Page 96 of Boost

His expression tore me in two. He seemed sickened and vacant. Empty as if he was falling apart inside where no one could see. ButIsaw.Isaw the fear.Isaw him shouldering the blame for me getting caught in the cross-fire.

Rafael’s eyes flared before narrowing sharply on my nose. He pushed to his feet and came to me, reaching a trembling hand, yet not touching.

“What happened, baby girl? Your nose…”

I forced a wavering smile. “It’s nothing.”

He whirled on Christian and pointed savagely, sending the anger in the room skyrocketing once more. “Look at her face! You were going to kiss her!”

Tian’s non-humorous laughter cut across my office. “I wasn’t about to kiss her, you idiot. I was trying to make sure she was okay.”

Raf’s expression crumbled. His mouth worked open and closed as he ran a hand over his head. Finally, his gaze settled on my face again. “How did it happen?”

“Dancing,” I murmured. “Some girl stumbled and headbutted me.”

His focus then dropped to where I held my ribs. A deep crease formed between his eyebrows and he shook his head. “I hurt you?” His voice cracked in devastation.

I shook my head again. “It doesn’t matter; it was my fault for lunging at you.”

“The hell it doesn’t matter,” Tian snapped. He stabbed a finger at Raf and took a menacing step forward. “Regardless of how she got injured last night,youhurt her just now. You’re nothing but a lowlife and don’t deserve to breathe the same air as her. Get the fuck out.”

A shuddering inhale filled Raf’s chest, and he dashed a nervous tongue over his lower lip.

“I hurt you,” he repeated. The whispered words tore my heart in two.

“You didn’t, Raf, it’s okay,” I assured him desperately. I felt him pulling away. Slipping through my fingers, and I was grasping at anything to not let that happen. “It was anaccident.”

Raf shook his head and backed up a step. My chest felt like it was being crushed. I knew what he was doing. He was slamming up walls. Shutting me out. Physically and emotionally distancing himself from me.

My attention flicked to Roxiee when she returned with our security guard, Logan.

“You okay?” she murmured.

“Yes.” My eyes sought out Rafael again.

His entire posture deflated. I’d never seen a man look so broken. So crestfallen. And the new disconnect in his eyes speared through me like an iron rod.

“I’m sorry for hurting you, Greer. I didn’t mean to,” he murmured like a child knowing he’d done wrong.

Christian stepped closer, now holding tissues to his nose. “Well, you did. Get the fuck out. I won’t tell you again.”

“Rafael…” Of course, he needed to leave, but I desperately needed to talk to him. “We need to talk. I’ll call you later.”

He didn’t utter a word as he turned his body. His eyes held mine as he angled further away, wanting to say so much, but holding it all inside.

My heart ached as he walked past Logan without so much as a stolen backward glance.

As the elevator pinged in the background, Christian glared and shook his head at me.

“I’m not fucking impressed, Greer.”

“This is all a massive misunderstanding!”

“He fucking tackled me, thenpunched me!”

“Yes, that was wrong, but-”

“And then he hurt you!” Tian exclaimed.

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