Page 107 of The Re-Proposal

“I’m going over there.”

“Might want to clean up first.” He hands me a napkin.

I walk while wiping Hatchen’s blood off my arms and knuckles, but there’s nothing I can do about the stains on my crisp white shirt.

Clarissa’s sitting in the backseat of a security car. The door is open and her legs are on the sidewalk. She’s looking to the ground, body bent over and elbows resting on her thighs.

I stop abruptly.

The memory of her cries for help shafts through my mind. I can hear it now. The fear, the pain, the uncertainty.

A surge of intense emotions knife at my gut.

I hate it. Hate every second of that memory, but I can scrub it away as much as I can scrub the bloodstains on my clothes.

Clarissa glances up and her eyes land on me.

She’s terrified. I can tell from the way she curls her fingers into her jeans. Her shoulders are trembling too. I want to offer her my jacket, but the smell of blood is strong on the fabric.

Maybe I should have cleaned up better.

Steps heavy and hesitant, I kneel in front of her.

Silence steeps the air between us.

Clarissa turns her face away. “Is he… dead?”

“No.”

She nods and stares at her sneakers.

“Are you okay?”

She doesn’t respond.

At least she’s not lying to me and saying ‘she’s fine’. I slide my gaze over her sensible grey dress and the sexy red heels she paired them with. Given the color and style of the stilettos, they must be one of Mimi’s.

Apart from her shaken expression, there doesn’t seem to be any more injuries. That’s the only reason Hatchen is still alive.

Clay’s voice sounds behind me. “The cops are on their way.”

I stand and face him. “Do I need to make a statement?”

“No.”

I don’t ask him how or why or what strings he’s pulling to arrange that. I just nod.

“We’ll need Vargas though.” He arches a brow.

I nod again.

My assistant arrives with a group of bodyguards. In the distance, Doberman is restraining Hatchen.

Vargas opens his mouth.

“I know what you’re going to say,” I snap, and then I run a hand through my hair. “I’ll face the consequences.”

“Cody Bolton. Bachelor of the Year. Arrested for aggravated assault.” Vargas slants me a cutting look. “We went to all that trouble with Joel just for you to ‘face the consequences’ on a rage bender?”

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