”
Her body trembled as she cried, but she didn’t fight or yell. I believed she wanted me to prove I didn’t cheat. I could.Right the fuck now.
“Let me prove I didn’t touch that bitch. Prove our bed is still sacred. Only you have ever been in it, Angel. I told you the first night you stayed at the clubhouse. I didn’t lie to you. You gonna let me show you what you saw was a lie?”
I kissed her head, waiting for her reply. I didn’t like her taking so long, but she’d be reasonable. She’d want proof.
Madeline stared me dead in the eyes, a challenging glint in hers. “Knock yourself out,” she whispered in a ragged breath.
I pressed my lips to her forehead, holding them in place. Sassy little shit. I loved this side of her. The fighter, take-no-shit side. She pushed me at every turn. Made me want to be a better man. Worthy of her love and trust.
“Okay, Angel. Let’s go to my office.” I took her hand, and she let me. She was giving me a chance.
I opened the door, finding AJ still standing there. His eyes ping-ponged between Madeline and me. He seemed to be searching her face. A tight jaw and fisted hands told me he was ready to defend her. It pissed me off when it shouldn’t.
“Thought I told you to leave.” I went toe to toe with him.
AJ held his head high. “I stayed for Madeline.”
I pressed my lips thin. “But I—”
Madeline squeezed my hand, stopping the ass-chewing I was about to give AJ. She was right. Now wasn’t the time to get into it with the prospect. She was my priority.
I nodded, leading Madeline away. As we passed through the kitchen, she kept her head down. Sugar and Tina were at the island.
Sugar stepped toward us. “Storm is she—”
“Not now, Sugar.”
