Page 82 of Betrayed

Did it hurt?Could I sound any dumber?

He laughed. “It did, though we were in the middle of a gunfight, so it wasn’t too bad until the adrenaline wore off.”

Sadness filled his eyes as they lost focus on the room.

“Andrew?” I wanted to ask why he looked so sad, but his head snapped up.

Anger replaced the sadness in his eyes for a split second before softening. “Sorry. It’s been a long time since anyone has called me that and I’m still adjusting.”

That didn’t really explain anything, so I pushed. “Why?”

He sat with a sigh and invited me to join him with a pat on the bed. Heat radiated off his body, his rugged leather scent filling my nose. I forced my attention back to the subject.

“It was my father’s name; he made me hate it.”

I struggled to imagine hating a parent enough to change my name, but then I’d never had a parent hit me. I wanted to hug him, but he had more to say.

“When he left us, I wanted to destroy the connection to him.”

“I’m so sorry you went through all that.”

He turned and looked into my eyes, searching for something.

“Say it again,” he said.

I don’t know how, but I knew he meant his name. Staring deep into his eyes, I whispered, “Andrew.”

His dark eyes bore into my soul as his head tilted ever so slightly to the side. I’d never held such intense eye contact with anyone before—it was unsettling.

I was about to look away when he said, “Thank you.”I didn’t do anything. “For giving me my name back,” he whispered.

I didn’t understand how I’d done it, but it didn’t matter. The look in his eyes told me it meant the world to him.

Emotions whirled around in my head like I’d hit puree on a blender. Everything I’d believed about AJ, Andrew, was wrong.

He was kind, intelligent, protective, and complex.

AJ wasn’t the opposite of what I wanted, he was everything I needed.

Chapter 41

AJ

Icouldn’t tell what was going on in Blake’s mind, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. I’d dumped a lot on her over the last twelve hours.More than I’ve ever told anyone. She'd need time to process it all. So would I.

“I’m hopping in the shower, then I’ll make breakfast while you take yours.”

She nodded and stood. Before she reached the door, she turned and asked, “Which do you prefer?”

I bit back my default sarcastic response, raised my gaze to hers, and answered, my voice thick with emotion. “Andrew, but only from you.”

Her smile lit up her face as she nodded. Then she left me alone with my tornado of thoughts and emotions.

Clean and dressed, I went to the kitchen to make breakfast. I was whisking the eggs when I heard what sounded like someone trying to pick the lock at the front door. I hadn’t gotten a text from Jack, so I drew my gun as I sprinted to the hall, positioning myself between Blake and the person coming in.

I lowered my gun when I saw Jack’s face behind my sights. “What the fuck!" I holstered my gun. "You’re supposed to message me if you’re coming in, so I don’t blow your fucking head off.”

Panic radiated off Jack as he closed and locked the door.

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