I take her soft hands in mine, needing to touch her. “If he will agree to just take the money and not see Jett, then let’s pay him.”
“I don’t have that kind of money.”
“I do. Five hundred thousand pounds is nothing. It’s a scratch on the surface of what I have.”
“Five hundred thousand is a lot of money. I’m not taking your money, Leandro.” She shakes her head, resolute.
“India.” I give her a firm stare.
“No, Leandro. Even if Paul would agree to just taking the money and leaving Jett out of it, where would it end? He takes the money, and then after he’s run out, he’ll come back for more. I couldn’t trust that he’d not keep copies of your patient transcripts.” Her sad eyes meet with mine briefly, before sweeping to the floor. “I appreciate your offer, but this isn’t your problem to fix. It’s mine.”
I frown at her. “I am going to try to not be offended by that last statement because you are upset and not thinking straight.” Dropping her hand, I take hold of her chin, forcing her eyes up to mine. “But I am telling you this. You are mine. You and Jett are my family, now, and for the rest of fucking forever. So, that makes this my problem. That bastard is hurting you, so I’m going to fucking hurt him—badly.”
“No,” she gasps. “Please, Leandro, don’t do anything stupid. I don’t want you getting in trouble.” She curls her hand around my wrist, her pleading eyes on mine.
“I’m really fucking angry, India.” I drop my hand from her face, shoving it through my hair. “I feel helpless, and I don’t like feeling helpless. And I definitely don’t like pedophiliac motherfuckers blackmailing my girl. I’m at a loss here. You won’t let me kick his ass. You won’t let me pay him off. And you’re going to lose your fucking job because of me. I need to have a sense of control here, and right now, I have none.”
I want to lose my temper. I want to drive to Manchester and smash that motherfucker’s face in.
Her eyes flash at me, shock in them. “This isn’t happening because of you, Leandro. I can’t believe you would even think that.”
“Come on. If we weren’t together, this wouldn’t be happening to you.” My hands are curling into fists on my thighs.
She slips off her stool. Standing between my legs, she rubs my hands, forcing me to relax them, then takes them in hers. “Then, Paul would have just found some other way to get at me. This isn’t your fault. I am so happy, beyond happy, that we’re together. I knew what I was doing, the risk I was taking by being with you, and I wouldn’t do anything differently. I would choose you every single time. I love you too much to not be with you. I just wish I could have both, you and my career, but I guess life doesn’t work that way.”
“Babe…” I lower my head. “This is fucking killing me. I need to do something. I need to be able to help you.”
One of her hands comes to my face, lifting it to hers. “I’m going to go to the police in the morning to tell them I’m being blackmailed. I need you to come with me. That’s how you can help me.”
Sighing, I say, “If you are sure that is how you want to handle this…”
“I’m sure.” She looks at me, determined.
“Then, of course I will come with you.”
She curls her fingers around my ear, brushing them into my hair. “After the police, I’m getting in touch with the HCPC and telling them about you and me, and I’ll deal with the consequences from them. I will definitely need you to hold my hand on that one.” She gives me a sad smile.
“Anything, babe. I will do anything for you.” I slide my hands around her waist, pulling her closer. “But you’ll lose your license to practice.”
Tears well in her eyes, and she bites her lip. I know it is to stop herself from crying, and it breaks me.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do. Being a therapist, helping people, is all I know. And I need to work to pay the bills. I mean, I have some savings, so we’ll be okay for a while, but I’m going to have to find something else to do.”
“I have plenty of money. You don’t need to work. Let me take care of you and Jett.”
“No.” She shakes her head. “I’m not sponging off of you.”
“Sponging?” I let out a frustrated laugh. “India, I love you. I am beyond in love with you. I am yours, wholly and completely. And you are mine.” I take her face in my hands. “You and Jett are everything to me. There is no argument here. I’m taking care of you both.”