Page 82 of Beautiful Trauma

“Okay. Call me if you need me.”

“I will.”

Once I was alone again, I exhaled a relieved breath. As I took a seat at the stool at the counter, I began to go over the receipts from the last few days. When the bell tinkled over the door, I jerked my gaze up from the books.

Every molecule in my body shuddered to a stop at the sight of Kellan before me. I stumbled off the stool, causing it to clatter to the floor.

“What are you doing here?” I demanded.

“I needed to see you.”

“I told you to forget me.”

He shook his head. “You know you’re unforgettable for me.”

Oh God, why did he have to come here? Why did he have to say things to me that no man had ever said? Why did he have to keep fighting for me when no man ever had?

I was too weak to keep my resolve for long.

Pinching my eyes shut, I buried my head in my hands. “Go away!”

“I can’t, and I won’t.”

Kellan appeared at my side then. Gently, he pulled my hands away from my face. “Look at me,” he commanded.

Keeping my eyes shut tight, I snapped, “No!”

“Why can’t you look at me?”

“If I do, my resolve will fold, and I’ll be lost.”

“And I’ll find you.”

As the tears streamed down my cheeks, Kellan’s breath warmed the shell of my ear. “I’m so fucking sorry about Dima. I’d give anything if I had forgotten my pride and just stayed on board the plane. Then he wouldn’t have been hurt, and nothing would’ve changed between us.”

“There is no us,” I protested feebly.

“There is. It’s a faint flame right now, but it’s still burning. And I won’t let you put it out when you’re scared and hurt. Give me a chance to see you through this.”

My eyes popped open as I pulled back to stare at him. “My father tried to choke me to death when he learned what had happened to Dima.”

Horror ricocheted through Kellan’s face. “Jayus, Mary, and Joseph, Mila,” he murmured.

“He will always blame me for what happened.”

“It’s not your fault,” Kellan said determinedly.

“It doesn’t matter. He’ll always see it that way.” With a mirthless laugh, I said, “Don’t you see? My days are numbered, and I won’t take you out with me.”

“Is that why you pushed me away?”

“It’s part of it.”

“Mila, you can walk away from him right now and come to my world. I’ll protect you.”

“No. You can’t. So just go.”

Kellan brought his hands to cradle my face. “I’m not going anywhere. Not right now. Not ever.”