Page 116 of I'll Keep Her Safe

“Fine,” he mutters, and I press stop. He glowers at me. “But you won’t do anything.”

God, the arrogance. It’s the same thing he said when Wyatt threatened to call the cops on him. Kurt thinks he can get away with anything.

“Won’t I?” I tilt my head, as if considering this carefully. “We passed John Elmore’s office on the way in, didn’t we?” I ask Wyatt, who nods. “I’m sure he would be more than happy to view the footage. Provided he’s not too busy, what did you say, ‘screwing his assistant’?”

Kurt pales. “What do you want, Poppy?”

Satisfaction snakes through me. “I want you to leave me alone, Kurt. Stop showing up at my house, where I work. Stop hacking my fucking phone and email and Instagram. I want you to pretend you don’t know me. That you never knew me. I want you out of my life, for good.”

Kurt hesitates. There’s a flash of something on his face, so fleeting I almost miss it, but it’s there. I can’t pinpoint what it is, exactly, maybe hurt, maybe regret, but for a split second I remember the man I used to know, the good Kurt, even if that feels like another lifetime. That’s what kept me coming back to him, I realize, those flickers of who he used to be, the hope that he’d be that man again.

But he’s not—he never will be—and it’s not my job to put up with his shit.

“Fine,” he mutters, his shoulders sagging in defeat. “I’ll… I’ll leave you alone.”

“That’s not all,” Wyatt says, stepping beside me.

I glance up at him, surprised. What is he talking about?

“You’re going to pay Poppy back every cent you stole from her.”

Ooh. I like the sound of that.

Kurt balks. “I didn’t steal—”

“Yes, you did,” I say firmly. I’ve had enough of his gaslighting. “You stole eight thousand dollars from me.”

“That wasourmoney,” he protests feebly, but I know better. I know better now.

“No, it wasn’t. It wasmymoney that you made me put into a joint account with you. And I want it back.”

Panic flashes across Kurt’s face. “I can’t—”

“You can,” Wyatt grits out, finally reaching the limit of his patience. He rounds the desk, Kurt flinching as he approaches, but Wyatt doesn’t touch him. “I’m assuming you still have her account number, right? You’ll transfer the money immediately. If you don’t, Poppy is more than happy to pay one of the partners a visit, while I stay here to keep you company.”

Kurt’s hands shake as he reaches for his computer mouse. Any trace of bravado from earlier is gone, and he sinks into his chair, dutifully doing as Wyatt instructs. I watch my man, towering above my ex, brow set in a hard frown, his stance imposing as he waits for Kurt to transfer the money. I’m surprised he hasn’t spent it.

“Done,” Kurt mumbles, glancing up at us.

Wyatt nods in my direction. “Check your account.”

“It might not come through yet…” Kurt says, and I narrow my eyes at him. We both know we’re with the same bank. If he’s transferred the money, like he said, it will be there.

And it is. I stare at my banking app, tears pressing at my eyes as I read the total, so much larger than I’m used to. The money he stole from me, the hurt he caused me… it’s over.

Thanks to the help of my new friends, I’ve taken back my power.

I’ve got my life back.

I nod at Wyatt, who sends me a relieved smile.

My breath comes out slowly, trickling from my lungs. It’s over. I can finally breathe.

Kurt looks defeated, slumped over his keyboard, his shoulders curved inward, and sympathy tugs at me, despite myself.

“Thank you, Kurt,” I hear myself say. Not that he deserves it, but I’m grateful. Grateful we can all move on. Besides, I know Kurt isn’tevil.He’s deeply insecure, deeply afraid, and too stubborn to do anything about it. There could be hope for him, if he got the help he needs, if he was willing to put in the work and look at his destructive behavior, but I’m not sacrificing myself by sticking around to find out.

“You ready, baby?” Wyatt asks, walking to my side.

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