Page 123 of Bossy Hero

He shakes out his fists as if trying to rid the frustration from his body.

He’s doing it so he doesn’t scare me.

I love him for that more than words could ever express.

“Because I love you. And I won’t stand by while you hurt two people who matter so deeply to you. I know you’ll regret it.”

Preparing to continue, I roll my shoulders back, tilting my chin upward slightly.

It’s the opposite of how I’ve ever approached confrontation. Especially with a man who could hurt me so easily.

Shaking off the fear that wants to knock me down, I focus on the man before me. “You forcibly yanked me from a self-hating cycle of choosing toxic partners to punish myself. You never gave up on me when you could have a million times over. You made me into a woman who can stand here, look you in the eye, and tell you to stop fucking this up. You hold up everyone around you, carrying their weight on your shoulders. You took in people without families, giving them a home and showing them what it’s like to matter to someone. That’s what Redleg is, and it’s all because of you. And the man who made that happen wouldnotlet this shit with Lenkov prevent him from giving Lettie and Tomer a father. Because now is when they need you the most.”

“I hear you, Maddie. But I can’t fucking do this right now. Irefuseto lose another person who’s depending on me due to my own selfish interests. If I can’t salvage my relationship with Tomer or Lettie, it’s far better than them losing their lives. I’ve learned that lesson. Now, I’ll wait for you on the porch. Get your shit. It’s time to leave.”

And he slams the door.

My heart stutters to a stop as his outburst runs repeatedly through my mind.

I refuse to lose another person who’s depending on me due to my own selfish interests.

I’ve learned that lesson.

What? How?

And more importantly, who?

Chapter21

Fate is a jackass

Maddie

Here’s a free life lesson. Never challenge Fate with errant thoughts or innocuous comments. Things like:

Today will be fine.

The worst is behind us.

What else could possibly go wrong?

Every damn time a thought like that crosses my mind, Fate sayshold my beer.

For the last three days, I’ve gently encouraged Alan to tell me what he meant when he said he’d lost someone he loved due to his selfish interests. He resisted.

Adamantly.

This morning, my subdued cajoling gradually turned into badgering. I’d saynagging, but that would imply he needs to do this for me.

He doesn’t. This is entirely for him.

Unfortunately, his stubbornness knows no bounds, which is probably how he managed to wait for me for so many years.

Today, I woke up bound and determined to help him free himself of this burden. After all, he forced me to face some of my darkest fears. It’s my turn to do the same for him. Especially since his past seems to be harming him in the present.

The more I pushed, the more he dug in his heels.

This morning, I stress-baked enough ziti to feed a small army. After we dropped it off in the break room, the tension between us was as high as it was when he stormed away from me a few days ago. I had to get away from him. And I did.

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