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“I was never his child, and even now, he still doesn't see me as anything but the kid who screwed up his perfect family.”

“Porter—”

“No, it's fine. I got into some really bad shit and it fucked up their lives. That's why I took you, because I don't want my past to come for you too. I'm trying to save you. Can you understand that?”

Her eyes searched my face, trying to peer deep into my soul. “Then why were you so cold towards me last night? You acted like I wasn't worth all this trouble, like I didn't matter at all. How can I believe that you're trying to save me?”

“I know, I just. . .” Taking in a deep breath, I hung my head. “I was just pissed that I had dragged you into this world. I like you, Emery, and I wouldn't have even said a word to you if I had realized that guy was there.”

“Is that why you were looking around like that before?” Nodding my head, I kept my eyes on my hands. Emery leaned in closer, placing her hand on mine. “Why did he try to kill you? What happened, Porter?”

“I need you to know I'm not the same man I used to be, but the men that are after me, they don't give a fuck. I betrayed them in their eyes, so they took something from me. They took my brother. I shouldn't be here, I never planned on coming back, but when my brother was killed, I don't know, I guess I wanted to stay close for my mother.”

Emery parted her lips, as if she was going to speak. Holding up my hand, I stopped whatever she was about to say. “When I was at the bar and I saw you, there was something about you that drew me in. I had to talk to you, I felt compelled to. I wish I could take it back now, I wish I had just let you walk out the fucking door, because then you wouldn't be here, you wouldn't be in this fucking mess with me.”

A small smile tugged on the corners of her lips. “You mean that? You felt like you had to talk to me?”

“You didn't bump into me by accident.” Chuckling, I scrubbed my jaw. “I had been watching you all night.” Bouncing my hand in the air, I arched a brow. “But not in a stalker kind of way, I just mean I couldn't take my eyes off of you, you're so damn beautiful. And that ass. . .” Biting my knuckles, a deep throaty growl hit the back of my throat.

Her cheeks blushed, turning bright red. “I don't know if I should thank you or slap you.” Giggling, her smile grew wide.

My heart skipped inside my chest, careening around like a caged bird. She really was stunning. Everything about her was perfect, from her velvet smooth skin to her firecracker personality.

What the hell are you doing to me?

Cupping her jaw, I stroked her chin with my thumb. “I need you to know that I'm not keeping you here because I want to hurt you. I'm doing this to keep you safe. Those men will stop at nothing to get to me, and they know you were there too. They'll take you in a heart beat, I won't let them do that, Emery.”

I couldn't stop myself from touching her. I wanted her to feel my words, to understand that everything I was doing came from someplace good. She was my innocent muse, torn into shreds that I wanted to fix.

And she had no fucking idea what was waiting outside for her. That was the worst part. Emery couldn't see who I was dealing with, all she knew was what she had seen, what was tangible for her to try and make sense of.

I wanted to help her, care for her, do anything and everything I could just to ensure that she had a tomorrow. Because it was my fault that she was in this mess to begin with. It was a risk I should never have taken.

Her hand came up and covered mine, lashes fanning her lids like canopies. “Thank you,” she said, tipping her head into my palm as her tongue traced her lips.

“I told you not to thank me yet.” Smirking, I wanted to kiss her. I wanted to kiss her and taste her and finish what we had started. But I held back, not wanting to push her if she wasn't ready.

She was still hurting, her injuries fresh and new, her mind wandering aimlessly over and over from what she had been through. Now she had facts to dwell on, information about who I was and what was happening around us.

See me for me, not the monster I once was.

Her eyes glazed over as her head nuzzled deeper into my hand. “You can if you want to.”

“I can what?”

Smirking, she pushed herself up, leaning in closer. “Kiss me.”

“Who said I wanted to kiss you?”

“I can see it on your face.” Arching her back, her head rolled to the side, lids hooding seductively. “You better do it now, before I change my mind.”

Biting my lip, I smiled. “I won't say no.”

Gently, I brushed my nose against hers, our lips barely touching. The sensation of her skin on mine, of the warmth of her face, her breath, her beauty, it ignited the fire deep inside my soul.

This was why I needed to keep going, this was why I needed to stay alive. To find the person that could make me feel, the person who could help me smile and laugh, help me be complete.

For years all I wanted was to be a part of a family, and I could never see it until now. It wasn't what I had that would make me who I was, it was what I would find that would make me the man I wanted to be.