Page 135 of His to Save

“Pip, let me help you.”

She huffs an annoyed breath at me and narrows her eyes at me, like she wants to tell me no.

I’m not above begging, though. I’ll do just about anything to make her life easier.

Thankfully, she relents and allows me to step in. “Fine.” She braces her hands on my shoulders, sagging against me. “I’m huge and sore and tired?—”

“You’re perfect,” I murmur, kneeling down so I can help her out of the leggings Ellis brought her. I push her borrowed sweater up as I stand, pausing to press a soft kiss to her rounded belly before gently tugging the garment over her head and tossing it to the floor, leaving her completely naked.

I hover like a mother hen as she steps into the shower, torn between wanting to spill my guts or take this shit to the grave for all eternity.

But my girl’s not having it. Not by a long shot. And she deserves the truth—no matter how uncomfortable it is for me.

“I’m in the shower, Atlas.” I hear the snick of a soap bottle opening. “Now talk.”

I swallow roughly as I slide down the wall until I’m seated on my ass with my legs out in front of me. “You said it was luck that I found you—and the first time, at the motel, I guess you could say it was. But today…”

Fuck, why is this so hard?

“Today what?” she asks, her feather-soft words hitting me square in the gut like a boulder.

I drag my fingers through my hair, tugging on the ends. “It’s because of your necklace.”

My half-assed admission is met with silence. I can just picture the confusion written all over her face, and it’s a struggle not to beg her to say something—anything.

But, eventually, she asks, “What about it?”

Here goes nothing…

“It has a GPS chip in it. I used it to track your location. And I know—I know that’s fucked up, Pip. I know it’s a breach of your trust, but I also know I don’t regret it, not even a little, because you’re here and safe and?—”

She whips the curtain open, and my eyes fly up to hers, widening at the sight of her standing there, dripping wet, covered in soap bubbles and bruises, with the compass charm clutched between her trembling fingers.

“This has a tracker in it?” She looks down at the golden compass and then back to me. Confusion, hurt, and disbelief are flashing across her delicate features.

“Nora, baby?—”

She stares down at me, but I don’t think she’s actuallyseeingme. “Like I’m… Like I’m a dog,” she whispers brokenly.

Her fucking words more than gut me—they crack my ribs, tear me open, and steal my still-beating heart from my chest.

“Absolutely not.” I bolt up from the floor and take a step toward her, only to draw up short when she flinches at my sudden movement.

God, I’m fucking this all up. Get it together, man.

“Like you’re the single most precious thing to ever come into my life.” My voice shakes, but I keep talking. I’m desperate for her to understand. “Like you’re my sole reason for existing. Like you’re the center of my whole world. Don’t you realize that I’ll do anything—and I meananything—to keep you and our son safe?”

Her entire body trembles as she wraps her arms around herself, and I feel like the biggest asshole to ever walk the planet. All I want to do is climb in the shower with her and wrap her in my arms, to take every ounce of pain she’s feeling away. To remind her just how much I love her.

Watching Nora struggle with my actions—well-intentioned or not—is nearly unbearable. I’d take her pain and make it my own in a heartbeat if I could.

“I love you, Nora.” My voice cracks. “And I know I fucked up. But I meant what I said—I don’t regret it. Not if it means you’re alive. I know you’re probably mad at me. Hell, I deserve it. And I get it if you need space?—”

“Atlas, please stop talking.” Her voice is deadly calm, almost devoid of any emotion whatsoever.

Despite my worry, my lips clamp together like they’ve been superglued, as I wait with my heart in my throat for whatever she says next.

But instead of speaking, she turns away from me, pulls the curtain closed, and finishes her shower.

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