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“Yes?” his tone is clipped.
“Security for Mr. Livingston. We’re here to escort him to the studio.”
Todd turns to look at me. “Did you organize this?”
“The studio did. I lost my shit yesterday as no one was there to meet us at the airport. We got swamped by paparazzi.”
“Okay, I’m going to buzz them in. Wait in your bedroom. If it’s not me coming through the door, barricade yourselves in the bathroom. Got it?”
“What the fuck?”
“Just do it.” Todd hits the button to let them in and opens the front door.
Quickly, I walk back to our bedroom as Athena is coming toward me. I grab her by the upper arm and walk her back the way she came.
“Kris! What are you doing?”
“Apparently, Todd thinks we could be in danger. Itshouldbe the security company, but is there something you want to tell me?”
Her face pales, and she shakes her head. Once inside our bedroom, I let her go. Athena sits on the bed as I leave the door ajar so I can see through it. If Todd isn’t the one to come and get us, I can easily shut and lock it before the intruders get to us.
“Athena, go wait in the bathroom.”
“What about you?”
“If it’s not Todd, I’ll join you. The room has a reinforced door, and the windows are bulletproof. We should be safe until help arrives.”
Her hand lands on my back. “I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault.”
I shut the door, drag her to the bathroom, and slam the door closed.
“Tell me.”
Athena’s face crumples, tears flow down her cheeks, and great sobs wrack her body. “It-it’s the brother of one of the men who attacked me.” Her legs give out, and she slides down the wall onto the floor. With her hands over her face, she says, “The car accident in New York wasn’t an accident. They were trying to kill me. Roberto Rivera died in prison, and his brother, Luis, blames me.” She sniffles and rubs under her nose. “He was here the night of our wedding.”
Gently, I pull her hands from her face. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I whisper.
“I didn’t want you to hate me. Y-you could’ve been killed.”
Sitting next to her on the floor, I pull her onto my lap and kiss her temple. “Babe, that’s not on you. I love you, never doubt that,ever.”
“B-but—”
“No, no buts. If this Luis wants to get to you, he’s going to have to go through me to do it.” I cup her face and make her look me in the eyes. “No more secrets. We’re a team. Where you go, I follow, remember?”
More tears flow as she clings to me. She’s held onto this secret for far too long. Looking up, Todd is at the door. I give him a chin lift, and he closes it.
It takes Athena a little while to get herself under control.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispers.
“The only thing you need to be sorry about is not telling me sooner. If the tables were turned, would you blame me for you getting hurt in an accident that was meant for me?”
Athena looks at me. “When you put it like that, no. I’d be glad it was me and not you.”
“Then why would you think I’d want it any other way?”
“I’m sorry.”
