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Neither of us speaks, but no words are needed.

“Can I ask you something else?”

I cup her cheek. “Stop asking if you can ask me something. Just ask.”

I wait until she nods and let her go, resuming to scratch her scalp with my fingers.

She traces circles on my chest. “What happened back when your sister got… kidnapped?”

I take a deep breath, letting it out slowly. This isn’t a topic I relish discussing. But for her, I’ll try.

“It was about eight years back. I was engaged. We were together for five years, and I trusted her fully.” I stare up at the ceiling. “Long story short, she betrayed that trust in the worst possible way. Sold information about my family to some dangerous people.” Looking back at Gemma, I meet her eyes. “They used it to take my sister, and I handed her over.”

Her fingers halt. My little gem is shocked. By me. I don’t blame her. It’s the ugliest part of me.

“I don’t believe that. You would never hurt your sister.”

I search Gemma’s face, half expecting judgment or disgust. But her eyes hold only kindness.

“She offered to take Novalie out to dinner while I was working late. I didn’t think twice.”

Gemma shifts closer, her hand coming up to rest on my chest. “You can’t blame yourself for trusting someone you loved.”

“Can’t I?” I give a humorless laugh. “I handed my sister over to monsters. She went through hell because of my mistake.”

“But she doesn’t blame you.”

“Doesn’t change the facts. I’m her big brother. I’m supposed to protect her.”

Closing my eyes, it all comes back again. The image of Novalie in that hospital bed. Bruised, broken, betrayed.

Talking about my failure makes bile rise in my throat. I want to shut down.

Gemma’s voice pulls me back. “What happened after?”

When I open my eyes, I find her observing me. “They kept asking for money, and I gave it to them, but it didn’t help. It took three days to track Novalie down and get her back. Even though I set the best men to it.” I swallow hard. “By then, the damage was done.”

We’re both quiet for a minute. I fucking hate feeling weak, but Gemma’s touch is soothing, grounding me.

“Hey,” she says gently. “What happened wasn’t your fault. You thought you could trust someone, and they betrayed you. That’s on them, not you.”

I pull her closer, needing to feel her against me. She makes me believe I’m not as damned as I think I am.

“After that, I put new security measures in place for my family. Made Connor and Brandon move into the building as well. Hired only people I’d known for years and put them through every background check imaginable. Novalie was and is terrified to leave the house, so I made the penthouse a fortress.”

“It sounds like you’ve done everything possible to keep her safe.”

“I hope so. She’s never been the same since… Until I saw her with you the other day. Even my father failed after creating the fashion department for her to get distracted. It was his attempt at helping her heal. It meant so much that you came to see Novalie.”

“Thanks for trusting me. It must be hard for you.”

“With you, it’s not. You have the same effect on me as you have on my sister.”

She lowers my defenses in a way no other woman ever has.

I pull her close, kissing her forehead. “You’re the first person I fully trust since then.”

She edges closer for a kiss. When we separate, she rests her head on my chest and exhales in contentment. I wrap my arms around her, feeling the tension ease from my body.

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