Page 120 of near

I push open the door into the blessed solitude of the bathroom. Gripping the edges of the sink, I take deep breaths, trying to calm my racing heart.

“Get it together.” I splash cold water on my face, smudging my mascara.

The bathroom door opens, and I freeze.

Chapter 33

My gem is hunched over the sink, tears streaming down her face. The sight enrages me and makes me want to break every bone in that bastard’s body for what he’s doing to her. But I need to stay calm. For her.

Her eyes widen when she sees me standing there. I take a fresh hand towel and dab her cheeks, drying the tears from her beautiful face. She doesn’t speak, only watches me.

I want nothing more than to take her in my arms and tell her everything will be alright. That she’s safe now. But there are things that need to be said first. Things that can’t wait any longer.

So I meet her gaze, my heart aching at the pain I see there. Pain I helped cause by not protecting her from the start. In that moment, I vow never to fail her again.

“You don’t have to do this. Whatever he’s holding over you, we’ll find a way to stop him. But you have to trust me.”

A conflict rages in Gemma’s eyes. She’s holding something back from me. And I can’t take this bullshit any longer.

“Tell me what the fuck is going on.” My voice is hard. “No more lies. I want the truth.”

She flinches, averting her gaze at my harsh tone. I grab her chin and force her to meet my eyes again.

“I’m not playing around anymore. That bastard has something over you, and you’re going to tell me what it is. Right fucking now.”

“There’s nothing to tell,” she says in a soft tone. “Leave it alone.”

“I watched him pawing all over you out there. You expect me to stand by and let that happen?”

“Please, stop.”

“I’m the only one who gets to touch you like that. I told you. You’re mine. There is no escaping.”

Gemma blinks, fighting back tears.

“Now, will you tell me the truth, or do I have to beat it out of your lying husband?”

“No, please don’t hurt him. There’s nothing weird going on, I promise.”

I stare at her, trying to decide what to do. Part of me wants to grab her and drag her out of here, away from Oliver and his sleazy business partners. But that won’t solve anything in the long run.

“You really expect me to believe you’re fucking that scumbag willingly after everything we’ve shared? After I fucking proposed to you?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Uncomplicate it then. Explain it to me. So I understand why the woman I love lets another man touch her like this.”

Tears slide down her cheek. “Please, leave me alone.”

I can see it in her beautiful eyes, the panic and fear swirling beneath the surface as she shakes her head, refusing to open up to me. She’s shutting down, closing herself off, and it breaks me.

“Little gem.” I soften my voice. “Don’t do this. Don’t lie to me and pretend it’s over between us. I know you, I see you, and I won’t believe for one second that you don’t want this, want us.”

I reach out and graze her cheek with my thumb. She melts into my touch for a moment before catching herself, but it’s long enough. In that brief instant, I catch a glimpse of my little gem. She’s still in there somewhere.

“Aren’t you deceiving everyone in this room? Including me?”

“I don’t want to.”

---