Page 29 of Inescapable Gravity

"This is my job," he spoke quietly, but clearly. "I'm here to protect you."

"I don't want you to risk your life for mine." She bit out the words, curling deeper in on herself. "I don't want to lose you too."

"Ahh, sweetheart-"

She was suddenly off of her feet and in his arms.

The sudden change shocked her enough to let loose of her arms and reach for his wrists, holding tight.

He moved them across the room and dropped her on the foot of the bed.

She turned back over, glaring at him through her tousled hair.

* * *

"Go ahead," he goaded her. He knew she wasn't going to let go of her anger easily. There was a fire in her that he admired, even when it was directed at him.

And partly because she was worried for him.

"Be angry at me, baby. Yell at me. Hit me if you want."

She shook her head, more shocked than angry. "I don't want to hurt you," she admitted, her voice softer and smaller. "I'm angry at you."

"Because I could have been shot."

Her expression changed to a visceral expression of pain. "Exactly."

"But they were going to shoot you, Heather."

"I... I don't care." She stared at him, her whole face a mask of terrifying fear. "I can't lose you. I know you're alive. I know you're happy. If something happens to me, I know you're fine. That," she got up on her feet and the determined stare that she gave him spoke clearly... loudly, "is all I need to know."

He wanted to argue with her, but he was struggling under the weight of her pain.

She walked right past him and all he could do was breathe.

Until he heard the hotel room door close.

And the sound of the lock clicking into place.

"No." He shook his head. "Not like this."

He turned on his heel and drew in a steadying breath. "You're not walking out of my life like this. Not again."

* * *

She jammed the button to call the elevator and the DOWN button lit up, but she couldn't hear any sounds of gears or machinery working in the elevator shaft.

She wanted to stomp her foot or kick the door.

Childish? Sure!

But she hadn't had much of a childhood in her life.

Her father's crimes and criminal enterprises had forced her to grow up early. When would she get a chance to act like a child?

She'd had precious little of the fun that she should have had.

She'd lived in the shadows hiding from her father's enemies.

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