Page 99 of Building What's Meant to Be

“Tell that to my sister Victoria.” I’ve rarely spoken of my family because there are ruins there, as fragile as the ones in Rome.

“Tinsley, trust me when I tell you I wanted to protect you. All I can say is that this case has to do with national and foreign alliances, nuclear assets, and a lot of money.” He balances his elbows on his knees and rests his head against his hands.

“You could’ve just said so in the beginning.”

“Not even my family, sisters, or the guys knew until recently.”

“Leaving me the last woman standing.”

Aiden shifts closer to me and says, “That fits since I was the last man standing.”

“How can I trust you when our relationship was built on a lie?”

“It wasn’t a lie exactly. More like concealment of the truth.”

I cock my head. “Then let me rephrase. How can I trust you when our relationship wasn’t built on truth?”

“It’s not like you told me that Puma had been texting you.” His tone turns sharp.

“And I ignored and deleted him.”

“But you could’ve been in danger. He didn’t look like he was fixing to take you on a date.”

I shiver. Aiden is a capable man. He was going to protect me from Brave, who he thought was a wolf. Plus, he’s professionally trained as a federal agent. Physically, I feel safe with him. Emotionally, I feel anything but. It’s like I jumped into a jungleravine. All manner of creatures, poisonous insects, carnivorous plants, and what feels like a deep, natural love for this man could take me out at any turn.

I have to protect myself. “Aiden, technically, your case is the reason that I lost my social standing. I could get revenge and return to my old life.” Or spill the truth about how I love him.

He goes still. “What do you mean?”

I narrow my eyes. “I know where you keep Murder Doll.” I have never seen the thing but the name alone sets his teeth on edge. At the moment, it’s the only thing I can think of to get back at him, considering he has my emotions twisted like aGogastudent.

“You wouldn’t.” His eyes narrow.

We have a stare-off. It’s everything I can do to hang onto my anger and not give in to the temptation of his blue eyes.

“Murder Doll,” I whisper to keep myself from falling off the rails and back into his arms.

He flinches.

Guess I found his weak spot. “Why didn’t you bother to tell me that you were in Malibu that night? That you knew who I was? You had every opportunity.” I want him to say something that erases all my doubt, but it’s carved into this conversation now. There’s no erasing or ignoring the truth and the pain. Mae didn’t have to warn me about breaking her brother’s heart. She should’ve reserved her sister-bear ferocity for him.

“Tinsley, if you dealt with the kinds of people I do on a daily basis, you’d understand that it was only to protect you.”

“I want to appreciate that. I do, but how can I when I didn’t even know that I needed protection? When I only knew half of you? If you looked at it from my perspective, you’d see that I don’t know how I’ll be able to trust you.”

“I’m sorry,” he says softly. “I’m sorry, but I was just doing my job.”

I want to accept his apology, however, thebut I was just doing my jobadd-on threatens to cause a Tinsley Tantrum. “What comes first? Us or your job?” I’ve seen how this scenario plays out in my family and don’t like the result.

Aiden’s shoulders drop and he gazes between his hands at the floor. “I just have to finish this case.” His voice is low as if he’s talking to himself.

“I want to believe that, but how can I?” I start toward the door. Brave follows me. I don’t know whether I want to stay or go. For Aiden to follow me or remain in his office.

I’m not sure of any of it other than I wish we could rewind and go back to yesterday. Then again, that wouldn’t change that he’s a chameleon. That I believed the vague explanation that he was in business, finance. That I’d doubted my memory and that he was the Southern Agent.

The guys I used to date were celebrities with a side of bad boy. Aiden is no different, except he’s a good guy—at least when it comes to his job. As for us, I ended my man-cation early and fell for him.

Unfortunately, I was right. The joke was on me.

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