Page 83 of Saving You Losing Me

My heart pounds as a wistful expression passes across her pale face. “I watched you. Every chance I got. I hoped you were happy. That my sacrifice was worth the pain I have lived with every day since that fateful one. I dreamed big against my reality, needing them to pull me through the darkest time in my life. Then the girls came into my life and gave me something to live for. They were the reason fate delivered me into his path. Two beautiful angels who are my world. They saved me. Finally, I was loved unconditionally, and it’s a power I never realized existed. They are my main focus and my reward for saving you, and if I walk out of that door, it’s in the knowledge my past has been set free.”

She reaches up and this time strokes my face and says softly, “I came to tell you that Iwillmarry you, Atom, but not because I want saving. I will marry you because I always wanted to. It wasonly ever you and despite what you believe, that was the choice I made ten years ago. To love you and only you.”

CHAPTER 45

CLARA

Inever intended on unburdening my soul, but it felt like the perfect time.

I have waited ten years to tell Atom the truth. He deserves it and he can do what he wants with the information. I have nothing left to give him. I want to marry him. I always did and if in doing so I lose him forever, at least my greatest wish would have come true.

When I bared my soul to him, the devastation in his eyes was heartbreaking.

He never knew.

It’s obvious.

He thought I had chosen Michael over him because I was shallow, self-centered, and hung up on material things and social standing. He was wrong.

He is struggling with the truth as I knew he would and yet standing here, caged in his arms is where I want to be. It’s my happy place, it always was and now it’s up to him to do what he wants with the information.

“Clara.” His tortured voice says my name as if a million questions hang off it. He is shaken and confused and I smile sadly.

“As I said, I’m sorry. I should have been honest rather than end it. I wanted you to hate me. I believed it would make it easier for you to get over me. To move on and be happy. It’s all I ever wanted.”

He pulls me close against his chest, burying his face in my hair, his heart pounding against my cheek, his breathing erratic.

I almost can’t breathe as he clings onto me hard and, as his familiar scent fills my senses, I am intoxicated by him.

He is all I have ever wanted, and I betrayed him.But I didn’t.I would never betray this man because I have loved him for longer than I can remember.

A loud gunshot punches through the silence and Atom pulls quickly away, his attention diverted to something occurring outside.

“What’s happening?” My voice shakes as more shots accompany it and Atom yells, “Go to your apartment, Clara! Protect the girls. Lock the door and only open it to me.”

I don’t even hesitate because the thought of anything happening to my girls causes adrenalin to explode inside me.

I run so fast it’s as if I am the wind as all around me hell breaks loose. I meet Candy in the hallway as she stumbles from her apartment, torn from her sleep.

“Clara, what’s happening? Diesel just raced off.”

“In my apartment, quickly.”

I drag her through the door and lock it behind us, immediately racing to the girl’s rooms.

When I see them sleeping peacefully, their arms wrapped around their teddy bears, I breathe a huge sigh of relief.

I close the door quietly and meet Candy in the kitchen and whisper, “Someone is shooting outside. Atom told me to lock myself in here and only come out if he was on the other side.”

“Atom said that but–”

Candy is confused, and I shrug. “I was talking to him in the bar when we heard the shots.”

“But it’s gone three am.” Her eyes widen. “You mean–”

“No, Candy. It means I couldn’t sleep and went to fix myself a drink and he was there. We talked and then this happened.”

She edges toward the window and peers through it from behind the drapes.

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