Page 139 of Dark Endures

He lifts the bowl of oatmeal up. “I know.”

“Thank you.” That’s all I keep saying to him.

***

Maddox’s SUV comes to a stop in front of the police station, which is also where the 911 call center is. It’s probably the safest location in the world. Why am I terrified of getting out of the car?

Peters’ women aren’t afraid of men. It’s not like Adonis is going to attack me inside the police station.

“You know you don’t have to go in.”

Huh? “Of course, I need to go inside. I work here.”

“You can quit this job. Money—”

“—is always an issue.” Women who rely on men to take care of them always live on the edge. I reach over and open the door. “Thank you.”

“Call me if you need a ride home earlier.”

That won’t happen. “Thanks. I will.”

One man doesn’t determine your life.

Ignoring the aches and pains, I stride into work like nothing ever happened.

Dahlia gives me a huge smile and a wave as I step onto the floor. She nods towards the empty chair next to her.

When I sit down, she whispers, “How are you feeling? I missed you so much. Work wasn’t the same without you.”

Everything will be just fine. “Thanks. I’m doing much better.” Pretending is definitely the way to do it. Mom was right. I’d be turning my life into a nightmare for no reason.

Adonis steps onto the floor and scans the room. He doesn’t even blink when our eyes meet. Maybe he doesn’t remember what happened.

All of this build-up in my head could be for absolutely nothing. I log in to the system and get to work.

A few hours later, Adonis walks over and taps me on the shoulder. “My office.”

What does that mean? He has the same friendly smile on his face.

I log out. He probably doesn’t remember a thing and is going to ask, like everyone else has today, how I am and when I’m moving back in.

Not that I’d ever move back in. But we can do this all nice and civil. There won’t be any mess or backlash. I bring my purse because it’s not too long until I need to leave. Half days should feel really short, but I’m completely exhausted.

A nap sounds good.

Maddox will probably shuffle me into bed, anyway.

I follow Adonis into his fishbowl of an office.

He closes the door and waits for me to sit down, the smile firmly in place. “I’m glad to see that you weren’t that much of an idiot to run straight to Human Resources.”

What? He remembers?

“I assume you’ll be moving out.”

“Yes.”

“Good. Don’t decide to grow a backbone now, because I can promise you, no one will believe you.”

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