“It doesn’t matter how I wish things could be different. I need to put Adrian first. If that means setting myself aside so I can give him a hundred percent of what little I have left? Then that’s what I’ll do. It’s all I have to give.”
Noah’s warm hand comes up to grasp my jaw, his thumb tilting my chin up so he can look me in the eyes.
“Then give me fifty.” His eyes blaze, turning murky. “Hell, give me ten and I’ll provide the rest for us. What do you need from me, Ree? One hundred? Two? A thousand percent? It’s yours.”
His other hand tangles in my hair. “I’m here now. Let me in. Give us a chance again. Do what you need to do to find yourself and I’ll take care of the rest.”
His eyes are wild with determination but his pain is evident. His eyes are rimmed with red, and I can tell he is at the cusp of a mental breakdown.
His love for me is as steadfast as he is—unrelenting.
“I’ll be here, holding your hand. I’ll take care of you and Adrian. Let me carry the load.”
“Noah...”
“I’ll give you anything you ask for, Ria, but please do not ask me to give you up.”
Without preamble, he lets me go as he climbs back into bed with me, pulling me gently to lay back on his chest. He rubs his cheek against the top of my head but the slight tremble in his hands shows uncertainty and pain.
I hate that I’m hurting him.
I hate that I’m making him feel unwanted.
But this isn’t just for Adrian.
This is for Noah too.
I’mbroken.
Defeated.
Tainted by the crimes of my father.
He deserves more than just scraps.
I love him way too much to not let him go.
“You deserve better than me.” I whisper the words against his chest, hoping to ease some of the pain I caused him with my words.
His arms tighten around me, “I deserve you.”
Dipping his head, he drops all pretense of restraint and kisses me with the same tenderness and possession that I’ve always associated with Noah.
“I want you, Ria. Only you.”
Between taking care of Adrian and Ria’s recovery, days have turned into weeks in a constant flurry of tests and a barrage of never-ending phone calls.
I spend every free moment I have with my family, and when I’m not, I’m scouring every piece of evidence we have. I want this over and done with in the shortest amount of time possible.
I was taken off the case the second my wife became the subject of it, but I still serve as an advisor, given the time I spent working on the case.
Despite my grumblings, I’ve been assured several times by not only Ben, but several agents who have done drop-ins that this case is pretty much an open and shut one.
For now, Ben is acting as the lead in lieu of Gabe, with Mina’s support.
It would be a slam dunk if we could just find any evidence to pin on Penelope, aside from the two counts of attempted murder we filed against her.
In less than two months, everyone else involved including her aunt and the former Director have been tried and sentenced.