Page 60 of Tainted Tempos

“You put a guy on me?” she accuses. I note the bandage at the base of her head and wince. “What the fuck were you thinking, Mav?” she hurls, pointing at me. “You had no fucking right to interfere in my life like that.”

Instead of backing down, like logic tells me I should, I shake my head. “No fucking right? Mckenna, you’re my wife. I’ll do anything in my fucking power to protect you.”

Her eyes widen as she stares at me.

The IV inserted into her arm makes me wince, and the erratic beeping from the machine alarms me.

The fight seeps out of her, and she averts her gaze. “You never asked me what I want, Mav.”

“I’m sorry.” I hold my hands up. “I should have talked to you about it.”

Her eyes snap to mine. “You think? I was fucking terrified.”

I drop into the chair next to her bed and reach for her, but she smacks my hand away.

“I need to know that I can trust myself,” she continues. “You made me question my fucking sanity the same way he did.”

I wince as a blaze of anger burns through me. “Don’t compare me to him.”

“I’m not,” she shoots back. “I’m trying, Mav. I’m trying to heal and get my life back on track. A big part of that is being able to trust myself. To know I can protect myself. You going behind my back and making decisions for me without my consent is?—”

“Would you rather not have protection? Greg told me that Bran approached you in the library. He said you looked terrified. What if Bran had followed you to your car, Mckenna? What if?—”

“Don’t you see? I need to know that I can handle it. By myself,” she hisses the last part, her eyes wild.

“Is everything all right?” A nurse pops into the room. She gives me an admonishing look as she checks on Mckenna. “You have to remain calm,” she says in a soothing tone. Her eyes cut back to me.

I force myself to uncoil my body and lean back in the chair. I watch as the nurse fusses over Mckenna.

“I’m fine now,” Mckenna says softly.

The nurse nods before looking at me. “And you are?”

“Her husband.”

“Oh, good. We’re keeping Mckenna overnight to monitor her stitches and check that she doesn’t have a concussion. She took a hard fall,” the nurse explains.

“Thank you,” I murmur.

The nurse points at me. “Don’t upset her or you’re out of here. Do you understand?”

“Yes, ma’am.” I like that the nurse will kick me out on my ass for Mckenna’s benefit. She needs more people looking out for her.

When the door closes, Mckenna glares at me again.

“For weeks...for fucking weeks, I have been battling my mind, thinking I was reading into something that wasn’t real. That my intuition was fucking paranoia. I knew someone was following me, yet I didn’t tell anyone. Couldn’t confide that. Because a part of me thought I was imagining it. Making it up. But I was right, Mav. And guess what? It wasn’t because of Bran. It was because of you!” She jabs her finger in my direction. “You scared the shit out of me.”

“I know. Fuck, Mckenna, I know. I’m so sorry. I was petrified for you and thought a security guy could protect you when I couldn’t.”

She shakes her head, her expression sad. And exhausted. It cuts deep, knowing how scared she was. I realize how true that saying is—the road tohell is paved with good intentions. I am sitting in fucking purgatory right now, hating myself for the pain and fear I caused my girl.

“I wanted to keep you safe,” I whisper, desperate for her to understand my reasoning. Doesn’t she know how hard it is to protect her when she insists on attending classes with Bran? Doesn’t she see the agony I’ve been in, too? “I wanted you to feel secure. And... I messed up. I went too far.”

“Yeah, you did.” Mckenna exhales, and it’s like the fight leaves her body. Flees in one big whoosh of breath and the drop of her shoulders. “It’s too much,” she admits quietly. “This is too much, Maverick.” She leans her head back and closes her eyes.

For long beats, she’s silent. Her chest rises and falls, her fingers loosen their tight hold on the bedsheets.

“I was scared of this,” she admits.

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