Page 9 of Forbidden Passion

She shook her head sadly. “It’s not important. I promise to leave you alone and not bother you again. Be safe.”

She turned and walked away, and he had a mad urge to yell for her to come back.

“Hey, hun, did you want me for anything?” Monica askedin a testy tone.

He looked at her. “Sorry. I just wanted to see how you were doing?”

Monica scowled. “That’s it?”

“Yeah, someone told me you’d gotten hurt.” It was the first thing he could think of to say. He didn’t want her to think he was interested in her.

“Hurt? No, I haven’t been hurt,” she said.

“Oh, hell. It must have been someone else they were talking about. I’m sorry.”

Monica straightened away from him. He could see the disappointment on her face and felt like shit. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

She nodded. “Thanks. I better get back to work.”

Dominik turned back to watch Tessa. His concern rose when he caught her rubbing her temples. She turned and walked out the door.

What the hell is she doing, leaving alone like that? He stood to follow her. He was a few feet from the door when one of her friends grabbed onto his arm to stop him.

“Dominik. Wait. I need to talk to you,” Michelle said.

“Later. I want to make sure she gets home.”

“Nicole was waiting outside for her, so she’s not alone.”

Dominik sighed in frustration but turned to face Michelle. “What do you need?”

“I need you to stop messing with Tessa. You’re tearing her apart, and she is still dealing with the attack.”

“I’m not trying to mess with her. I just want to make sure she’s safe.”

“Showing you care and then pushing her away is doing her more harm. She’s been through enough. Her life has mostly sucked,” Michelle said.

His eyes narrowed. “What does that mean?”

Michelle looked away and then turned back. “I can’t tell you much, but I can tell you her whole life has been a struggle. She was finally starting to believe she could be happy. After the attack, her pain reminded me of her in college. I don’t want her to go through that again. And she will if you keep messing with her emotions.”

His stomach tensed. “Why did she have such a hard time? Didn’t her family help her?”

Michelle looked confused. “What family?”

“Her family. Her parents and any siblings she might have?”

Michelle looked even more upset. “Is that what you think?”

“Yeah. I assumed she grew up somewhere in the suburbs,” he said.

Michelle shook her head. “That’s what’s holding you back?”

“No, but it’s the most important one.” He waited for the woman to talk. He wanted to shake her, and then she stood in silence. “Tell me.”

Michelle sighed. “I won’t tell you all of it, but I will tell you there was no family.”

He was shocked. “What?”

---