Page 17 of My Broken Bodyguard 2: Ritchie & Tori

“Better. Now that you’re awake.” I smirked.

“How’s the new wound?” she asked.

“It doesn’t hurt as bad as the others.”

“Opal said it isn’t a gunshot wound. You were struck by something. Brock told her you were involved in an explosion.” Her brows lowered. “You were?”

“I was, Tori.”

“All for me again?” She shook her head.

I took her hand and squeezed it. “Of course. I’ll do it a thousand times over to bring you back to me.”

“You weren’t supposed to stay in my life, Ritchie.” A single tear slid down the side of her face.

“Did you really want me to walk away?” I found myself asking her this question often. It was ok. She didn’t believe she deserved to be loved. But I’d show Tori she did.

Fresh tears glistened in her eyes. “No, but-”

“But nothing. We deserve a love story, too.”

Pain and sadness slid over her facial features.

“Tori, I hadn’t put myself out there. My job is dangerous. Then a beautiful, pushy maid barged into my life. She made me see past my sorrow and take what I desired.”

Reaching over with my free hand, I cupped her chin. I ignored the pain slamming into the side of my torso and brushed my lips over hers.

“I won’t live without you, Tori.”

“What does that mean, Ritchie?”

“That I’ll be more careful going forward. I want to wake up to you when I’m home, that is.” My nose brushed her bruised cheek lightly. “I’ll sell my condo and buy a house in the suburbs. You’re coming home with me, baby.”

Her eye widened. “Ritchie, you know I-”

“I’m purchasing the house, Tori.”

Her brows lowered. “We’ll discuss this when I’m feeling better.”

My hand left her face and grazed her mound through her pants.

“Don’t touch me,” she yelled at the top of her lungs.

“Tori, what’s wrong?” Simone asked from the doorway.

I saw red. “Why don’t you want me to touch you?”

Her fingers grazed my cheek as more tears fell from her eyes. “I need to clean up. Wash the filth off me. He...he...”

Her eye slammed shut briefly. “I don’t think we should talk about it now.”

She peeked at her best friend. “I’ll be fine.”

“You have to tell him, Tori.”

“I know, Simone.”

“Did he rape you?” I asked.

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