Page 82 of Wicked Shadows
With one person in mind, his feet carried him straight to her. She sat with her back to him when he approached. The closer he got, the more he realized she wasn’t simply sitting on the couch to eat. Her shoulders shook softly at first, but the shaking grew more intense with his every step. Her quiet sobs and muffled wails reached his chest before his ears, causing a tightening he could only describe as a vise around him. Her face was mashed into a pillow, giving her the only private place she had to completely melt down.
He wasn’t sure which was worse—seeing her like that and not being able to comfort her, allowing her to believe he’d helped put her in that predicament, or walking away to give her the privacy she needed and deserved.
His hand hovered over her head, waiting to stroke her hair.
His arms ached to lift her from the couch and cradle her against his chest until her tears dried.
His lips craved to claim hers, to kiss away the pain she felt until she remembered the love they shared.
His ego strained against his loyalty, wanting to defy Nick and burn the case down around them when he freed the girls and kidnapped Elle for himself.
Instead, he backed away from her. And decided that was definitely the worst-case scenario.
“How could you? I loved you. I thought you loved me.” She whispered each sentiment to herself between gasps for air.
I was so wrong, he thought.I’ve never been so wrong. Letting her think I’m behind any of this is definitely the worst.
