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“He told me, Tarek. Van told me what you’re going to do. What the hell is wrong with you?” I snap louder this time. A growl leaves his throat before he turns and storms through the room toward Van. I see him grab him by the front of his shirt before his fist collides with his face. A scream rips from my throat as the guys move in on them. It’s quickly broken up, but now Cage stands between them.
“What the fuck is this? You two have had tension since they walked in the door,” he says to Tarek.
“He told my girl what we talked about in church!”
“You what?” Cage asks, turning to face Van now.
“I figured she’d already know.”
“Well, she didn’t, you asshole!” Tarek roars. Cage looks over at me and then back to Tarek.
“Go talk to your girl,” he says. I turn and head for the room quickly, knowing I can’t go outside with this damn bracelet on. Once inside, I walk into the bathroom and close the door. I need a minute. I need to think. How could he do that? Why would he want to do that?
I hear the door slam closed before there’s pounding on the bathroom door.
“Open the door, Pierson.”
“No. I need a minute.”
“You don’t need a minute. We need to talk.”
“Just give me a second, Tarek.”
“No! Open the goddamn door,” he roars louder as he still pounds his fists on the door. I take a deep breath and open the door to see his angry face. Even mad, he looks perfect.
“What?” I snap at him.
“You don’t understand.”
“What don’t I understand, Tarek? Huh? The fact you want to step into Dodger’s place and get in with my dad? Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?”
“I’m well aware. I also know that’s the only way to get to him.”
“You can’t do this,” I tell him as trembles wrack my body.
“I don’t have a choice. I need to make sure you’re safe,” he reminds me.
“I am safe. With you, Tarek. I’m safe with you.” He blows out a breath and steps closer to me, resting his hands on my shoulders.
“I need to do this. I couldn’t save her, but I can save you,” he says, breaking my heart in two.
“You don’t know what you’re getting into.”
“I know what I have to do, Pierson, and this is it. I need to know the threat is gone. I need to know you’re safe from them,” he tells me, looking me directly in the eye. I can see what he feels for me. I can feel it, but I can’t let this happen. I can’t let him go.
“What if you don’t come back?” I say as a sob catches in my throat.
“Then I tried.”
“You can’t just leave me like this, Tarek. You’ve done all this to keep me safe. You’ve made me rethink my whole life, and now you’re trying to leave me?” Another sob rips from my throat when he pulls me against him.
“I know you don’t understand this. I know it makes no sense to you, but it’s just somethin’ I have to do, baby. I need to fix this.”
“You didn’t do this. You didn’t make things this way. There’s nothing for you to fix.”
“There’s everything for me to fix. There’s you. You deserve to live happily and without fear, Pierson. You don’t need to look over your shoulder anymore. That’s no kind of life,” he tells me. I pull out of his arms and look up at him. At a man who barely knows me but is willing to put his entire life on the line for me. At a man who is willing to give anything for me.
“I don’t know if there’s a life for me without you.”
