Mistress By Blackmail(81)
That was the man making promises to her he couldn’t, wouldn’t keep.
“Carita?” His hands twitched as he slowly lowered them. “What’s wrong?”
Everything, she wanted to scream at him. Everything is wrong with you and it's torn my insides apart.
Still, she controlled her emotions, tried to put a brave front on. She had her pride. “I don't know why you're here—”
“I'm here for you.”
She ignored the words, knowing her aching heart couldn't stand another disappointment. “I appreciate you were around when this happened, though.”
He stared at her, silver eyes blazing like star-streaked light. “He'll never bother you again. Of that, I’ll make sure.”
A dry chuckle came from her throat. “We'll see.”
“The police will charge him.”
“He'll eventually get out.” She gave him a nonchalant smile as if it mattered little to her. Yet inside, the old fear bubbled. She’d never really be free of her demon. She’d come to accept the fact. “He's followed me for years. I can't see him changing his ways.”
The man in front of her scowled. “What if he does get out? You don’t remember the security surrounding me at all times?”
“I can't see that has anything to do with me.”
“Why not? You don’t think I have it in my power to protect you? You don’t believe I can keep you safe?”
“Safe?” She was glad her voice held steady. Glad the tone was mocking and cool. “You plan on keeping me safe?”
“Si.” A determined slant edged his mouth. “You will always be protected with me.”
“But that’s the point.” She wrapped her arms around her. “I won’t be with you.”
“Don’t say that.” He took a deep breath, his face tight with tension. “Now that I’ve found you, I’m never letting you go.”
Lightning-quick anger zipped along her spine. “I’m not some kind of possession you can pick up any time you want.”
His hand slashed down in instant rejection. “That’s not—”
“Or discard when you no longer want me.”
“Darcy.” His hands fisted on his hips and he dropped his head as if he couldn’t face her. “I’ll always want you.”
His choked words reignited the useless hope, lighting her heart with a deep yearning. She tried to ignore it, push it away. She would not subject herself to the pain she’d felt over the last two weeks ever again. “That’s not what you told me the last time I saw you.”
“I didn’t mean it.” He swung around, as if he couldn’t meet her gaze and ran a shaking hand through his hair. “I was wrong.”
The hope tugged at her, her heart cried for her to believe. She wanted to race to him, soothe him, and take him into her arms. But what would she get? A few more nights in this man’s bed? A few more presents she didn’t need? Eventually, inevitably, their relationship would end in his cynical rejection of her when she stepped out of line or did something that roused his mistrust.
She deserved better.
She deserved better.
She loved this man, yet if she let him, he would destroy her. Better to face the pain now and walk away from him with her heart hurting than subject herself to more anguish than she could handle down the road.
“You were right, actually.” She tried for a careless tone, holding onto her last strand of pride. “It would never have worked between us.”
“No,” he snarled, swinging around to glare at her. “It will work.”
His arrogance might have brought a smile to her lips at any other time. However, she was fighting for her soul here, and his bloody insistence in having his way stoked her temper.
“For how long do you want me in your bed?” she scoffed. “For another month? Until you grow tired of me?”
“That is not—”
“Matt warned me. Told me all about you.” She pushed past his objection. “But I was stupid and didn’t listen. I realize that now.”
His hands fisted at his side as if he were ready to battle. “My brother wants—”
“I deserve better than you, Marcus La Rocca.”
Her words echoed in the alley. A hush followed as she watched his face. White brackets around his mouth. Watched his eyes. Grey and stark. Watched as his big body flinched and then grew taut.
“Si,” he finally admitted. “Si. You deserve a better man than I am right now.”
She nearly gasped at his confession.
“Nevertheless, I’m asking you to give me a chance.”
“There’s no point.” The ache was too harsh, the yearning too strong. Before she capitulated to his plea, she turned to leave.