Page 119 of Vengeful Secret

My heart pounds too hard against my chest plate.

“Gray,” he says quietly, calmly. “Give us some information. Where he’ll be. How many men he’ll have with him. If you give us that, we’ll set you and your girl up in a safehouse. States away. So that no one will ever find you.”

So that no one will ever find us.

Isn’t that what I once wanted? Isn’t that why I spent five years trying to avoid Gray Burke?

I hadn’t moved out of state because I didn’t have the money, and I needed my mother’s support with Ciara.

If I take this offer, Ciara will be safe. I’ll be safe. No more looking over my shoulder. No more worrying that something will happen every time I leave the house.

I figure the nightmares will remain. They’ll just be different. Full of Gray’s green eyes.

I take a deep breath. “And that’s it? That’s all I have to do? You’ll leave me alone?”

The man’s eyes widen. “Yes. That’s all you have to do. I can make one phone call, and you’ll be safe. Your little girl will be safe.”

I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment.

All I can see is Gray throwing Ciara across the pool and laughing, snuggling up with her at night. Gray looking into my eyes as he makes love to me, kissing along the side of my face.

Can I give him up? Even for this?

“No,” I say firmly. “I won’t do it.”

I’ll stand by him, no matter what dangers are involved.

The man’s face falls, and he sneers at me. He reaches into his back pocket, and I wince, thinking he’s going to pull his gun. Instead, he takes out a business card.

“If you change your mind, call me.”

Then he’s gone, striding toward the door, and I breathe heavily for a few moments before peeking around the corner and seeing he’s gone, Gray’s guards still standing at the door.

I’m breathing hard when Lara comes around the corner looking for me.

She freezes when she sees me, taking both my hands in hers.

“What happened? You look white as a ghost.”

I shake my head, not wanting to talk about it. “I'm fine. I just want to go home.”

Lara frowns but keeps one of my hands in hers, leading me to the cashier where we check out. I’m barely breathing as I pay the cashier with Gray’s black credit card.

I feel like I’m drowning until we get into the car, and finally I take in a few gasping breaths.

“Are you okay?” Lara asks, looking at me curiously.

“I’m fine,” I say, but my hands are shaking.

What have I just done? Did I piss away an opportunity to keep my daughter safe? And for what? Because I’m in love with her father? Isn’t that selfish?

We head home in near silence, I only answer Lara’s questions and nod and smile when I need to.

Lara seems to still be worried about me as we walk in, but when Gray meets me at the bottom of the stairs, I throw myself into his arms.

Lara heads upstairs, always good at knowing when we need time alone.

“Sutton,” Gray whispers against my ear, chuckling as I clutch at him. “You sure are happy to see me.”

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