Page 105 of Wish I Didn't Want You Back

She leaned back and tucked her knees to her chest. “I was trying to figure out what to do with this information. I thought about holding on to it as leverage to keep them both away, but I worried that it wouldn’t be enough and, quite honestly, I’m sick of keeping secrets.”

That got my attention. “What do you mean?”

“What I’m about to tell you, I should have said a long time ago.” She rested her chin on her knees. “Do you remember the night I left town?”

I stiffened. “Of course, I do.” It was one of the worst nights of my life.

“I didn’t leave because I was choosing my dad over you.” She swallowed and looked away. “I left because my dad gave me a choice. I could either walk away, or he would do everything in his power to ruin you and everyone you cared about.”

I was so stunned; you could have knocked me over with a damn feather. “That’s why you left me?”

All these years, I assumed she just chose her dad. That she was too loyal, and he was too controlling. I told myself over and over again that she was a coward for not standing up to him. I believed nothing I could ever say or do would be good enough. I never understood why until today. She was protecting me.

She twisted her hands in her lap. “I couldn’t let you and your family lose everything because of me. My dad has money and connections. He would have done irreparable damage to your reputation. He threatened to go after your family’s business.”

That man took years away from us. All those nights I’d laid in bed, hating her. Now that I knew the truth, I hated myself more for not seeing it.

“You should have told me,” I said, staring at the woman I spent years trying to get over but never could. “Why did you let me hate you and think the worst?”

“Because I knew you would be angry and go after him.”

I looked away. My heart was racing because she was right, I would have. And maybe it would have cost us everything, but at least I would had know why.

I reached out and brushed my thumb along her ankle. “I get why you did it, but I wish you hadn’t made that decision for both of us.”

She hung her head. “I know. I’m sorry. I struggled with that decision for a long time. That’s why I spent years avoiding Marcellus Falls. It was too hard for me to think about running into you, but the day I ran from the church, I knew I had to go back.” Tears filled her eyes. “Are you mad?”

“I am, but not at you. I’m angry at him for tearing us apart. I’m mad that he stole years from us that we will never get back.”

“I understand. So, what happens now?”

I glanced at the window. The city of Manhattan buzzed on the other side. I looked down at my watch, knowing I didn’t have much time left.

I squeezed her hand gently. “I need to do something, and you need to let me.”

She tensed. “Please don’t. I just want to put all this behind me and go home.”

I smiled at the word “home” coming from her beautiful lips. “I want that too, but you know the kind of man I am. I can’t let this slide. He didn’t just mess with you, but he tried to ruin me, too.”

She sighed and leaned back on the couch, knowing she wasn’t going to talk me out of this. “Fine, but please don’t get arrested.”

I laughed. “I promise not to throw the first punch. How is that?”

“I guess I’ll have to trust you.” She stood up and started moving across the room. “I’m going to pack a few boxes. I’ve already contacted a realtor about listing this place. There is nothing left here for me. I’ll be ready to go when you get back.”

I stood up, gave her one last kiss, and stepped out onto the streets of New York, determined to reclaim our life and be done with the son of a bitch once and for all.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

BROOKS

William Bennet lived in a penthouse on the Upper East Side. It was only a few short blocks from Harlow’s apartment. It seemed the closer I got, the quieter the streets became. I hadn’t been in this building in years, but it was the kind of place you never forgot. The outside of the building was nothing special, but the green canvas canopy, brass-plated doors, and the doorman standing outside in his navy-blue uniform screamed money.

I spotted a guy in his mid-forties walking toward the main entrance. He had his earbuds in, so I slipped in behind him. I was close, but not close enough to draw attention. The doorman was talking to a delivery guy, but spotted me when I tried to breeze past him.

I pulled the keycard that Harlow had given me out of my wallet and flashed it to him. “I’m here to see my father-in-law, William Bennett.”

He held his hand up. “Wait a minute. You need to be approved.”

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