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“You’re sorry?” I scoff.
My eyes look up from the paper and meet his. Where does he think he is? We’re not inLove Actually!
He stares back. Electricity fizzles through the air between us. I don’t know how long we look at each other, but there’s a building tension I don’t quite understand.
Finally, I clear my throat. “Good.” I don’t know what else I can say to his apology, but being my usual snarky bitch self is the safest option. “You should be sorry.”
He writes another note, but he doesn’t hold it up. When he’s done, he folds it in half carefully. My heartbeat quickens as he heads to the open window. I should tell him to back away and post it under the door, but what damage can he do through a tiny gap? Break my pinkie finger?
He thrusts the message through the window like a letterbox and waits for me to retrieve it. I approach cautiously, small steps towards the hulking caged beast. I’m quick, snatching the paper from his hands.
He steps back, a bemused expression flickers over his face like he’s asking,What did you think I was going to do?
His gaze sears into me as I unfold the message and read his words.
I’m sorry I couldn’t save her.
I turn away so he can’t see my reaction. I won’t allow him to see the pain etched over my features that I’ve been carrying around on my shoulders like a block of lead.
I think back to Daisy that night. How broken she was. How I tried to reach her. How all I wanted was to swap places with her.
Heavy footsteps, crunching twigs, a never-ending tunnel of darkness, a light that pulled back… and a voice. A deep voice that reverberated through my core and made me feel safe. I haven’t thought about that voice for years, but now…Bram.
It was him. I never saw the face of the man who rescued me, and I’ll never hear his voice again. The voice that brought me back from the brink of death.
“I wish you saved her too,” I murmur in agreement, then whirl around in accusation. “Why did you come back for me?” He tilts his head, watching me closely. He’s searching for something, but I’m not sure what. “You were working for Spencer.” I point at him. “You should have left me to die on the side of the road with her!”
He arches one eyebrow.Is that what you wanted?
I sigh in exasperation. We’re not getting into this. I’ve never spoken to a therapist because I don’t need a clueless person to tell me how I should feel, and I’m not going to start now with a mark—even if he’ll inevitably die soon.
“I remember you,” I tell him. “I remember your voice.”
His eyes widen in genuine surprise.
“Do you regret it now?” I ask, wanting him to agree. Wanting him to let me know how much he hates me because that’s what I deserve. I ruin everyone’s life who tries to help me. Just look at what happened to Daisy. “Do you regret saving me?”
He shakes his head.
“Why?” I explode. My words ricochet off the empty prison walls, leaving a haunting echo behind. “Spencer would have killed you if he found out. You risked your life for someone you never met and lost your voice because of me!”
He shrugs, looking at his feet.
“Why didn’t you tell the Dukes you used to work for Spencer?” I ask. “If you did, maybe they’d have worked out who I was. Why didn’t you tell anyone what you did?”
His gaze meets mine with a renewed fire. He grips the pen so tightly that his knuckles turn white. He writes two words.
For you.
“For me?” I frown, letting my anger take over. I can deal with anger. Anger is easier. Anger is what’s kept me going for five years. Anger keeps me alive. “Because you enjoyed being the saviour? Do you have a hero complex?” My inner bitch rises to the surface, and I mock him, “Does saving people make you hard?”
His jaw sets in fury, and he turns his back on me.
“Do you like the feeling of playing God? Do you want to be powerful?” I demand. “Is that it? Come on, you can tell me…”
He sits on the floor, so I can’t see him anymore. Whatever more profound moment we shared is gone. It’s better that way. He slides a message under the door.
I did it because I wanted to protect you. I wanted to give you a second chance at life.
