Page 19 of Rectify

“I’ll hire professionals. Don’t worry. You’ll have all the help you need. Now, we both need some sleep. Get some rest, and I’ll see you in the morning.”

“I really am sorry about everything, Aedan. I never gave you a proper explanation for why I left you. Above all, I’m sorry I hurt you.”

“I got over you years ago.” He kept any emotion from showing on his face. “You didn’t seriously think I was pining for you all this time?”

Natalya smiled tremulously. “Of course not. I’ve seen you in the tabloids; you never seem to lack for companionship. Although I’m surprised you gave up acting. That was always your dream.”

His dream had always been to fit in. To be someone. It wasn’t until after she’d left him that he’d realized how meaningless it all was. Yeah, he’d become famous and wealthy. But it was all so false.

He shrugged. “I got tired of it. It started to lack any challenge.”

“Aedan, I don’t know what I can ever do to repay you. Mateo is my whole world. If anything happens to him . . . ” She covered her eyes with her hand.

He should turn away. He said he would help her. That was all. He didn’t owe her anything. So, Aedan forced himself to move away from her. She let out a small sob. With a groan of frustration, he turned back and grabbed her shoulders, shaking her lightly.

“Damn you, Natalya,” he whispered. “I wish you hadn’t come back.”

“I know. If I’d had any other choice, I wouldn’t be here.”

Christ, that hurt more than it should have. He dropped his hands from her shoulders. Of course she wouldn’t be here if she wasn’t desperate.

“I know you hate me,” she cried.

Jesus.

He wanted to. He really did.

Aedan fought the need to hug her tight, to soothe her. What was she doing to him? She’d been back in his presence for less than two hours, and his anger toward her was already dissipating. He breathed in her scent. Vanilla and spice. That hadn’t changed.

“I don’t hate you, Natalya.” Part of him still loved her. He wouldn’t be this angry if he didn’t.

His control started to dismantle. Arousal hardened his cock, making it throb. He’d dreamed of how he would act if he ever saw her again. He’d intended to be polite but distant.

He never imagined he’d touch her, that his body would react so strongly to her closeness.

“Sorry.” She stepped back and rubbed at her cheeks. “I didn’t mean to fall apart on you.”

“I think you’re entitled.”

“Do you truly think we can get him back, Aedan?” she asked. “I don’t think I could go on if anything happened to him.”

“Diego never hurt him before, did he?”

“No. He was distant, but he was never mean. He never yelled at us or got violent.”

“Then there’s no reason for him to hurt him now, is there?” Aedan reasoned.

Natalya rubbed her forehead. “I just don’t understand any of this. I feel like I’m stuck in a nightmare, and at any moment, I’ll wake up to Mateo jumping on the bed. I’ve searched for him everywhere. When I realized he was truly gone, I jumped in my car and drove here. I couldn’t think of what else to do.”

Aedan forced himself to take a step back. She wasn’t his problem. He’d help her find her kid because he couldn’t live with himself if he didn’t, and then he’d be done with her. Forever. In the meantime, he’d remain distant.

“Well, I need some sleep,” he retorted. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

She nodded. “Thank you for everything. I can never repay you for this. Ever.”

Aedan kept moving, he didn’t look back. She wasn’t his to take care of anymore.

And that hurt him more than he thought it would.

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