Page 39 of Bound by Affliction
“Why? Why can’tyou?”
She gets close to my face. “Because I lost myself here and I’m not leaving until I find itagain!”
The world falls at my feet. Of all the scenarios, I don’t have a fucking clue why I didn’t see this one. I take that back, with the way she’s been acting—so unsure of everything, I hadn’t seen her pick part of herself up. The part that fights, and I kick myself not catchingit.
While I thought she was on the road back, maybe she’s further down than I thought she was in the first place. Fuck, why does this shit have to be sohard?
Calming my voice, “That’s good, baby. I want you to find yourself. I just fuckin’ hate that I’m going to have to leave you here to do it. I’ll talk to Cruz, but I’ve been here a long ass time, and the club needsme.”
She huffs out a breath, her demeanor growing calmer. “I know, Green. And I thank you for helping me, but your job is done. I’ll makeit.”
It’s my turn to get angry. “My job? You think I’m fuckin’ here because you’re a damn job? You think that I spent all those fuckin’ nights in the hospital with you, makin’ sure you were breathin’ because you’re a fuckin’ job? You know you’re not a fuckin’ job tome!”
Leah flinches and I immediately feel bad for yelling, but fuck—that pissed me off. Gaining my composure, I apologize, “Sorry, baby. I’m here because I want to be. I’m here because I care for you.” I grasp her arms and look deep into her eyes. “I’m here because your words wrapped around my soul, and I refuse to look away. Each word you have written me, spoken to me, has made me want to be right here where I am. It’s the fact that my family needs me, and I’ve been away from them for a long time. I don’t want to leave, but dammit, I have an obligationthere.”
Tears slip from her eyes and I pull her to me, kissing her soft and slow. Without words, we make it to the bed, her silent tears and our kisses the only thing in the room. Except for my heart falling to pieces aroundme.
