Page 116 of Rogue Villain

I dash away the tears streaming down my cheeks, using the back of my hands, my chest rising and falling rapidly as his yearning midnight eyes hold mine. “Don’t take your love away. I’ll do anything to be worthy of it. Ofyou.”

He swallows heavily, his head falling forward in defeat. “Please, don’t leave me.”

Pushing myself to stand, my feet slowly close the distance between us before I place a shaking palm on the top of his dark head. He shifts closer, molding his body to mine when he wraps his arms around my waist, pressing his head to my abdomen.

I run my fingers through the black silken strands whilst waging a war internally. Part of me wants nothing more than to fall to the floor and gather him close. The need to comfort him is almost visceral.

But a small part of me—undoubtedly the strength I’ve acquired in my time here with this beautiful man—knows I needtimeto come to terms with my newfound knowledge.

Time to adjust to the new dynamic between us. Time to sort through the chaos inside my head.

Just time to think.

But that’s something I simply can’t do here, in Vaughn’s presence, when my whole self is screaming that I ease his pain and forget about my own.

And it’s with that in mind, I gently loosen his hold around my midriff and take a step back, looking down into beseeching black eyes that almost break my resolve in their sincerity.

“I need time, Vaughn. Time to digest everything. To work through howIfeel about the circumstances of my father’s death. About my mother keeping the truth from me.”

He exhales slowly with a soft nod, defeat rolling off of him in waves, and at that, I cup his cheeks between my palms, needing him to hear me.

“You’re not responsible for his murder. Nolan Fritz is. He killed my father in cold blood to prove a point to you.” His brows furrow as he shakes his head, and I draw my thumbs across his sharp, emotion-slick cheekbones. “It’s not your fault.”

Our eyes hold for long moments as my words permeate the fortress deep inside that he’s spent decades perfecting, and it’s when fresh tears fill his eyes that I drop my hands from his face.

My feet find their way to the door as Vaughn exhales raggedly at my back. My own breath is shallow as I place my hand on the handle, my eyes filling with tears as my words fill the room.

“I love you, Vaughn Burton. But right now, I need some room to breathe.”

CHAPTER35

VAUGHN

Silence surrounds us as we take the elevator to the basement. Internally, I’m screaming, begging, and pleading for her not to go. The fear that she’ll never return seeps into the deepest, darkest reaches of my newly restored soul.

I’m toxic, but maybe she’s the antidote.

The elevator doors open to reveal a waiting Jules. His face is the very picture of dismay as he takes Wren’s bags from my hands, leaving them dangling uselessly at my sides.

Wren wrings her hands together as we both follow Jules, silence still prevailing until I open the back passenger door of the waiting SUV.

“Iwillcome back to you, Vaughn.”

Finally, I allow myself to look down into her tear-stained face, the sight putting a fresh lump in my throat, and I simply nod once, too fearful to attempt words at this moment.

I help her into her seat, my eyes raking across every adored feature, committing every line, every curve to memory before slowly closing the door.

I catch Jules’s eyes over the hood. “Stay with her. Her safety is paramount.”

He nods sharply, a frown marring his usually smiling face, and then he ducks inside, driving the SUV and my Wren from my life for what feels like the last time.

Once the SUV has disappeared from sight, I march back to the elevator, intent on visiting Ford in his little security cave on the ground floor.

When I open the door using the biometric scanner, he regards me with unfathomable eyes for a beat before shaking his head. “Didn’t think you’d let her go, if I’m being honest.”

“She deserves to make her own choices.” I step farther inside, taking a seat beside him with a shrug. “She was made to be with me, but it means nothing if I force her hand.”

His face gives nothing away as he watches me for a long beat before shifting his body to the screen before him.

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