Page 94 of Redemption

It hadn’t been in time. Not at all.

He’d groped her and stripped off her shirt. He’d imprinted his taint onto her creamy skin.

She wraps her arms around me, clinging on to me like I’m her anchor in the storm.

I don’t deserve it, but I’m selfish enough to cage her in my own embrace.

“I wanted you so desperately,” she murmurs against my neck. “I wanted to leave.”

The words should be a balm to my ravaged heart, but all I feel is shame searing my chest.

For an insane, agonized moment, I’d thought she was with him willingly. I’d assumed the worst because deep down, I’ve always known I’m not worthy of her.

I’ve craved her too much to care about my unworthiness.

I wanted her, so I took her. I made her mine, whether she consented or not.

She’s still mine.

I can’t let her go, no matter how undeserving I am.

“We’re at the penthouse?” she asks, peering around to get her bearings. “Why?”

“Because it’s the safest place for you. As soon as you feel ready to travel, we’ll go back to Charleston. We can be in London in two hours for the flight.”

“I mean…” She shakes her head as though to clear it. “Where are the police? Didn’t you report Stephen for what he did to me?”

A shadow of my righteous rage tightens my muscles. “I’m sure the police are dealing with him now.”

They’ll have found his dead body this morning. He’s in a body bag, already rotting.

“Is it okay for us to go back to Charleston now?” she presses. “Won’t the police want to talk to me?”

I contemplate her for a moment, debating how much to tell her. She’ll probably be upset if I tell her Stephen is dead, but I also don’t want to lie to her.

“What is it that you’re not saying, Dane?”

As always, she sees right through me.

“We need to leave the country because Stephen is dead,” I say, flat and matter of fact.

“What?” Her eyes go wide, and she reels back.

My arms tighten around her, trapping her.

“He tried to rape you,” I growl. “I saved you.”

“And you…” She swallows hard. “You killed him?”

“Yes. He can never hurt you like that again.”

“No.” She tries to pull away again, but I don’t allow it.

“It’s done, Abigail.”

The sooner we can move past this, the better.

“You killed someone, Dane!” she exclaims, as though she can’t quite believe it.