Page 89 of Vengeful Lies

Their eyes met in the reflection of the mirror, and after holding her gaze for a moment, his then dipped to her chest where the bite wound was exposed.

Of course, she knew that he’d already seen it, she knew he’d been the one to find her in the hotel after she passed out, and she’d been naked at the time. But this was the first time she was awake when anyone other than herself and the medical staff saw the wound, and shame flooded through her.

“Hey.” Cade stepped up close, his thumb hooking beneath her chin and nudging until she reluctantly lifted her gaze to meet his again. “Do you know that I'm in awe of you?”

“In awe of me?” she repeated, totally confused. What on earth would he have to be in awe about? That she’d shut down to the point she’d stopped eating and sleeping and not gotten herself the medical help she’d known she needed?

“Awe,” he said again. “You were so brave, sweetheart. You fought, and you protected my daughter at great personal cost to yourself. Tell me what they did to you, Gabriella. Get it out.”

She shook her head as best as she could with his grip on her chin, but when she went to turn away from him, he tightened his hold slightly and brushed the pad of his thumb across her bottom lip.

“Tell me, baby. Please,” he whispered. “Let me share your burden.”

No one had ever been there to share her burdens.

Not even her ex-husband.

The only thing he’d cared about when she’d had miscarriage after miscarriage was that she was denying him an heir. Rather than offering comfort he’d given her anger, leaving her to grieve alone.

Could she trust that Cade would be there for her now?

Or if she trusted him, would he throw it back in her face and kick her out of his life again?

“I messed up, sweetheart.” His thumb brushed across her lip again, pausing in the corner of her mouth before shifting his hand so his palm cradled her cheek. “I honestly thought I was keeping you safe by getting you away from me. It wasn't fair of me to ask you to take on my problems. You were abducted because of me, Gabriella. Hurt because of me.”

His other hand shifted to brush with a featherlight touch across the bite mark on her breast. Leaning down, he rested his forehead against hers and circled his arms around her, pulling her flush against his body.

“I'm sorry, Gabriella. For letting my problems touch you and for pushing you away.”

There was true regret and pain in his voice, sincere remorse, was it worth clinging to anger when he’d explained and apologized several times over?

“I forgive you, Cade,” she said wearily.

A sigh shuddered through him, and when his lips touched the top of her head, she gave a sigh and let go, resting her entire weight against Cade, trusting him to hold her up. His strong arms tightened, and after giving her another squeeze he scooped her up and carried her back into the bedroom.

Climbing onto the bed, he settled her on his lap the same way he’d held her the day before after she’d almost died. His body was warm and strong against hers, and he locked his arms around her giving her the security she’d been so desperately craving. The steady beating of his heart soothed her as did the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest. When his hand smoothed down her hair she snuggled closer, soaking up his care and attention like the love starved woman she was.

“The first morning they made me get down on my knees and suck them all off,” she said softly, hating saying the words out loud but Cade was right, she needed someone to help carry this burden. When she’d tried to carry it alone, hiding it from everyone, all she’d ended up doing was crushing herself. If Cade hadn't found her, she likely would have died, and as much as she wanted out from the pain and fear she didn't really want to be dead.

Cade’s entire body stiffened, his hand stilling.

Gabriella waited for him to pull away, to reject her.

But he didn't.

Instead, he somehow seemed to pull her closer even though she was already tucked against his chest.

“I'm so sorry they did that to you, I'm glad they’re all dead,” he said softly, then he pressed a kiss to her temple. “But thank you for enduring that hell for Essie.”

“How did you know I did it for her?”

“Because I know you. I feel you, inside my heart, like a warm light. You calm me, soothe me, remind me that there’s so much good in the world. You love my daughter like she’s your own and she loves you so much. I was afraid to let you in, afraid of falling in love with you and then losing you. Afraid I couldn’t survive going through that again. Then you were taken from me, and I realized I could lose you anyway. I’m prepared to take things as slowly as you want, earn your trust back, and prove I can bemore than the grumpy boss you’ve known for the last four years. But I want it all with you. I want to get married, for you to adopt Essie, and maybe have our own kids one day.”

Of course he wanted more kids.

Kids she might never be able to give him.

“Cade … I had five miscarriages when I was married. It was why my husband divorced me,” she whispered, bracing herself once again for his rejection.

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