Page 78 of Some Saviors Can Break You

“Florence’s childhood was rough, her dad wasn't in the picture, and her mother drank and slept around a lot. One of the mom’s boyfriends was a serial killer, you’ve probably heard of him, he sedated and buried alive little girls. Florence was one of them. Only she didn't get the full dose of drugs and was able to get away. The killer was obsessed with her and has been stalking her all these years. Yesterday morning he made his move. Florence and I had spent the night together, but she went back to her apartment to change and he was waiting for her. I walked in, and he had a gun on her. He was ranting and raving, and she put herself between me and the killer. He shot at us, and she shot him, tackled him, and cuffed him.”

“That’s quite a story.” Elliot’s eyes were wide, but then his brow crinkled in confusion. “But I don’t get why you broke up.”

“Because she could have died.”

“Okay,” Elliot said slowly.

“She’s a cop, she has some sort of death wish, and I've already lost enough people that I love. I'm not going to be with her and stand on the sidelines waiting for her to get herself killed.”

“I'm not following you.”

“She nearly died as a child, I guess it messed her up.” Maybe it had been unwise of him to get involved with someone who had been through so many traumatic experiences. What did he know about helping someone cope with trauma? His family had been as close to perfect as a family could be, he’d never had toworry about paying his bills or not being able to get anything he wanted, Florence had been correct when she’d said they had nothing in common.

“I don’t get that impression.”

“What do you mean?”

“It doesn’t sound like she has a death wish at all. In fact the opposite. She had a rough start in life, could have turned to alcohol like her mother, or drugs. She could have turned to prostitution to pay her bills. Instead, she overcame her upbringing, went to college, and got a job where she saves lives. Despite having every reason not to trust men—not to trust anyone—she was willing to give you a chance. I'm guessing that was hard for her given everything that you’ve already said about her. She was nearly killed, yet she got on a plane with you—a virtual stranger—and went to another country, which must have been a huge leap of faith.”

He hadn't thought about it like that, but Elliot was probably right, she had every reason not to trust him and yet despite her fears, she’d given him a shot.

He’d promised her that shecouldtrust him, that he wasn't going anywhere, that he would fight for her and for them, and yet he’d walked away.

Just like everyone else in her life.

Just like she had been afraid he would.

While Eli hated that he had broken his promise, he hadn't seen any way around it.

And still didn't.

“So that’s it? It’s just over between you two?”

“Yes. What else can I do? I asked her to quit her job, I make more than enough to support her and buy her anything she wants.”

“You asked her to quit her job?” Elliot exclaimed.

“I’ve lost everyone in my family, I can't lose anyone else.”

“You can't ask her to quit her job.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s ridiculously unreasonable. What’s she supposed to do with her time? Wasn't she already concerned about you two coming from two different worlds? Asking her to sit around and be your trophy wife doesn’t sound like the smartest thing you’ve ever said.”

“I don’t expect her to be my trophy wife.” He pouted.

“Then what do you expect? Does she love her job?”

“Yes.”

“Does it help her deal with what happened to her by saving others?”

“Yes.”

“Then if you love her, how can you ask her to give that up?”

“Did you miss the part where a serial killer was stalking her and held her hostage at gunpoint? Her job is dangerous, I can't be with someone whose job is all about putting themselves in danger.”

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