Page 28 of Forbidden Access

But Christine wasn’t listening. The fight drained out of her, replaced by a deep, soul-crushing sorrow. She stopped struggling, her body going limp beneath Thorn’s weight. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this,” she sobbed, the anger in her eyes replaced by tears. “I wasn’t supposed to lose him.”

Thorn hesitated, then slowly eased off her, still wary but softened by the raw pain she saw in Christine’s face. For all her fury and misguided actions, this woman was hurting deeply, mourning the loss of something she could never get back.

Christine’s sobs came harder, her shoulders shaking as she crumpled to the ground, the weight of her grief too much to bear. “I loved him,” she whispered, her voice ragged. “I still love him.”

Thorn knelt beside her, placing a hand on her back, trying to offer some small comfort. She wasn’t used to this, to comforting an enemy, but in that moment, Christine didn’t feel like one. “I know,” Thorn murmured, the lie catching in her throat. “I know you do.”

Christine looked up at Thorn, her tear-filled eyes searching for something, some glimmer of hope, some chance that it wasn’t true. “You married him,” she choked out, the words filled with disbelief and anguish. “How could you?”

Thorn's heart ached, but she forced herself to stay composed. This was the hardest part of the job—lying, pretending to be someone she wasn’t, even when it tore at her insides. “It happened quickly,” she said, keeping her voice soft. “We… we reconnected, and things just… fell into place.”

Christine’s sobs intensified, the reality of the situation crashing down on her. “I can’t believe it,” she whispered, shaking her head. “I never thought he’d move on so fast… not after everything.”

Thorn swallowed the lump in her throat, her heart twisting with guilt. She couldn’t tell Christine the truth, not now, not ever. “I’m sorry,” she said, the words hollow, but all she could offer.

For a long moment, they stayed there, Christine weeping quietly into her hands, Thorn kneeling beside her, not saying anything more. There was nothing to say that would make this right.

Finally, Christine’s sobs began to subside, her body exhausted from the emotional storm. She wiped her tear-streaked face, her eyes red and puffy. “I didn’t mean to…” She trailed off, her voice weak and spent.

“It’s okay,” Thorn said softly, helping her to her feet. “Let’s get you inside.”

Christine didn’t resist as Thorn led her toward the house, her steps slow and heavy, the fight completely gone from her. Thorn stayed close, keeping a firm but gentle hold on her arm, guiding her through the door.

CHAPTER 11

Damian couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw Thorn dragging his bedraggled assistant into the house through the patio doors.

“Christine? What are you doing here?”

“She was the one who set off the security light.” Thorn threw the hood on the floor. “And knocked my gun into the swimming pool.”

“You can let go now,” Christine sniffed, wriggling her arm free.

Damian nodded at Thorn, who had a bright red scratch on her neck, compliments of his ex, no doubt. Christine, on the other hand, didn’t have a scratch on her, despite being out of breath. Thorn must have easily subdued her, without having to land a blow.

Thorn released Christine’s arm.

Damian couldn’t decide who looked the wildest. Christine, with her usually sleek blonde hair an utter mess, shooting daggers at him, or Thorn with her strawberry blonde locks cascading down her back and over her shoulders like a glorious fiery waterfall, her emerald gaze simmering with annoyance.

“Damian, what are you doing here?” Thorn turned to face him, her hands on her hips. “I told you to stay in your room.”

Christine’s eyes widened.

“Thought you might need some help.” Ignoring her advice, he’d gotten his gun and followed her out onto the patio. He heard the scuffling by the pool and figured Thorn might be in trouble, but by the time he’d gotten to the patio, she’d been striding inside, pulling Christine with her.

“I’m fine.”

“I can see that.”

“Damian, what the hell is going on?” Christine demanded. “Who is this woman and why is she ordering you around?” Her gaze dropped to his weapon. “And since when do you carry a gun?”

He sighed and glanced at Thorn for guidance.

Now what?

“Why are you looking at her?” Christine snapped, her voice rising. “I’m the one asking the question.”

Thorn threw up her hands. “You may as well tell her, although it’s going to complicate matters. I’ll let the others know we’ve been compromised, and then I’m going to retrieve my Glock.” Spinning on her heel, she marched outside again. Damian thought he heard her mutter something along the lines of ‘stupid bitch,’ but he couldn’t be sure.

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