Page 43 of Pervade London
No, he fucking wasn’t. “You don’t get to call me that.”
“Xander has shown you what he can do with technology. I, too, have those resources.”
My frown gave my ignorance away.
“You have no idea what he does?” He looked surprised. “Well, there’s that at least. You’ve had your fun and now it’s over.”
“Threats won’t work.”
“It’s not just a threat. If you tell anyone about this, I will end you…and then I will end them.”
The sound of a keycard being swiped was followed by the door bursting open. Xander hurried in, snapping a concerned look first at me and then to James.
“Nice of you to join us, Xander,” said James calmly.
Xander studied me, as though making sure I was unharmed.
“He won’t leave,” I told him.
“She has a big day tomorrow.” James held his stare. “She needs some sleep.”
Something passed between them and Xander gave a nod of understanding.
“What was that?” I snapped.
James turned his back on me and rested a hand on Xander’s shoulder for a moment before walking out the door. Xander shrugged it off and didn’t even watch him leave.
A chasm opened up beneath my feet. “What just happened?” It came out as a sob,because I knew.
He reached for me. “Em.”
I stepped back, my chest tightening at his look of resignation.
“Come here.”
“Tell me what’s happening.”
“You know I love you, right?”
“What happened while you were gone? Did they threaten you?”
“It’s complicated.”
“We’re going to be married.”
“Em, please…when I met you, I said we could only live one day at a time—”
“Tell me this isn’t goodbye.”
He moved closer and pulled me into a hug. “I’m trying to protect you.”
I wanted to stay in his arms forever. I held him as though I would. “Don’t you dare leave.”
“Forgive me.”
I stared up at him with tears in my eyes. “What did he say to you?”
He looked away. “They need me.”
