He turned around and slapped his keys down on the table. I stared up at him. I could feel the blood drain from my face. What was he doing?

“Just go. Fucking leave, Leeta. Call the cops, whatever. I don’t give a shit. If you aren’t able to forgive me . . .” He shook his head violently. “Then I don’t want you here.” He stalked to the bathroom and slammed the door, leaving me sitting there, stunned.

He’s angry with me?

What the fuck?

Crouching down, I picked up the keys and held them tightly in my hand. How could he expect me to forgive him in the space of a few fucking hours? He was insane.

My head screamed at me to get out of there, but I didn’t. Instead, I sat. I sat there and I waited, because I needed answers.

And if I left then, I’d never get them.

Chapter Sixteen

Mace

I should have told her everything.

I took off my shirt, rubbing my hand over my bare chest as I turned the shower on. I stepped out of my jeans and boxers, and stood under the steaming hot water.

She needed time, and I should have given her that. At least then there would have been a small, miniscule chance that she would have understood. Instead, I’d snapped and pushed her away.

What did I expect?

I’d cheated on her. I couldn’t blame her for being angry with me. I was pissed at myself, and I’d taken that out on her. And now she was gone. I’d fucked up the only good thing in my life.

“Fuck!” I yelled, as I roughly soaped up my body. I rinsed off the suds and then twisted the taps off. Stepping out of the shower, I reached for a towel, wrapping it around my waist. I pushed the wet hair from my eyes, pulled open the door, and walked back through to the living room.

“Leet,” I gasped, stopping in my tracks. She sat in the same spot she had fifteen minutes before, tossing my keys from one hand to the other.

She’s still here.

“You could’ve gotten away. You could have left.” I ran my hand through my wet hair, stunned, not sure what to feel.

“But I didn’t.”

I stared at her, mixed emotions running through me. I was angry that she was stupid enough to still be there. I was relieved that I hadn’t blown my chance. But most of all, I was confused.

“Why?”

“I don’t know. Mace . . . do you trust me?”

I lowered my head and sighed. Did I trust her? Could I tell her the truth?

“I learned a long time ago not to trust anyone, Leeta.”

She stood up. Slowly and deliberately, she walked over to me. My heart began to beat faster as I stared into those deep-blue eyes. My beautiful Leeta. I could feel myself wavering.

“I don’t know why I didn’t leave, Mace. I just . . .” She stopped and shook her head. “I want to believe you. I want to trust you, but I feel like you’re still holding back.”

“Leet,” I sighed, and reached for her hand. She didn’t pull away. “I’m so sorry.” I pulled her toward me, needing her in my arms. She didn’t resist. My hands roamed her back as I tilted her face up to mine.

She whimpered softly as I kissed her, my lips pressing gently against hers. God, it felt good to kiss her. My fingers edged underneath her shirt, the softness of her smooth skin incredible against my touch.

“Oh, Leet,” I muttered. I lifted her onto my hips. Her legs wrapped around me tightly as she kissed me, her fingers roaming through my short hair. I carried her into the bedroom and threw her down on the bed, yanking at her jeans.

“Oh yeah,” she muttered as I ripped open her shirt and lifted up her bra. I took her nipple in my mouth and began to suck. Positioning myself between her legs, I kissed my way down her stomach, my tongue spiralling over her soft skin. Her muscles tensed as I neared the top of her black thong.

Looping my fingers around their stretchy fabric, I tugged them down, over her knees, until they floated to the floor. She groaned as I spread her legs apart and licked along her sweet spot.

“I . . . wow,” she muttered. One hand was balanced on my head, clutching at my hair, as the other covered her face. Her ankles locked around my neck as she slid herself further down the bed.

I kissed the insides of her thighs, breathing in her sweet scent before burying my face in her pussy. I ran my tongue over her soft, bare entrance, noting how wet and ready she was for me. I chuckled as she tried to push my head closer to her before plunging my tongue inside, not wanting to deny her any longer.

Her hips bucked as she arched her back. She cried out as my tongue roamed her pussy while my finger teased her clit. I glanced up at her and smirked, circling my tongue around her clit, pushing her to the edge. My cock was aching for her. I needed to feel myself inside her. I lifted myself onto the bed. Curling her legs around me, she groaned as I pushed myself inside her wet pussy.

“Harder,” she gasped. Pressing her leg against her chest, I rammed deeper inside of her. I groaned as my cock began to throb as I exploded, releasing inside her. Fuck, she is incredible. Pulling out, I collapsed beside her on the bed, exhausted and covered in sweat.

As she nuzzled into my arms, I could almost pretend the last few days hadn’t happened. I gently stroked her back, my lips touching her forehead over and over again. I’d do anything for her. Absolutely anything. The same way I would’ve done anything for Anna.

If I can let Anna down, what’s to say I can’t do the same to Leet?

I smiled as she snored softly, her lips blowing air gently out against my chest. I stayed awake all night and watched her just to have that moment to look back on and remember.

Tomorrow, she’d be back to hating me. Back to fighting her feelings. Who knew the next time I’d be this close to her. I reached out, my fingers running gently over the curve of her hip. Fuck, you’re so beautiful. She had no idea how much I loved her. Probably because I hadn’t exactly been showing that lately. But I did. More than anything in this world, I loved her. She was my life. My family. But to do right by her, I had to fix my other mistakes. And that meant catching the fuckers who hurt my sister.

Kissing her forehead, she stirred and smiled, her grip around my tightening. I sighed, and snuggled closer to her. Why couldn’t shit stay like this forever?

Chapter Seventeen

Leeta

I woke up alone. A heavy feeling filled my stomach as I remembered the night before. I groaned. I’d slept with him? God, Leeta. And unprotected sex? I had an implant, but in light of the last few days, it had been an idiotic move.

I wasn’t stupid. You don’t get as far as I had in my career by making poor decisions. Love can make you do stupid things. But at what point do you say enough is enough?

I lay on the bed, my arms in a tangled mess under the pillow as I hugged it to my body. Everything was just so fucked. Was he telling me the truth? I could see in his eyes how much he’d loved his sister. How could I blame him for wanting to find the people who did that to her?

Wait, how can you not be angry with him? Whatever his justifications were, he slept with another woman. Two other women, in fact. And they were only the ones I knew about. What if there were more?

I was torn between my head and my heart, and I wasn’t sure I could let either of them win. All I wanted to do was roll over and go back to sleep, and erase the last two days completely.

Shit.

I sat up with a start. Fucking work. I had totally forgotten about work. If I still had a job, they would probably fire me. Mace had taken my phone, but I had no idea if he had called them or what. What the hell was I going to say to them? Sorry, my boyfriend kidnapped me, but I’ll be in tomorrow. Yeah, that was going to cut it.