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And then I freeze.
Because it’s her.
My Savannah.
The sight of her, this close, it pulls all the air out of my lungs.
She’s right there.
She’s too close.
“King.” Her voice is so quiet and tentative, it claws at my heart.
She’s still afraid of me.
Everything I’ve done to her flashes between us.
The broken lasagna pan at her feet.
“Knock that off.” I tighten my grip as I carry her away from Leland’s apartment. “I like ‘em heavy.”
“Remember what I said about shooting anyone that comes to help you?”
Making her fear Duke.
Her scream when she slipped down the steps, running away from me.
Showing her all those photos of her loved ones.
“You’ll marry me.”
Her scream before her head hit the steps, as she ran from one of my enemies.
The way she flinched.
The way I fucking hate myself.
“Can we talk?” Her voice trembles, and I force myself to look her in the eye.
Her bruises are mostly gone, only her arm brace remaining to tell of what she went through.
But she looks tired. Weary.
“Go to bed, Savannah.” I amaze myself that I even get the words out.
And before she can say more. Ask more of me. I push the door shut. And lock it.
It’s fucking childish. But I need the barrier. Because my own are failing. And if she came any closer, I’d pull her into my arms, no matter how much she fought me. And then I’d more than hate myself.
Mimicking my stance from the window, I drop my forehead against the door.
“Why won’t you come to our room?” Her question is a soft vibration in the wood.
And with the door between us, and with the image of her so fresh in my mind, I answer. “Because I get it now.” A fist tightens around my heart. “I thought…I thought I could make you…” I close my eyes. “I’ll never be able to let you go, Savannah. By letting people know you were mine, I ruined any chance you had at a normal life. And I’m sorry I can’t fix that. But I’ll leave you alone.”
“Were?” Her voice cracks, and I don’t know what emotion she’s feeling. And I’m grateful for the door, because if it’s relief… I couldn’t handle seeing that.
“You’ll always need a guard. But you’re free to do what you want. I can give you that much.”
