Page 77 of Saving You Losing Me

Their hopeful smiles cause me happiness inside. It’s all I want. For them to be happy.

All of them.

As Atom makes toward the door, I follow, my heart banging as I wonder why he’s here.

The door closes softly behind me and my heart beats faster as he leans against the wall, his back hard against it and his boot pushing off against it. I swear every part of me is high on alert because I haven’t seen him since the ride over here. It’s as if he ghosted himself in his own home and as I stare with concern, I note the shadows under his eyes and the pain shrouding his gaze in misery.

“We have a problem.”

His voice is low and husky and it does something strange to me inside. It always did, and I swallow hard.

“I’m guessing I’m the problem.”

His face answers me more than his words as he nods, his expression set in stone.

“Emilio D’Angelo.”

I swear the blood freezes in my veins.

“I guessed as much.”

Since I killed Michael, I’ve remained inside these walls, dealing with the cops, the lawyers and the authorities who have been a steady stream of callers as we organize Michael’s funeral and my affairs.

The funeral is next week and I’m dreading every second of it and I’m in no doubt that Emilio and all of Michael’s men will be in attendance.

“He is tearing up the town and increasing intimidation. So far he has avoided us, but it’s only a matter of time.”

“You want me to leave?”

I disguise the hurt in my voice, fully understanding why he would.

“That’s not what I said, darlin’.”

His husky whisper stills my beating heart and I’m not sure if it’s because the corridor is narrow, but it’s as if the air between us boils.

“I’m preparing you for a fight. Because I’m guessing Emilio is after Michael’s businesses that you are the owner of now.”

“He can have them.” A sneer breaks my expression. “I want none of them.”

“It doesn’t work like that in this world, darlin’.”

Atom shakes his head, a deep sigh accompanying it.

“He won’t buy you out. He’ll insist on a similar arrangement you had with your late husband.”

His words hit me like machine gun fire, causing me to gasp. “NO!”

He shrugs. “You had a choice once, and now I’m giving you another one.”

“I won’t marry him.” My voice catches and as he turns, his piercing gaze spears me senseless as he says huskily, “You either marry him or me.”

CHAPTER 42

ATOM

Fuck! Where did that come from? As soon as the words leave my lips, I regret them. That wasn’t my intention and yet now I’ve said it, the idea seems the perfect solution.

If Clara marries me, Michael’s businesses come too and, faced with the local MC protecting their assets, Emilio would have no choice but pack up and leave town. It would be for the entire town’s benefit, not to mention the woman standing before me. She’s married for less before and I’m offering her a way out. That’s all I’m offering because as soon as the ink is dry on our contract, she will be free to take her money and go where the hell she likes.

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