Page 10 of Shattered

Knowing full well I shouldn’t have expressed my feelings for her the way I did, I simply couldn’t help myself.

I love Sara Hawthorne.

With all my heart.

From the outside, it might look like I rushed in too fast, blinders on, letting my emotions rule me.But no one had any idea what had been going on for years.

Yes, I’d officially met Sara barely five months before, but I’d been keeping an eye on her for the past eight years.

And it was finally time I told her the whole sordid story.

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Waiting outside her shop was killing me.I knew it was going to be difficult to convince her to speak to me, but I was certainly up for the challenge.

I didn’t have a choice.

It was time she heard me out, listened to my side of the story.I knew she probably thought I was some sort of deranged stalker, but it couldn’t be further from the truth.

I’d been enlisted to protect her, her safety always being my concern.Even present day.

I saw the instant she made her way outside, locking the door behind her, unaware I was watching her.But then again, she’d always been unaware.It was for her own good.I couldn’t even imagine how difficult she would have been had she known she’d had a shadow.

Opening the back door of the sedan, I stepped out and cautiously approached her.Her back was still turned toward me, allowing me a few precious seconds to muster up the strength needed to deal with everything.

With the final turn of the shop’s lock, she pivoted on her heel and came face to face with me, the look of shock on her face making me want to reach out and assure her.

I’d given her the space she needed, but it was time she gave me what I wanted.No, what I need.

I approached her cautiously, especially since the last time I was close she lashed out and smacked me across the face. While it hurt like a bitch, I knew I deserved every bit of her anger, both physical and emotional.

I knew she wanted to hurt me as much as I’d hurt her.

“Alek, stop right there.I don’t have anything to say to you, so don’t waste your breath,” she said, frustrated, knowing I wasn’t going to leave her alone so soon.“Go home, Alek…just go home.”

“You have to talk to me sometime, Sara.You have to let me explain.You’ll understand everything once you give me a chance.”I locked eyes on her, silently pleading with her to give in.

I was tired and worn down.Never in a million years did I ever think I’d let a woman affect me in such a way, weaving her essence into every cell in my body.

Ever trying to appear unaffected, I knew she saw me falter, if even for a little bit.

“I don’thaveto do anything, Alek.I need more time.”She turned away and started walking toward her car.I wanted to yell at her, try and make her see she was being unreasonable, but I’d for sure lock up all her defenses.No, I had to handle it the only way I knew how.

Hurrying my steps, I made my way in front of her retreating body, blocking her route to escape.

“I don’t have any more time for this shit, Sara,” I proclaimed before I picked her up and flung her over my shoulder.Her scent instantly filled my nose, memories of being buried deep inside her too strong to push aside.I was instantly hard, a happening which was more of an annoyance than anything.Mainly because there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it.

She fought me like I knew she would, but I wasn’t letting her walk away again.A few paces were all it took for me to arrive at the back door of the car.I’d chosen to bring my driver along.There was no way I was going to drive while she tried her best to escape from me, endangering us both.

“Put me down!” she screamed.I was sure we were quite the sight, but thankfully no one approached me, sheer determination written all over my face.Anyone could see if they’d looked close enough.

Her small fists pounded against my back, but I never flinched.My only goal was to get her alone and make her listen to me.I knew once she heard my explanation, we could start over, right where we left off.

At least I was hoping as much.

Opening the door, I gently shoved her into the backseat—if that was even possible, to gently shove.Or maybe I intently shoved her inside.No matter.She was in my car and my plan was working.

Knowing what she’d do, I’d been prepared for her every action.I had her on her back before she reached for the opposite door handle, slamming my own door and yelling to the driver to take off.He didn’t even bat an eyelash, pulling out into traffic as if this was an everyday occurrence for me.

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