Page 69 of Prey for You

Fuck!

I leaned in again. “The fact that Sam is also Cain means he doesn’t judgeme. You think after the life I’ve had I can go shack up with some vanilla-ass-frat-boy who thinks God carries a gun, and that grabbing his dick is the answer to everyhardquestion?”

“Of course not—”

“No, Gerald. I can’t. Sam gets it. He doesn’t judge meorunderestimate me because of what I like. He doesn’t think I’m crazy becausehe likes it too.And he cares more and listens better than any person I’ve ever known. He makes me feel safe… Did you hear that? He makes me feel fuckingsafeand it doesn’t make me want to slit my wrists. Are you listening? Being with Sam makes me want tolive.And that’s the first fucking time that’s happened in… well,ever.”

Gerald gaped, then closed his mouth quickly, swallowing. “I’m so glad to hear that you feel safe, Bridget, but… God… listen to what you’re saying. This man is a self-proclaimedpredator… I’m sure the thrill is intoxicating, but—” he started hoarsely, but I cut him off.

“No! You’renotlistening.He isn’t just Cain. And he’s not just Sam. But together… together they make this person who… who’sperfectfor me.”

Gerald looked at me like I was telling him I would kill myself.

God, I wanted to punch him. “He’s never hurt me—not intentionally. Not beyond scrapes and bruises that Iwanted.He is not a bad man. He’s a good man. Andyou peopleare going to ruin him.”

Gerald nodded, which made my heart sink. “Probably.”

I threw my hands out. “How can you justnot care—"

“I don’t know Cain, or Sam, or whatever his name is. But I know you, Bridget. And I’m terrified that all you’ve done is gone out and pulled one more dark, dangerous man into your life. But instead of using the very few, very small brakes that you possess, you’re racing full throttle towards your own destruction.”

I sat back in the couch shaking my head. “That’s the irony, Gerald. This is theoppositeof that. For the first time Iwantto be close to someone who wants to help me because they care.Exactly the kind of person you’ve been telling me to look for. And I’ve beentalkingto him. Everything you’ve been telling me to do for two years. I’m finally taking your advice, and now the whole fucking world is fighting me.”

Gerald blinked and his face grew thoughtful.

I pushed the point. “When I told you about Sam—before we knew he was both people—you said you liked him.”

“Because I didn’t know he washuntingyou, and I thought he was a moral man, giving you good advice.”

“Isn’t that advice still good? Because he keeps giving it.”

“Not if it was a lie. A manipulation to trap you.”

“God, why does everyone forget:I’mthe one who trappedhim!”

That V pinched between Gerald’s brows that meant he was thinking.

I decided a new approach was needed and pleaded with him instead. “Gerald, Ineedto be with him. He calms me. When he’s gone, I get scared, and then I get tense, and then I want to go out and do all that stupid shit to distract myself. But Sam… he makes the rest of this fucked up life bearable.Please. Please,tell them that I can handle being close to him, even during this case. I want to get his restraining order rescinded—”

“Absolutely. Fucking. Not,” he ground out.

“Gerald,please.”

“I amnothanding you the gun to kill yourself.”

“Sam is not a gun! He’s my life!”

Gerald leaned forward, his eyes wide and expression serious. “And that’s how I know you’re not ready for this. You knew this guy two or three months before you married him, and now you’ve spent the last six months apart? You barely knowyourself,Bridget. There’s no way you know this guy.”

I was about to bite back, but then I had a flash of inspiration. Sam’s words from when we were on our honeymoon came back to me.

We needed a champion. Someone who’d fight with us, and for us. Both of us.

I smiled.

Gerald looked wary. “What are you up to?”

“I have a proposal for you,” I said.

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