Page 96 of Redemption

“No!” I bark, angling my body between the officer and Abigail.

There’s another officer at the end of the hall. He fixes me with a grim stare and comes to join his partner.

“Step aside,” he warns me.

Horror crashes down on me, heavy enough that my knees threaten to buckle.

Abigail was Stephen’s last appointment yesterday. There will be a written record of it. The police might’ve already found some sort of drugs in his office. His time of death will align with the time she was in the gallery.

I killed Stephen to save her, but I condemned her.

“Sir, I need you to step aside. Now,” the woman insists.

“I’m the one you want.” My voice is cold, utterly unfeeling.

Both officers look at me, and they immediately recognize the face of a predator. I don’t try to hide it. I let them see exactly what I am.

“Dane, no!”

Abigail’s hand tightens around mine, but I yank free of her weaker hold.

Prison has always been my worst-case scenario, ever since the day I shoved Peter out of the window when I was eleven years old. I’ve spent my entire life since then avoiding this fate.

I wanted so badly to have Abigail, but I was never worthy of her.

I never will be.

“I killed Stephen Lansing,” I announce without an ounce of remorse.

After everything I’ve done to Abigail, redemption isn’t possible. I stalked her and violated her. I kidnapped her and caged her. The least I can do now is walk into a cage of my own to save her.