Gabe’s hand fell as he stared at her in utter bewilderment. She hadn’t betrayed him. She’d come to him, her eyes begging him to fix this. God, she trusted him, even after what he’d done to her in Paris. He was at fault here. It was his fault that this asshole had illicit, damning photographs of her in a position Gabe should have never put her in.
His heart was about to beat right out of his chest. Any other person wouldn’t have thought twice about betraying him. Hell, he couldn’t have blamed her if she’d turned over the information in an effort to protect herself. But she hadn’t done that. She’d come to him, had told him everything—at great risk to herself.
He couldn’t wrap his mind around it. He stood there staring at her, unable to breathe, unable to process the enormity of her decision.
She’d chosen him. Him over dishonor, humiliation. She’d chosen him over Jace.
God, she’d forgiven the unforgivable, and instead of being hurt and angry when faced with photos that showed, in graphic detail, what Gabe had allowed to happen to her, she’d chosen not to betray him. Instead she’d come to him, trusting him to take care of the matter. Trusting him to protect her!
Such faith baffled him. He was used to people betraying him. Hell, he expected it from most. He wouldn’t have blamed her if she had done whatever was necessary to protect herself.
But she hadn’t done any of the things he may have imagined. Instead she’d come to him. Hurt, frightened, confused. She’d still come to him when he deserved none of her trust.
No longer able to stand her looking at him with so much uncertainty and panic in her eyes, he roughly pulled her to him, holding her so tightly he doubted she could breathe. He buried his face in her hair and closed his eyes, inhaling her scent, absorbing the sensation of her against his skin.
She was tattooed on every part of his body. Deeper, in his heart, his very soul. A permanent brand that would never wear off.
“Mia, my sweet, darling Mia,” he whispered. “I’ve let you down and yet you still had enough faith in me to come to me with this.”
She pushed at him, putting hated distance between them. Her eyes were wild with grief and fear. No wonder she’d been in shock the day before. The bastard had not only hurt her but he’d terrified and humiliated her.
“I couldn’t betray you,” she choked out. “God, Gabe, I’m in a no-win situation. Do you understand that? If I gave Charles what he wanted, you would have cut me out of your life with the precision of a surgeon’s scalpel. If I don’t give him what he wants, he’ll humiliate us both. Jace will find out, and not only will it affect your friendship, but it could ruin your business partnership as well. Not to mention the things that would be said about you. The way it looks in those pictures…”
She trailed off, choking off as a sob welled in her throat. She swallowed, visibly making the effort to pull herself together.
“It looks as though you’re forcing me. That you’re doing this horrible thing. Those pictures are so damning.”
Hardened resolve screamed through his mind, roaring like an out-of-control freight train. But Mia needed calm. She needed reassurance. She needed him.
She’d trusted him more than anyone had ever trusted him. She’d given him her unconditional faith. He’d be damned if he let her down now.
“I’ll take care of the matter,” he said quietly. “I don’t want you to worry. I want you to put this from your mind.”
Relief simmered in her eyes. There was hope as she stared back at him, damp trails down her cheeks. He lifted his hand and gently caressed away some of the moisture, and then he pulled her to him, lowering his mouth to crush hers.
He kissed her, inhaling her sweetness, savoring it on his tongue. He kissed away all traces of her tears, pressing his lips to her eyelids and then her cheeks, and back to her mouth again.
As he pulled away, a sob erupted from her throat, and it was as if she could no longer maintain her composure. Tears flooded her eyes and her shoulders sagged. It ripped his heart right out of his chest to see her sobbing as though her own heart were breaking.
“Mia, baby, ah honey, please don’t cry,” he said, reaching for her again.
This time he didn’t give her a choice. He pulled her over to the couch and down onto his lap, holding her as she wept against him.
She clung fiercely to him, her arms wrapped around his shoulders as she pressed her face into the side of his neck.
“I’m so scared, Gabe,” she choked out. “I don’t want my actions to make people I care about suffer. You, Jace. You both could be so hurt by this.”