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Christian punched Frankie square in the nose before he could finish and shoves him away. Christian gripped his chin and pummels his face. Blood dripped from Frankie’s nose.
“You’re not going to touch her! She’s mine!” Christian shouted, but before he could land another blow, Frankie’s guys ran into the room, yanking Christian off Frankie and knocking him out cold.
Frankie rose to his feet, staggered backward, and spit a wad of blood to the ground. He used the back of his hand to wipe his mouth.
“You stupid bitch,” he snarled, making his way toward me, and punched me in the face until everything went dark.
* * *
I wake up to the sound of my name and a throbbing pain in my skull.
“Sadie.”
I blink a few times until the room comes into focus and my gaze collides with Christian.
“Wh-what happened?”
“Frankie. He fucking betrayed me.” Christian shook his head, and after a short pause, he added, “Sadie, he was going to do things to you and…” He shudders.
Why was he tied up?
“Tell me why you never told me I had a daughter.” Christian demanded softly, but I could see the pain whirling inside him.
I close my eyes, sucking in a deep breath, trying not to fall apart by reliving the memories that almost cost my and Sophia’s lives.
“I thought…I…you had a miscarriage.” Christian sounded hurt. I glanced up and saw desperation and regret in his eyes.
“I was protecting her.” I choke the words out. There’s a sharp pain in my heart, like a heart attack waiting to happen.
“I wouldn’t hurt her.”
I snapped my head back at him and laughed. “Really? You don’t remember beating the hell out of me? Almost leaving me for dead when I was seven months pregnant? I had her two months early, Christian!” I snap.
I think back to all the times he hurt me, and not just physically. He mentally broke me, forcing me to turn my heart to stone so I would never allow anyone near me. I felt unlovable, the way my father made me feel. Dad always said I wasn’t worth it.
“I—” Christian quietly cried. He sucked in a breath. “I’m so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you.”
What the hell is happening right now?
A beat of silence.
He stared at me with eyes full of anguish.
“I’m sorry,” is all he said on repeat.
For the first time in a long time, I saw the vulnerability in his face, and a sign of the innocent boy he once was.
“Are you okay?” he asked in a whisper.
I’m not okay. I don’t think I’ll ever be okay, not after what happened here today.
“How did you find out about Sophia?” I asked, ignoring his question.
He shifts in the chair. “I always knew where you were. I kept tabs on you by having one of my guys follow you. One day he saw you holding a baby that was three months old. I knew then she was mine.”
I didn’t respond. This boy made my life a living hell my junior year and has tried to kill me twice since he was released from jail. Why is he acting like he wants to save me? I mean, seriously. What the hell is going on?
“What happened to you when you came back from that job, Christian? You weren’t the same when you came back. Did it have anything to do with what Frankie was talking about? About a new boss?”
