Page 195 of Intense
I blink, throat tightening.
“Or does your boss not care?” he adds.
“My boss? You’re my boss. Are you going crazy?”
He flicks off the safety.
“Stop!” The word rips from me in a sob.
“No. You stop fuckin’ lying to me. Tell me why.”
He slams his hand down on the metal tray beside us, the sound sharp enough to make my body jolt.
“You’ve got this all wrong, Finn.”
He steps in, and before I can react, his hand is around my throat, shoving me back against the wall. The gun digs into the soft skin beneath my jaw.
“That’s what traitors always say.” His whisper burns hot against my ear.
“I’m not. I swear. Finn. Listen to me.”
I push both hands against his chest, but he doesn’t move.
I force myself to look into his eyes. Pleading with him the only way I know how.
“I’m not scared of you,” I tell him. “You can show me your crazy, and I’ll show you mine. Shoot me. Do it. I’ve got nothing anyway. I’ll just be another statistic. And I’m sure you know how to hide a body.”
My eyes narrow, chin tipping up in defiance.
“I’m clearly fucking crazy for falling for a psycho like you.” I let the words drip with a sweet smile.
He grunts.
“Ditto.”
“You never fell for me, temptress. I was just a pawn in your game. Tell me why. You wanted my job that bad? Or have you been working with them this whole time?”
A laugh bursts from me.
“You really are full of yourself, Dr. Quinn. You seriously think I’d do all of this, for what? Get a job? Is that what you think of me? Why did you even want to stay married to someone as pathetic as that?”
His chest heaves. I can feel the shift—he’s listening. So I keep going. Keep prodding.
“I didn’t do it out of choice, Finn. I was blackmailed. Again, my hand was forced by a man. It was my life over yours. I couldn’t say no. So I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry some asshole is coming after you and dragged me into your orbit.”
He jabs the gun harder, forcing my chin up.
“Why didn’t you tell me? I thought we’d gotten closer. I let you in.”
The words cut deep.
“I didn’t tell you because I was scared.”
“Of me?” His brow furrows.
“No.”
I inhale deeply, the air shaking in my lungs.
