Page 71 of Forbidden Access

Yet something inside her wouldn’t let it go.

“Damian, please let’s talk about this?” Her voice wavered, and she hated herself for it, hated how vulnerable she sounded but she needed an explanation. He couldn’t just switch it off like that, could he? “You owe me that much.”

His voice was strained, like he was holding something back. “I owe you nothing. I’m sorry, Thorn. I think you’d better leave.”

Leave? Was he frigging serious?

He was kicking her out before they’d even talked. How had she gotten him so wrong?

Thorn blinked, shocked by how cold he was being. She’d thought he’d at least listen to her before cutting her out of his life for good. An icy cold descended as her heart was ripped from her body and crushed mercilessly underfoot. She began to shake as the shock hit.

Fuck him. Fuck everything.

She didn’t need this shit in her life.

Except she did.

She needed him so much it hurt. It fucking twisted and burned and tore her apart. An AK unleashing on her soul would do less damage than his words had. Stifling a sob, she turned to leave.

“Go back to Jaden,” he called after her. “That’s who you belong with. Not me.”

She froze, dread pooling in her stomach as his words sank in. Slowly, she turned back to face him, her heart pounding in her chest.

What?

A surge of joy so strong it whipped her breath away shot through her.

Thank you, God.

He wasn’t dumping her emotional ass, he was telling her something, sending her message, except she’d been too wrapped up in her own nervousness to see it.

He wasn’t alone.

CHAPTER 32

Thorn’s mind raced.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Why hadn’t she brought her firearm?

She caught the subtle movement of Damian’s eyes, a flicker toward the door. Someone was hiding behind it.

Thorn’s instincts kicked in. If Damian was talking like this, there had to be a gun pointed at him. Now she needed to figure out how many threats they were dealing with.

“Are you sure you won’t give me one more chance?” she pleaded, emphasizing the word one.

He sighed, sounding weary. “I already gave you one chance. There won’t be another.”

Thorn caught the faint thumbs-up he gave her.

One guy.

She liked those odds.

“Fine, if that’s how you want it.”

There was no time for backup—she had to act now. In one swift motion, she lunged forward and kicked the door wide open. The man hiding behind it let out a howl as it slammed into his face.

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