Page 124 of The Thief
"I said later."
The tone of his voice cuts through any arguments. Henry nods, steps aside, and lets us pass without further questions.
In our bedroom, Freddie helps me sit on the edge of the bed. I feel disconnected, floating, like this is happening to someone else.
"He was a good man," I say.
"Yes, he was."
"He didn't deserve what happened to him."
"No, he didn't."
"And it's my fault."
"No." Freddie's voice is firm, final. "It's Trace's fault. Only his."
But I can see something dark building behind his eyes. Something that looks like rage barely held in check.
"What are you thinking?" I ask.
"I'm thinking about all the ways I'm going to make Trace Harrington pay for what he's done."
"Freddie—"
"I'm thinking about slow deaths and creative torture. About making him beg for mercy before I put a bullet in his skull."
The violence in his voice should scare me. Instead, it's oddly comforting. This man, this dangerous killer, is planning terrible things in my defense.
"Promise me something," I say.
"Anything."
"If you go too far, if the revenge starts consuming you, promise you'll let me pull you back."
He's quiet for a long moment, considering. "What if I don't want to be pulled back?"
"Then I'll do it anyway. Because I need you here with me, not lost in some spiral of violence and hatred."
"And if Trace deserves everything I'm planning to do to him?"
"Maybe he does. But you don't deserve to become the kind of man who enjoys inflicting that kind of pain."
Freddie studies my face, seeing something there that makes his expression soften slightly.
"Okay," he says finally. "I promise. If I go too far, you pull me back."
"I promise."
He leans forward and kisses my forehead gently. "You're safe with me. Always. No matter what happens, no matter who we're fighting, you're safe."
"I know."
"Do you? Because sometimes I think you don't understand how much you mean to me. How far I'll go to protect you."
"How far?"
“To the ends of the earth. Through Hell itself. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do, no line I wouldn’t cross, to keep you safe.”
