Chapter 116
“That’s the fucking point p>
She opens her mouth to say something but I cut her off.
“Did it not occur to you that it might’ve been someone sent to follow you? That it might’ve been a way to get past my gates? To see how we operate p>
Her lips part slightly.
“Well, when you put it like that, I p>
“You what p>
I take another step toward her, sh doesn’t retreat, but I see the flicker in her eyes.
” Tell me which part of this you actually thought it through p>
Her jaw tightens.
“From where I’m standing,” I continue, my voice rising, “the whole thing was reckless and dangerous and careless. And I should punish you for it p>
Her eyes flash instantly.
“Punish me p>
“Yes p>
“What the fuck? I am not one of your soldiers, Zane p>
“No but you are someone my enemies would use against me p>
“And that’s somehow my fault p>
“No. But it becomes your problem when you walk straight into their reach p>
She takes a step closer.
“What would you have done if you were me?” she demands. “You were gone. With no answers or updates. My sister wasn’t answering her phone again at some point. You expect me to just sit here and trust everything is fine p>
“Yes p>
Her mouth drops open.
“You won’t have
“I would p>
“You’d sit there knowing your sister was sick and hospitalized p>
I rake a hand through my hair, pacing once before turning back to her.
“I would secure the situation before I moved p>
“That’s you,” she snaps. “You have men, you have weapons, you have a whole system to call and command when needed. I have a phone and anxiety p>
I stare at her.
She breathes hard.
“That’s why you had Aaron watching me,” she adds, her voice lower. “You don’t trust me p>
“I don’t trust the world around you p>
“That’s not the same thing p>
“It is when you ignore me p>
She presses her lips together.
“Today is not the day to test me, little spitfire.” I say quietly.
“Then don’t test me either p>
My temper snaps and I let out a string of curses under my breath
“Is there anyone else you’d like to announce your presence to?” I ask harshly. “Should I just drive you to Donaled myself? Save everyone and myself the trouble p>
She scowls at me.
“I made sure my sister is safe p>
“And p>
“And that matters to me p>
“I didn’t say it didn’t p>
“You’re acting like it doesn’t or it shouldn’t rather p>
I step closer again, lowering my voice.
“You going there paints a target on sister. Don’t you get it? It puts a target on your sister and your whole family. Your brothers and grand father can very much take care of themselves but what about your sister?. Do you want to leave her more vulnerable than she already is? When you do shit like this it’s me that has to carry the burden of it. That’s more persons for me to take care and worry abut p>
Her face pales slightly.
“I made sure no one followed me p>
“You cannot be sure of that p>
“I doubled back p>
“With a concussion victim in the passenger seat and a total stranger driving p>
She presses her hands to her temples.
“Stop saying it like that p>
“Like what p>
“Like I’m incompetent and dumb. It’s beginning to irk the hel out of me p>
I stare at her for a long moment.
“You’re not incompetent,” I say finally. “You’re just impulsive p>
“And you’re controlling. Cery”
We’re both right and that’s the worst part.
She folds her arms again, but this time it’s in a defensive way, not stubborn.
“I was scared,” she admits quietly.
The words take some of the heat out of me.
“I know.” I say softly
“No, you don’t,” she says. “Because when you’re scared, you turn into this.” She gestures vaguely at me. “Cold calculating person and you shut everything down p>
“And when you’re scared,” I reply, “you run headfirst into danger p>
She huffs out a breath that almost sounds like a laugh.
“Maybe p>
Silence settles again.
“I didn’t go to spite you,” she says after a moment. “I went because I needed to know p>
“I would have checked, for you. I planed on checking for you.” I say.
“When? After you finished whatever meeting you were in p>
I don’t answer that because she’s not entirely wrong.
She steps closer, her voice softening slightly.
“I’m not trying to make your life harder p>
“You are p>
“Unintentionally thiugh”
I drag my hands down my face.
“This is exactly what they want,” I say. “Judy an opportunity for you to stepp outside the walls p>
“I don’t want to live inside walls forever p>
“You won’t p>
“Then stop acting like I need to p>
I look at her.
She’s exhausted, bruised and still fighting me.
This stubborn, infuriating woman is going to be the absolute death of me.
“You don’t get to make unilateral decisions like that again,” I say finally.
“And you don’t get to shut me out,” she shoots back.
“Fine p>
“Fine p>
We stand there staring at each other.
Then I step forward and grip her arms not rough, just firm enough that she has to look at me.
“If something like this happens again,” I say quietly, “you call me first p>
“I did p>
“And if I don’t answer, you call Thomas or Fredrick. You don’t leave p>
Her jaw tightens.
“I need your word p>
She hesitates.
That hesitation irritates me more than anything.
“Elaine p>
“Fine,” she mutters. “I won’t sneak out again p>
“Not sneak,” I correct. “Leave without security p>
She rolls her eyes at me.
“Leave without security p>
“Fine p>
We’re both still bristling but the edge has dulled.
I pull her into me again, not because I’m asserting anything but because I need to feel her steady heartbeat.
She resists for a second then she relaxes.
Her forehead pressing lightly against my chest.
“You scared me too,” she says quietly.
Good because she should know that.
My hand moves to the back of her head, careful around the cut.
“You don’t get to do that again,” I murmur.
“No promises,” she mutters.
I smile despite my self. God help me.