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Thank fuck.
I move closer to her again, and before she can take a step away from me, I wrap my arms around her and hold her tightly. “Just let me touch you. Please.”
I feel her nod.
“This is all I ever wanted,” I admit. “Life has been hell without you.”
“I was scared, Alek,” she whispers. “Your world almost killed me a couple of times. I didn’t dare try to make contact. I’ve built a life in Pasadena for Vincent and me. A happy one.” She pulls back so she can see my face. “It’s good to see you. It really is.” She shakes her head, her eyes shimmering with tears. “But I can’t pick up where we left off. I’ve moved on.”
No.
NoNoNoNoNo!
Carefully she extracts herself from my hold, and she gives me another compassionate look. “I need to get Vincent home. Maybe we can meet for coffee?”
What. The. Fuck.
Every crack she filled, every broken piece she mended – it all shatters open like a hemorrhaging wound.
Not thinking straight – not thinking at all, I grab hold of her and force her deeper into the cottage.
“Alek!” Everleigh shouts, her voice tight with confusion and panic. “Let go!”
I force her into my bedroom, and yanking the door shut, I lock it so she can’t escape.
She bangs her fists against the door. “Alek, let me out. Don’t do this. Please. God. Alek. Please.”
I press my forehead to the door. “I can’t lose you again. I won’t.”
“Please, Alek,” she sobs. “I need to see Vincent. Don’t do this to me.” She sobs uncontrollably, and it makes a tear roll down my cheek. “I’m begging you. Please, open the door.”
I feel a hand on my shoulder, and my head snaps up. Seeing Alexei, some of the feverish insanity lifts.
“What are you doing, son?”
I give him a desperate look. “I can’t lose her. Not again.”
He pulls me away from the door, and keeping his hand on my shoulder, he says, “You can’t keep her locked up, Alek. That’s not how we do things.”
“She’ll leave,” I exclaim, my voice filled with panic.
“But she won’t die.” He nods to the door. “Unlock it.”
I shake my head, which makes him give me a look filled with warning.
“Unlock the door, Alek. The girl’s not going to disappear. We know she’s alive and will be able to track her from now on. We can find her in seconds.”
His words manage to calm me enough for me to realize what I’ve done.
I’ve just attempted to kidnap Everleigh for a second time.
With our history and all the torture we suffered, that’s the worst thing I could’ve done to her.
Hurrying, I unlock the door and shove it open. Everleigh’s body slams into mine, and she starts to hit me. I don’t feel any of the blows as she shrieks, “How dare you! How dare you do that to me? You were there. You know what I went through. How could you do that?”
I wrap my arms around her and ramble apology after apology, “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I’m so fucking sorry. Forgive me.”
Yanking free from me, she rushes down the hallway. Her voice is hoarse from crying. “I’m taking my son, and I’m leaving.”
