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She glances between us again, then softly answers, "No. I didn't give him any instructions about my security or your involvement."
I continue, "So you had no idea?"
She shakes her head. I release an anxious breath, then turn to Noah. I warn, "Do not ever make decisions for my wife again that aren't yours to make, or Iwillkill you."
I reach for Blakely's waist and lead her out of the room.
She once again protests, this time stronger than before. "Riggs!"
Ears shouts, "Riggs, get back here."
I ignore all of them. I guide her into Ears's office, then lock the door. I step in front of it so she can't leave, and assert, "You can be pissed at me for as long as you want, but no one will handle your security but me. Are we clear?"
She stares at me, her lips quivering, and I hate myself for the look on her face. I know I've hurt her beyond the point I ever thought I could. I can see the pain and fear. And time hasn't healed anything. She looks just as upset as she did a week ago when I saw her at Apartment Thirteen.
My heart thumps hard against my chest cavity. I want to clutch it, but I'm trying not to appear weak. I need her to know that I'm still the strong man she fell in love with and nothing has changed. I try to calm my voice. I declare, "Noah will never protect you the way I can. There's going to be a lot of people who want you. Your single's number one. Your career is just getting started. You have to have good security. No, scratch that. You have to have the best security. And I'm the one who can provide the best. You know this, pet."
She blinks hard, her eyes filling with water.
I step forward, sliding my palms on her cheeks, admitting, "I've never fucked up so badly. I know I hurt you, and I'm sorry. I promise you I'll never do anything like that again. I willneverbreak your trust again."
A tear slides down her cheek, rolling between my fingers. Her lips quiver harder, her voice cracking when she says, "I don't know how I could ever trust you again, Riggs."
Everything inside me breaks into pieces. "Don't say that."
"It's true," she claims.
In a desperate voice, I beg, "I need you to forgive me, pet. Please."
More tears fall, and she shakes her head, whispering, "I can't right now. I want to, but I can't."
My core shatters. My heart hurts more than I ever thought it could. I add, "What do I need to do? I've stayed away. I've—"
"You call this staying away? You almost killed Noah," she cries out.
The sound of his name on her lips angers me further. "He's lucky I didn't kill him after what he's done."
"You can't just rush in here and do that," she claims.
I try to stay calm, but it's hard. I'm doing a horrible job at it. I grit my teeth, claiming, "He took me off your schedule. He eliminated me from your security. He did this without your permission. Why are you sticking up for him?" The thought that maybe something has happened between them goes through my mind, and my chest tightens.
She squeezes her eyes shut, taking long breaths.
"Tell me you're not with him." I bite out the words.
Her eyes fly open. "Why would you say that?"
Relief fills me. "I'm sorry. I just—"
"You don't have a right to accuse me of things after what you've done. I'm not the one who screwed us up," she reminds me.
I hold my hands in the air. "I know."
She turns away.
"Look at me," I demand.
She obeys, making the ache in me grow. It's a reminder of everything we have, everything I've lost, and everything I need again. Moments pass between us. I finally question, "What did you tell me you wanted for your career? When we went through all those negotiations, what did you tell me was most important?"
