Page 162 of Exposé

Nate stood on the long sidewalk running perpendicular to the rooms, a key dangling from his fingertips.

"You had the key the whole time?" I frowned as I backed up. "Why didn't you just come in, then?"

He stepped inside, his hand slipping to his waist. "I wanted you to make the right decision on your own." His brow raised as his gaze fell to the taser held out in front of me.

“Put it down, Ava.” He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. “You’ll hurt yourself before you hurt me.”

"You're already injured." I glanced at his hand covering his wound. "I bet I could do some damage."

“Look." He held up his hand in surrender. “I’m not here to hurt you, Ava. I want to talk.”

“Talk?” I spat, the word bitter on my tongue. “You had plenty of time to talk while you were spying on me.”

His jaw tightened, a shadow flickering behind his eyes. “Things have changed.”

"You put cameras in my home."

He's here.

Alive.

He survived the death that was intended for me...

"I didn't want you to find out, not like this, Ava."

I scoffed, shaking my head. "And what other way would you have wanted me to find out that you were planted into my life, watching over me twenty-four-seven,lyingto my face..."

My stomach swirled.

"I let you in my house." I pressed my hand to my chest. "I let you in my bed." Tears welled in my eyes. "Do you know how much—"

"Yes, I do." His eyes softened. "Just because you were my target doesn't mean you didn't mean anything to me."

I laughed, my heart wringing dry like a sponge. "Don't give me that bullshit." He took a step closer and I waved the taser. "No. Don't you dare come any closer."

"Alright." He nodded, glanced at the chair next to the desk, then back at me. "May I sit? I haven't had the best couple of days." He pulled the leather jacket to the side, revealing the white bandaging through the gaping hole in his shirt.

Motioning with the taser, he moved toward the seat and sat down with a wince scrunching his face.

He almost died.

Because of me.

"Nate. They didn't find the body—"

"Don't worry about it, Ava. I did what had to be done." He leaned back, tipping his head, his limbs relaxing one at a time with a slight exhale.

"But—"

"Please. Give me a minute."

The taser trembled in my hand —his breaths raspy as he'd pieced himself together with frayed threads. Sweat glistened on his face, carving shiny streaks across his pale skin. My jaw locked, teeth grinding as I wrestled down the unease coiling tight in my chest. "You look like you're seconds from hitting the floor."

"It wouldn't be the first time."

I backed up toward the fridge, keeping my eyes locked on him, and tugged the door open. Cool air wafted against my face, and my hand shot out for the nearest bottle, the chill biting into my palm. Slamming the door shut with my foot, I stepped forward on shaking knees, then pushed the bottle across the desk toward him. "Drink." I took a quick step back the moment he reached for it. "You’re no use to me unconscious."

"So you're saying you need me?" He unscrewed the cap and raised it to his lips, pausing long enough to let a smirk tug at the corner of his mouth.

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