Page 10 of Absolution

“Room six?”

“That’s what he said.”

“Thanks. I’ll let you know if I need anything.”

I came to a halt before the door and knocked, fearful of what I was going to find behind it. There was no answer from inside. I braced myself and opened it. Sitting, fully dressed on the edge of the bed was Gina. My heart ached at the sight of her. She seemed so lost and dejected. What the fuck had Donovan done to her? I closed the door.

“Gina? You okay?”

She blinked and glanced over, her body stiffening when her eyes landed on me.

“What are you doing in here?”

“A call came through that a Dom was needed in here to take care of you. I volunteered.”

“Why? Are you intentionally trying to hurt me? Don’t you get it? I don’t want you around.”

I reared back at the accusation. “I would never hurt you.”

Hurting a submissive, especially Gina, went against everything inside me.

“Yet, here you are.” She spread her hands out in front of her.

For a year now, she’d made her feelings glaringly obvious. I was just too stubborn to accept them. We’d been friends once. I guess I continued hanging on to the hope that we could be again. I moved forward and sat in the chair pushed up against the wall.

“I’m sorry me being near hurts you. That has never been my intent. I’ve only ever wanted what’s best for you. You were my best friend once.”

“Did you ever think about what would happen to me after you left?”

The question was a whisper, but still I heard it, as well as the pain in her voice.

“Of course I did. I thought about you all the time, even when you didn’t answer my letters.”

She drew back. “What letters?”

“The letters I wrote you. Once a week after I left.”

“I never got any letters.”

“I swear I wrote you. When you didn’t respond to the first couple, I called several times. Talked to Gideon. He told me you weren’t there. Every time I called. I stopped calling when I was sent overseas.”

She laughed bitterly, and her throat bobbed. “I see.”

I leaned forward onto my knees. Gina was finally speaking to me. I wanted her to understand why I’d needed to leave.

“You remember Lorenzo, don’t you?”

“Of course.” Her tone indicated it was a stupid question.

“Well, he had a way of drawing you further into his organization. I know I never told you the full story, but one day, when he handed me a gun, I knew I couldn’t do it anymore. That was the turning point for me. That’s when it became too dangerous and when I saw prison in my future if I was caught. I wanted better for myself. I know that sounds selfish, but I didn’t want to end up like my old man. His whole life he’s spent in and out of prison. I deserved better.”

“What about me? Didn’t I deserve better? You were supposed to be my best friend. You promised you’d always be there to take care of me.”

“Damn it, I thought I was. I kept Lorenzo away from you while I was there, so with me gone, you were no longer on his radar. I left to protect you.”

Her head snapped in my direction and flames spit from her eyes. “Protect me? Your leaving didn’t protect me. It destroyed me.”

I jerked back in confusion. “That can’t be. Gideon told me—”

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