“Is your head okay?” I asked, breaking the silence I longed to keep.
She turned to me and swallowed hard. “I’m okay. I have a mild concussion, but they don’t know if it occurred during the initial accident or now.”
“You also have a few lacerations and abrasions,” I said, ignoring her words. Because I needed to scream, shout, punch something.
Someone had dared to hurt her.
And I wanted blood.
But I couldn’t have it. I had to walk away from the situation and let others handle it. As soon as I returned her to her brothers, London would no longer be mine to protect. When that happened, that meant everything between us was done.
That meant never seeing her again.
And that would be for the best.
It would just be a memory, a blip.
She was only a client.
I swallowed the lie. She looked at me as if she didn’t understand me.
Hell, I didn’t understand myself.
“What is wrong with you?” she asked, her voice low.
“Nothing, princess. We’re getting you to safety. That’s the job.”
I heard Olly mumble under his breath, but I ignored him. I didn’t care that I was the asshole here. The more of a dick I was, the easier she would be able to walk away. And that would be best for both of us.
We pulled into the hangar, and Olly went out to ensure everything was still safe. We might’ve caught her kidnapper and those who had helped Rebecca make plans, but it was never a good idea to let your guard down. Others could be there, waiting.
There could have been a second conspirator in play.
I slid out of the car and went around to the other side to open the door for London.
I held out a hand, and she met my gaze, searching for something. I didn’t want her to see anything, so I lowered my brow and glared.
She glared right back, the look that I both wanted and hated all twisted into one.
“Come on, I’ll get you to the plane.”
“And then your job is done,” she said flatly, sliding her hand into my free one. I helped her out of the SUV and then nodded at Olly to back away. I needed to tell her a few things, and it would already hurt her enough. We didn’t need an audience for this. I at least owed her some privacy.
“I want to thank you,” she said quickly, pulling my gaze to her.
She had a bruise under her eye and another one welling on her forehead.
Someone had marred her skin, had hurt her.
And I hadn’t been strong enough to stop it.
You love her.
I did. And I hated myself for loving her. For loving anyone other than Phoebe.
I wasn’t the right one for her anyway. She had a whole life outside of this one moment. A life where she had responsibilities and royal duties that had nothing to do with me. I was just the man she had leaned on in a time of need and the one she needed to walk away from now that it was over.
“No need to thank me. It was my job.”
“You’re acting cold again,” she said softly. “I’m so sorry you were hurt because of me.”
“Stop right there. None of this was your fault.”
“Some of it was. I didn’t see Aunt Rebecca for who she really is.”
“You’re right. You didn’t. But people hide their true intentions all the time. It’s not our fault if we can’t see beneath every single layer.”
Who was I talking to, her or me?
“What are we going to do now?” she asked, and I shook my head.
“You are going to get on that plane, and you are going to be safe in your life. No one’s going to hurt you again.”
I’d make that vow, even if I wouldn’t be the one protecting her.
“And you expect me to just walk away?”
“You’re safe now. I got you to the plane. My job is done.”
She blanched but shook her head. “I love you, Kannon. Please don’t go.”
Her words were like a vicious knife sliced into my flesh, but I ignored them. They couldn’t be real. She was just in shock.
“It’s the best thing for you. You’ll realize that soon enough.”
She shook her head stubbornly. “You don’t get to tell me how I feel. I know it’s crazy, it’s too soon. But I know what I feel. We can work it out. I’ve never stood up for anything that I’ve wanted. I’ve always done what I was supposed to. And what did it get me? The one person I thought I could truly trust hurting me. So you’re going to listen to what I feel, what I want. And that’s you. We’ll work it out somehow, Kannon, but don’t let me go alone. Come with me. Let’s find a way.”
I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t.
I wanted to get on that plane, but I couldn’t.
She wasn’t mine. And that was something we both had to get through our skulls.
“You’ve got a life you need to lead. And I’m not part of it.” I paused, the words tearing from me. “If something changes in the next month, you let me know.” I didn’t need to elaborate, the look in her eye told me she knew I was referring to the broken condom.
Hell, I didn’t know what I wanted to come from that, but I knew what I needed.
“The job is done, ma’am.”
She gripped my arm. “Kannon, if you do this, it’s over. You don’t get to break me again.”
“Goodbye, Your Highness.”
I expected her to hit me. To push at me. To shout. I turned on my heel, but she didn’t follow. She stood there, so I met Olly’s gaze on the other side of the space and nodded.
I knew she would be safe once I walked away, so I did. I left, knowing she was standing there, knowing she was breaking.
