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He headed off before I could offer an excuse. Sighing, I took the steps one at a time and turned into the hallway that led to his study. A ball of dread settled in the pit of my stomach as my feet brought me closer to Shawn. He only handled business in his office. What was he going to say today?
I wasn't eager to find out. A sinking feeling I hadn't entertained in a long time reared its ugly head. Shawn was finally fed up with the whole thing. Last night proved I wasn't worth it, and he would get rid of me.
I gulped and stopped by the door, my heart thumping in my chest. I'd rather stay here, stuck in this fear than go in and have him confirm it. Shawn was the only good thing to come out of all the issues I'd faced in the past months, and he was now the best part of my life. I couldn't lose him.
“Violet,” Shawn's voice rumbled from inside the room. “I know you're standing out there. Come in.”
Exhaling a shaky breath, I walk at a measured pace into the study. Shawn was seated behind his desk, looking every bit the intimidating man I first met. And I felt like that lost girl that left her hometown, running from her ex.
Shawn's brows lifted. “Violet, are you alright?”
I nodded and plopped into the chair opposite him, wrapping my arms around my torso. It's going to be alright. His eyes watched me suspiciously, and I found I couldn't hold his gaze for long. I needed him to just get it over with so I could decide what to do next. My lip trembled. I didn’t plan a ‘next’ after I had met Shawn. How could I move on?
He reached beneath the desk and pulled out a brown manila folder. I frowned.What was that?I started to ask, but he handed it over.
My fingers clasped around the smooth papers, and I looked up at him from the brown, untitled document. His face gave away nothing. Was it a non-disclosure agreement I needed to sign because he was sending me away? I pulled in a breath and opened it.
A frown pinched my forehead. This wasn't an NDA. Eric's passport photo, when he still had his good looks, covered the top left corner. Next to it were...crimes listed out as charges against him.
“Shawn, is this the case against Eric?” I breathed, disbelief making my heartbeat run fast.
He leaned forward, elbows on the desk, and nodded once. He stayed quiet as I flipped the pages. His lawyer was good. I thought everything Eric did to me would only fill a single page, but apparently, he had been busy.
“Your lawyer did all of this?” I was too excited to read anything. Just content to flip through the pages. This document would get Eric out of our lives.
"For weeks now, and the PI helped."
I frowned and looked up. “Why would he need a PI?”
Shawn steepled his fingers. Uh-oh, there were things I didn't know. I clenched my teeth and prepared myself.
"There are many other charges against Eric, and a PI needed to investigate and bring them to light."
I blinked rapidly, trying to determine if I'd suspected Eric of having any criminal behavior while we were together. Nothing came to mind. “Really? Like what?”
“He has other complaints for stalking against him. Multiple warrants out for his arrest for breaking restraining orders and charges of harassment.”
More charges? I dropped the file and pressed both hands against my face, thinking. Who the fuck had I dated? Why didn’t I detect that he was a criminal, a total creep? Was there something wrong with me?
“Violet.” Shawn's voice was firm.
I pulled aside my hands and looked at him.
“It's not your fault, okay?”
Taking a deep breath, I nodded. “Not my fault.”
“He'd done the same thing to others before you.”
“Well, I should have at least suspected.”
“No, you couldn't have.” Shawn pinned me with a look.
Whatever he saw on my face convinced him I was doubting myself. He came around the desk and pulled me into his arms. I breathed in his warm, woodsy cologne and sighed.
“You did nothing to encourage him. Once he suspected the cops were catching up with him, he moved and went on to start the same cycle with someone else.”
“That sounds horrible.”
