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I nod.

“Do you love me, baby?” He grasps me by the chin and forces me to look at him. “Give me the truth.”

“Even if the truth hurts?”

An agonizing, “Yes,” from him.

I blink. “I don’t love you.”

“Liar,” he growls.

“How—”

“You blink before you tell a lie, Blaise.”

“Like when?” I challenge.

“That you weren’t in danger. Or how about when you said you didn’t want my money or my body.”

“I’m not in danger any longer, and being with you isn’t about your money or your body. You make me laugh. You listen without judging. You’re smart and driven. You compromise but also ask for what you want. There’s no guessing with you except with how you feel about me.”

“I love you, Blaise. I’ll scream the words at the top of my lungs. Make sure everyone on this planet understands the depths of my feelings for you. I never want you to doubt what I feel for you, babe. So help a guy out and tell me why you’ve changed your mind. Why are you so intent on marrying this Hale guy?”

My eyes tear up. “He’ll hurt Cillian if I don’t marry him.”

“How?”

“He has files on my father. Said the files will prove Cillian is selling weapons and has committed murder.”

“He has the nerve to blackmail you?”

“He’s done worse. He’s my kidnapper, Maddox.”

“What. The. Fuck. I’m gonna kill the bastard. Where is he now?”

“The Venus. He’s pulling a shift as a bouncer.”

Maddox stands and heads for the door. I hurry after him. “Maddox, the authorities won’t believe you. Tobias confessed.”

Maddox wipes away the tear running down my face. He pulls me into his arms. “Are you sure Hale is your kidnapper?”

“Yes. His voice sounds just like my kidnapper’s.”

“I thought the bastard was mute?”

“He fooled everyone.”

“That mother-effer.” He lets go of me, and pulling his cell phone from his back pocket, he begins making calls to his security team and Granger.

“Come get her, Granger. Take her home. Cillian? What about him? If he or his men get in your way, I’ll kick their asses. Hey, no need coming to my rescue, man. I can take them all on.”

Granger must’ve given Maddox a smart-aleck response.

“Go fuck yourself, Granger. First, come get my wife. My fist has a coming to Jesus with Hale’s face. While you’re at it, send men to Oakland’s police headquarters. Find out why Tobias confessed. I have a feeling Hale’s holding something over his head.”

After he instructs his security team to meet him at the Venus, he paces in the living room.

“What the hell could he have over your ex-bodyguard?”