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I was too frightened.

Of what hewoulddo.

Of the possibility of him walking away from me.

I couldn’t do it.

"Forgive me," I begged, knotting my hand in his shirt. "Forgive me," I repeated, my voice torn, eyes bloodshot. "Be with me."

"Forgiveyou?" Hunter looked at me like I had grown three heads. "There's nothing to forgive you for."

"Really?" I whispered.

He nodded. "I'm pissed you didn’t come to me earlier with this. But I get why you felt you couldn’t." A vein in his temple ticked as he spoke. "I wouldneverhurt you," he said, tone laced with disgust and anger. "I would never put my hands on you in anger. You know that, right? Shit, Hope, I'd rather cut my fucking hands off first."

"I know that," I told him honestly. "I do."

"I want full disclosure, HC," he added, eyes locked on mine. "From here on out, no more secrets between us. "You got that?"

I sagged in relief. "I get it."

"I'm not fucking around here, sweetheart," he said in a voice thick with emotion. "If you're coming with me, then there's no turning back."

"I know."

"I mean it, Hope Carter." He drew me closer. "I won't go through this again." With one hand knotted in my hair, Hunter used the other to clutch my chin, tipping it upwards. "You need to mean it." He pressed to his forehead to mine and exhaled heavily. "I can't lose you twice."

"You never lost me, Hunter Casarazzi," I responded, and it was the complete and utter truth. "Not even once."

****

Chapter Forty-Five

Jordan

I woke up in a sterile looking hospital room, with several wires attached to my body, my wrists bandaged, and my parents sitting at my bedside.

Together.

For the first time in almost seventeen years, my mother and father were sitting side by side.

There were no words of cruelty, no accusations being tossed around.

They were justhere.

Looking at me.

Seeingme.

For what felt like the first time in my life, I feltseen.

"Am I dead?" I croaked out, turning my head to look at them. "How are you both here?"

"Hey, baby," Mom whispered, smiling down at me with a pained smiled. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I'm dead," I admitted hoarsely. "Am I?"

"You're not dead, Jordy." I watched as she stood up and leaned over my bed. "But you came close to it." Her small hand was trembling violently as she placed it on my cheek. "Baby, why would you do that to yourself?"

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