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She inhales deeply and lets out a slow breath. “Okay, but hear me out fully, okay? Before you go and kill him.”

“I’m not making any promises,” I confirm, folding my arms across my chest.

“Brad.”

“Fine, I won’t kill him… yet.”

She rolls her eyes.

“So Patrick found out that I was working at the club. When I tried to break things off with him when we got back from LA, he showed me a bunch of videos and photos of me dancing and you and me in the alley the night you found out.”

Nausea hits me. I’m terrified of what she’s going to say next. “He said if I didn’t stay with him, then he would send the files to my dad and I…” Her voice cracks and on instinct, I and pull her into my chest. “I’m going to fucking kill him.”

“No, please…” she wails into my neck.

“Ssssh. It’s okay.” I hold her as she lets it all go. A deep throb in my chest begins to burn, knowing she’s been keeping this secret all these months; handling it all without anyone knowing.

“He wanted my dad to put in a good word for him at this law firm and said that if I played the part of his girlfriend, it would look good for him. My name has meaning and all this crap. I tried to break it off, but he kept threatening to send the files tomy dad and after what I did when I was a teen I couldn’t do that again. I couldn’t have them look at me like—”

I cut her off, moving her to face me.

“That wasn’t your fault. Some asshole took advantage of you. That isn’t on you. Your parents should have protected you, not made you feel like it was your fault, and this isn’t your fault either. You are a grown woman. You can do what you want with your life. You should have told me.”

She sniff. “I wanted to, but when I came to your apartment, you told me that I should be with Patrick, and we should end things.”

Guilt hits me and I feel like the biggest piece of shit. I pushed her into Patrick’s arms without realizing it. “Baby, I’m so sorry, I had my reasons for doing that. I was trying to keep you safe.”

“From what?” she asks, searching my face for the answer.

“From me,” I say quietly.

“You are the person I feel the safest with. How could I be anything but safe when I’m with you? I trust you with my life.”

And that declaration right there means just as much to me as those three words she uttered last night. She trusts me with her, with her life, and I’m going to make sure I am worthy of words.

“I’d never let anything happen to you,” I confirm, lifting her into my lap.

“I know you wouldn’t.” She reassures, lifting our hands where they are still linked and she kisses the back of my hand.

“I love you.” I say, the words falling so easily, and it feels like the most natural thing to say. I’ve never told anyone I love them. I wasn’t sure what it meant, or how it should feel. But with her, I know I do. I feel lighter when I’m with her, it feels easier to breathe. Everything feels easier and when I’m not with her, there feels like a piece of me that’s missing and she’s the only one who could fill it.

Her amber eyes light up and I could spend my day getting lost in them.

“I love you too.”

“Leave Patrick to me, okay?”

She nods and I breathe a sigh of relief as I silently plot how I am going to ruin Patrick’s life.

Chapter Fifty Two

Gabriella

We’ve had a slow morning, which included sex in the bed, some fooling around in the shower, and I now need to fully sanitize the kitchen counter after Brad had me for breakfast. I feel lighter this morning. I hadn’t realized how the weight of my lies and secrets were impacting me. Opening up to Brad felt so freeing. I know things could still get worse, but it’s a risk I’m willing to take. He makes me happy; he makes me feel everything I’ve been searching for and now I’ve finally found it. I’m not letting him go.

I take a sip of my coffee and highlight another transaction off the accounts sheet that is laid across my lap. I’ve been working through their accounts for the past couple of weeks, and I’ve had a hunch where the missing money has been going, or rather who the culprit is, but this final file confirms it.

I toss the file into Brad’s lap. “I’ve solved it. I know who’s taking your money at the club.” I smile proudly.