Page 82 of Hard Rock Deceit

He crossed the room and stormed through the door, slamming it shutbehindhim.

The room was eerilystill.

"What the fuck did we just do," Cameron whispered, breaking thesilence.

"We saved his life,"Noahsaid.

Ian shookhishead.

"No. Wedestroyedit."

Damon clenched the hair at the back of his head in his fist, tugging on thestrands.

"We had todoit."

He sounded as if he were trying to convincehimself.

"We can't let him leave like this," I said. "I'm not letting it endlikethis."

I didn't want it to endatall.

I rushed to the door, flinging it open and skidding to a stop in the hotel hallway. August was already gone. I hurried to the elevator, praying for it to arrivequickly.

When I finally made it to the lobby of the hotel, I saw August's tall, blond figure exiting the building. I ranafterhim.

"August, wait," Icalled.

Hestopped.

"I'm sorry," I said. "I never meant for all this tohappen."

"No?" He flicked his gaze back to me. I took a step back, alarmed. His eyes were darker than I'd ever seen them, simmering with a cold fury. "What exactly did you expect tohappen?"

"I didn't think…" I never thought it would have come to this. But… "Damon was right. We can't stand by and let you hurtyourself."

"You're so easy to read." His eyes narrowed. "You're not worried about me. You're worried aboutyourself."

I gaped. August continued before I couldspeak.

"You think you finally found someone who understands you and he's a fucking drug addict. You're afraid I was just lying to you to get what I want, like I lied abouteverythingelse."

Tears stung the back ofmyeyes.

"That's not true! I don't think that at all. You didn't lie about us. Iknowit."

"I was doing fine before youshowedup."

"You weren't fine. You said it yourself. You haven't been fine for overayear."

"I had it undercontrol."

My stomach clenched, indignation settling in my gut along with theguilt.

"Are you forgetting that I watched youalmostdie?"

"That was an accident. I wouldn't have let it happenagain."

"It shouldn't have happened in the firstplace."