Page 23 of Hidden By His Side

Summer shook her head, but her tears got worse, choking her even more. “Not… his fault,” she pushed out, but Ramiro didn’t believe her.

He carried her into his office, settling in the chair that was perfect for him to cuddle her in. She’d ended up curled against his body two days in a row, but both times she’d been crying. Her tears made him want to lock her away from the world until she smiled again, a smile just for him.

His cheek rested on her hair while her every gasp and sob tore him up inside.

How did these uptight pricks keep hurting her? Ramiro had Hayes check into each one’s background, and they were all decent guys on paper. He convinced himself that they’d be better for her than he would be, but it never worked out.

Because she’s yours, the voice whispered in his head, the one that was sounding less and less wrong.

He wanted her so damn much it scared the hell out of him. His father had taken over every aspect of his mother’s life, and she’d let him. The thought dried out his mouth, and he pushed the memory of how his mother had died deeper.

His hands slid over Summer’s back to ground himself, soothing strokes that helped ease her breathing. When she finished crying, she would lift her head and smile at him, but it would be that forced smile that broke his heart. The one tainted with guilt over leaking her emotions, as if they weren’t something he’d burn down the world to have.

Summer deserved to be taken care of, even if it was by someone like him.

Ramiro waited for her to pull away, waited for the smile that made him feel like he’d failed again.

Her crying eased, but her hand remained fisted in his jacket, her face pressed to his chest. She wasn’t even trying to fake being okay.

His arms wrapped more firmly around her. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“You’re not mad?” she asked, her voice muffled by his chest.

“I can never be mad at you, Summer. You should know that by now.”

“But you told me not to come here today.”

He sighed, nuzzling against her hair. “I’d be mad if you were feeling like this and didn’t come to me.” Or worse, if she went to someone else. It would be his own fault, but he’d kill the person anyway.

“I cry on you too much.” Despite her words, she clutched him even tighter.

Ramiro let his grip ease, stroking her back again. He wanted to reassure her there would never be a ‘too much.’ To tell her hewanted all her tears, even while they ripped him apart. He knew better, though. No matter how many times he told her, she saw herself as a burden.

He really should have killed her parents back when he’d first found her. They’d done a number on her head.

“Am I visiting the prick you’re dating?” he asked.

Her grip on his jacket eased, her hand slipping inside instead. The press of her palm burned through his dress shirt.

Ramiro’s brows drew together when she didn’t defend the boyfriend. It was almost as if she were considering letting him loose on the prick.

He tugged her away from his chest so he could read her face. “Did he hurt you?”

“N-no,” Summer said, but she wouldn’t meet his eyes.

Rage at himself bubbled in Ramiro’s veins. He’d already suspected the boyfriend was an asshole, and he’d sent her there instead of asking her to stay with him, all because he’d known he’d break and drag her into his bed.

“I’m gonna pay your boyfriend a visit,” he said. He’d take her to his place first, like he should have done before.

Summer’s hands lifted to clasp his face, making him grow still. “You can’t kill him, Ram.”

His hands moved over hers, absorbing her touch. “I can and I will,” he reminded her. “The only thing that’ll stop me is you telling me he didn’t make you cry. Can you say that, baby girl?” He held her gaze when she tried to look away. “The truth.”

“It’s not his fault,” she whispered, biting her lip.

That wasn’t a no. He started lifting her off his lap, but she straddled him, pushing her body against his.

His body liked her closeness, but he lashed it down.

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