Page 95 of Break Me Not

I stepped away from Liz.

“Don't make a scene,” Claire whispered and handed Liz a water.

“Claire—” her mother started.

“What the hell?” she asked, keeping her voice slow. “I know you've always wanted to fuck her, but you actually did it?”

I could feel all eyes on us, watching us. If we were not careful, we would be on the nightly news for reasons that had nothing to do with the fire. And it might make her ex-husband's wish to see her ruined come to life even faster.

“This isn't just on her,” Liz answered. “I'm sorry. I was going to tell you today.”

“Obviously. This is on both of you,” Claire snapped. “But why couldn't you just… I told you I didn’t care who it was—I just wanted someone to love you the way you love them. Why didn't you just tell me? Why did you have to lie to me like this?”

Her voice cracked at the end. Liz tried to reach out and grab her daughter's hand, but Claire snatched it away. Liz's face crumbled. I wanted to make this better, but I didn't know how.

“This isn’t new,” she stated.

It might make the situation worse, but I knew Claire didn’t deserve to be lied to anymore.

“Since before the moment in the gallery,” I said, answering the question she hadn't yet asked.

Her eyes shifted to me, widening a bit before she let out a long sigh.

“I knew it. I was worried when my mother didn't like you right away. She was never one to judge, especially when you’re a more than qualified professional to handle…” She turned to Liz. “Wait. The break-in, the team Jax mentioned for you—which I saw earlier, following us like the Secret Service or something—and now the fire? What's really happening?”

There was no good way to tell Claire about who was behind this. But again, she proved both of us had underestimated her.

“It's him, isn't it? I knew him being away traveling was too good to be true.” When Liz looked away, she addressed me. “And somehow your billion-dollar security company couldn't do anything about it, right? Couldn’t stop him? Was it because you're too distracted?”

I'd never seen her this angry before. But I deserved it. Because she was right. I’d been distracted because of my need for Liz. Because of my love for her.

Up until now, I’d had a calm and cold handle on everything. It was how I’d built my company.

This was just another example of my recklessness. It had nothing to do with love and everything to do with neglecting everything people so carefully trusted me with.

And I could have lost everything too.

“I'm sorry,” Liz whispered. “You deserved better than this.”

Claire's anger crumbled. “It was never you. It was always him. I know you tried to keep it from me, but I knew.”

This time, when Liz reached out, Claire threaded their fingers together.

“I wish I could've protected you.”

“But you did. You always did. You always put me first.” Claire's lower lip trembled. “And even though it felt like a slap to the face to be kept in the dark, I saw the way she ran to you. She didn’t care about anyone else. And that’s what you’ve always deserved, Mom. So yeah, we can discuss all of it later.” She turned to me. “But there will be hell to pay for you.”

The world was burning around us. The cameras were still rolling. The murmurs were starting.

Despite all that, a smile still spread across my face.

And then I was yanked back to reality.

Literally.

There were hands on my shoulders, yanking me back. I could hear the shifting of cameras and the whispers as people turned to look at me.

“Hey, don't touch⁠—”