Page 99 of Reclaiming Adelaide

“You said it. You said I meant nothing to you. I didn’t exist.”

He shook his head, his hand cupping the other side of my face. “I’m so sorry. I was angry and confused. But I didn’t mean it. You’re the most important person who’s ever entered my life, even though it was like a fucking cataclysmic storm that wiped out any sense ofnormalcyat every turn.” His lips brushed against mine, but I turned from him, ripping away his touch.

“Don’t. Don’t do that.”

“Do what? Fight for you? It seems like that’s all I’ve been doing since I met you. You’ll never get rid of me no matter how much you try, Adelaide. I’m here forever, so you better get used to it.” He slid his hand down to my stomach and rubbed his knuckles along my belly button. “And the next time you say I’m not happy about this baby, I’ll bend you over my knee, little girl. I made you a promise, did I not?”

How? How can he flip so easily, being furious and wanting to ruin my life, to wanting to be with this baby and me? He sent my mind on a tailspin, my rudders smoking and on fire, hurtling towards the ground at full speed. I thought I’d hit the ground before that night when he found out, but no. This was it. I was near impact,readyto make contact.

“Say something.”

I shook my head and leaned to the side, away from him. He slammed his hands next to my face, his palm connecting with the cylinder with a meaty slap next to my ears.

“You’re not going anywhere until we get this situated.”

I placed my hands on his chest and sighed. His warmth dipped me into the past by my toes when things were easier between us before he broke me, and then I shoved him.

“You want to work on our ‘relationship’ while my parents lay dead in my home?” I cranked my jaw to the side as my nose stung with renewed tears.

“That’s not what I meant.”

“There are people after me that want me dead, and the top tier of the mob is sitting in the backseat of your car.” I pushed him a little harder.

“Adelaide.”

“You have some fucked up priorities, Jake.”

“Would you just listen to me?”

I shook my head. “I did listen to you until you pinned me to the wall and strangled me. I almost bought the fairytale, but that’s all it was. The honeymoon is over, and now we have to deal with the consequences of a good time.”

My chest tore in half as I shoved him again, his jaw clenching. I loved this man wholeheartedly, but anger slipped through my lips, and my teeth gnashed with hatred.

Grieflocked me in place.

Fearstole my reasoning.

I didn’t want to die. I didn’t wanthimto die. But for the last week, I’d knocked at death’s door too many times, and that’s all that consumed me. If I could free my mind of any thoughts, I’d take that drug. I’d grab the closest rocker and become an insane woman who rocked in the corner staring at the wall.

“I shouldn’t have put my hands on you; you’re right.” He crowded my space as he towered over the top of me, my neck bent backward. “And it’ll never happen again, not out of anger or malice. I’m sorry.”

The air whooshed from my lungs like a broken window on an airplane. An apology I’d heard before, but this one hit a little different like I could believe the promise he wrapped up with silken honey.

His hand hovered near my face. I turned my gaze to his healing palm where I’d cut him at the bus station, ironically to keep him safe. The moment I realized I’d done everything to protect him and my family because I loved him.

I grabbed his wrist and brought it closer to my tear-streaked cheek. If I let him in, that was it. No turning back. Like what he said that night in his garage. I was his, and he was mine. No more of this back and forth, still trying to figure out whatthiswas.

Sighing, I turned my face into his palm, kissing the injury I’d inflicted.

“You fight me so hard, but in the end, you know this is right. You know we belong together, even if getting there has been a bumpy road.”

‘Nothing worth fighting for comes easy.’ Dad said that all the time.

I leaned closer to him, his heartbeat calling to me as I placed my head on his hard chest. My arms wrapped around his waist instinctively, as if deep down my soul knew he was my only salvation. Fresh tears escaped my closed lids as he hugged me back, his lips kissing the top of my head.

“We’ll get through this together, sweets. Let me handle everything else. You take care of yourself and our baby.” He rubbed his hand down my back, sending soothing waves up my spine. “Okay?”

I nodded against him, needing to stay in the silent confines of my fucked up mind for a moment longer.

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