Page 218 of Bona Fide

“I told her that you were mine. I listened to everything she did to you. That she killed your sister, your baby...I let Marty suffocate her while I listened to her struggle. I saw what he did...I heard her plea for mercy, but she didn’t deserve any. With her, you’d never have a chance to shine. You’d always be looking behind your back and wondering what she was going to do next. I let her die. I wanted—”

“Why did you do that?” I snap. “You shouldn’t have been there.”

“I begged Marty to let me.” A tear drops to her cheek. “She fucked your life, and I wanted to let my words be the last thing she heard. That I’d live seeing you shine. That she’d never be able to touch you again. She was going to have you raped, Wade. Raped. I’m morbid and—”

“You’re not.” I soften my voice. “You’re not, baby, you’re not.” I climb up her body, pulling her to me while I’m on my knees, and press my forehead to hers. “You’re not.”

“She almost killed you. And I would never recover from—” She breaks then, more tears dropping to her lap, and I can’t stand how she sounds right now.

It’s torture to listen to her break down in front of me. To have had to go through something like this without me there.

Not even I could save her. I’m as worthless to her as the next person. Reagan Shelton wasn’t someone I could safeguard, even while being the most powerful person in the country.

I had to let her go, out of my world and release her to be loved by another man.

I’ve leased too much time already.

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