Page 77 of Never Say Never

There was no explaining to them that me and their dad were having issues.

Paul: Work is crazy. I'll come as soon as I have time.

Navy: kk????

Nyra: ??

I pocketed my phone and stared at York.

"Paul, I'm fine."

"You aren't."

I leaned against the wall in my boss's office, watching his every move. He'd tried multiple times to kick me out, but after the incident this morning, he should be at home with the girls. The higher-ups even suggested it. York had turned down witness protection and even denied taking a step back from the case. He did hire a private security firm to stake out his place and two men to stay near his daughters at all times.

"You standing there won't change anything. Unless you know something I don't."

The jab was heard and it wouldn't have bothered me if I did know something. I ground my molars, wanting to go out in the streets of New York and hunt down every single threat to him and the girls.

"It gives me peace of mind." I would much rather be back at his place and have him and the girls close by where I could see them. “Why won’t you stop this shit? Is working more important than Navy and Nyra?”

York’s fist slammed against his desk. “Don’t you ever say that again. I am doing all of this”—he gestured wildly—“for them.”

“How is this for them? You should be at home.”

“Yeah? You want to know what being home got me? A dead fucking wife! My best friend, gone, like that.” He snapped his fingers.

“What?”

York blew out a shaky breath. “Dawn wasn’t supposed to be the one going to the ATM that day. I was, after work. But I missed them, and I just wanted to get home, spend some time with my family. We were going to go on an outing, but we needed to grab cash. Dawn said she’d do it, that I should play with the girls. And that was the last time I saw her. Leaning on the door, smiling, saying that she loved me.”

My throat tightened. “York…”

“Don’t you get it? If I had been at work, where I was supposed to be, she would never be dead. The girls wouldn’t have lost the most amazing person in their lives only to be stuck with me. I had the next day off, but I just couldn’t wait.” He sank deeper into his chair. “Not working killed my wife, Paul. I should have been the one picking up that money. It should have been me.” He buried his face in his hands. “So no, I can’t stop,” he whispered.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “But I still think you’re shaken up. You’re in no condition to be here.”

“Please, leave me alone.”

"Is it wrong for me to be worried about you?"

York had already set up, wiped the tears from his face, and was back to work. He froze for a second, his fingers hovering over the keyboard. Still, he didn't look up at me, as if he needed to busy himself in order to avoid what had happened. "I'm your boss."

"Fuck." I was across the room and at his desk in seconds. I swiped everything to the side, satisfying the destructive part of me. "Is that all I am to you, York?" I grabbed his tie, still smudged with dirt. Yanking him close, our noses nearly touched. "You're not just my boss. You stopped being that a while ago."

York stared at me, his dark eyes fixed on my face. Emotions moved too quickly for me to place any of them. "I'm just a conquest."

I pressed our lips together and our teeth clinked. Pain flared but it was nothing compared to the ache in the middle of my chest. "Idiot, do you think I chase after a conquest like this?"

York shrugged. "There is so much between us unsaid. I don't know if I can—" York stopped and looked away. "Paul, let me go."

"No." Why couldn't he see that I didn't want to? "If I could, I'd chain myself to you." I kissed him one more time, groaning at the sparks that ignited from such a simple touch.

York stared at me as I finally let him go. His mouth opened just as a resounding knock at the door echoed in the room. The thought of killing the person on the other side took over. I balled my fists at my sides, holding onto what little restraint I had.

"We can't do this at work," York whispered. "I'm fine. I need you to do your job, so I can do mine."

It was like talking to a brick wall. "Fine, you do what you need to and I'll do what I need to."

---