Page 92 of Erik's Salvation
He shouldn’t be surprised. The asshole had nothing to lose, so why make sure his job remained classified?
“I would never hurt you, Hannah. Youknowthat.” He stepped forward, hating every time she stepped away from him.
“Tell me it’s not true,” she said quietly, a tear sliding down her cheek.
Words clawed at his throat. Lies that would keep this woman here. But he couldn’t release them. He couldn’t lie. Not to her.
Her face paled further. “I need…time.”
Fear catapulted into his chest. He couldn’t lose her. Not after she’d so easily crumbled the walls he’d built. Slipped into his life and fit like she was always meant to be there.
His fingers itched to touch her. Draw her into his arms and be whatever she needed him to be. He had so many fucking words to say. About why he did what he did. Why his missions were so important. Who the targets were.
But the door opened behind him, and he turned to see Henry and Brigid. Hannah moved past him and he had to physically stop himself from grabbing her. From wrapping his fingers around her arm and tugging her into him. It was the closest to torture he’d ever been.
Henry ushered Hannah outside, but before Brigid turned, she stopped and looked at Erik. “She just needs some time. A day or two. Then try again.”
Then he watched as both Brigid’s car and Henry’s drove away, meeting Hannah’s gaze in the passenger seat of the latter.
Devastation. It cut into every corner of her face and darkened every scrap of light inside his woman.
The second they were out of sight, he turned and slammed his fist into the wall. The pain was nothing compared to what was inside him. The utter agony.
He stormed out and ripped his phone from his pocket.
Chandler answered on the second ring. “Hunter, are you—”
“I want a fucking location for Marco.”
There was a heavy pause. “I don’t think that’s—”
“He’s fuckingmine, Chandler. Make it happen, or I’ll do it on my own.”
CHAPTER27
“It’s a beautiful home. We’ll definitely be in touch.”
Hannah smiled, and that tiny lift of her lips took so much more energy than it should have. “Great. I look forward to hearing from you.”
The second the couple slid into their car and disappeared, she heaved a deep sigh, letting her lips fall and the ache in her chest return. Her cheeks hurt from all the smiling. Thank God this was her last open house of the day.
It wasn’t just the open houses that had dragged on—the last twenty-four hours had been brutal.
Henry and Brigid were amazing, reassuring her everything would work out. Constantly trying to bring a smile to her face, even though Brigid was grieving the loss of her own relationship.
She moved around the house, turning off the lights one by one. She had to call Erik. He’d been texting and calling since last night, but she’d just been so shocked, hurt, and alarmed by Marco’s words that she’d barely been able to think, let alone talk to Erik.
It was unfair of her not to listen to his side though. She needed to hear him say the words out loud. Tell her about his job and explain why he did what he did.
Tonight. She’d call him tonight.
There was still fear inside her…but she knew that fear was because she loved him. At some point in the last couple months, her heart had begun to beat for Erik. The air she breathed, every emotion inside her, it was all for him. How he’d cocooned himself inside her so quickly, she had no idea. But she couldn’t deny it.
And now, it might turn out he was a ruthless killer.
Her heart squeezed as she locked the house and got into her car.
On the way to Henry’s, she called Coalfire Pizza to order dinner. There was no part of her that felt like cooking, and for once, cereal didn’t sound appetizing. Plus, Henry and Brigid never said no to takeout.
